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Bulletin BoardYou are in: Berkshire > Entertainment > Local bands > Bulletin Board > Striking a chord in prison Striking a chord in prisonLocal bands who raised 拢2,000 to buy guitars for Reading's Young Offenders Institute met at the prison to hand over the instruments along with Reading West MP Martin Salter.  Handing over the guitars at Reading YOI The Jail Guitar Doors Campaign gig at the Fez Club on Saturday 16 June raised a whopping 拢2,000.
Featuring GoodBooks as headliners as well as an array of local bands, every tenner handed over at the box office went directly into supplying guitars for the inmates of the Reading Young Offenders Institute and making a donation to re-settlement charity Turning Point. The premise of the Jail Guitar Doors Campaign, founded by Billy Bragg, is to help cut the amount of prisoners reoffending by introducing them to the world of music. The simple idea has already seen results - statistics show that ex-prisoners who have actively participated in music sessions have a re-conviction rate of between 10 to 15 per cent, compared to the national average of 61 per cent. On Wednesday 25 July gig organisers James Ewers from My Luminaries and Pete Middleton visited the Reading Young Offender's Institute with SixNationState, The Tricoteurs and Reading West MP Martin Salter to hand over the guitars - gratefully received by prison governer Pauline Bryant and prison officer Clifton Wellbourne. James said: "Throughout the campaign, it has been heartening to see how such a diverse group of people and talents have been so willing to contribute their time, efforts and resources in order to make it such a success. "If raising the money to buy musical equipment for young offenders can give a handful of people a means of expression other then crime, and help them to value and appreciate the importance of our local community, we hope it can ultimately contribute towards making Reading a safer, more tolerant and more inclusive place to live." Martin Salter MP, who is also a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee said: "Young prisoners have appalling levels of reoffending in this country and I fully support new and innovative schemes that can produce constructive and creative activities in people who have got themselves enmeshed in the criminal justice system. "Jail Guitar Doors Reading was a stunning success and I applaud all those who generously gave some of their time and money for this worthwhile cause." And finally, a word from the campaign's founder Billy Bragg: "I'm very impressed that musicians in Reading took the initiative and organised the first Jail Guitar Doors gig anywhere in the UK. "Using music as a means of rehabilitating prison inmates is a positive response to counter the negative attitude of those who would prefer to lock offenders up and throw away the key." ________________________________ More information on the Jail Guitar Doors Campaign via the official website: You can find out more at: The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external websites Read an interview with Billy Bragg: last updated: 07/08/07 Have Your SaySEE ALSOYou are in: Berkshire > Entertainment > Local bands > Bulletin Board > Striking a chord in prison Berkshire jamcams
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