Prisoners at a West Lothian facility have become the first in Scotland to receive secure educational laptops as part of a new digital learning initiative aimed at reducing reoffending.
HMP Addiewell, which is managed by Sodexo Justice, introduced the initial consignment of devices on 1 September following a partnership with educational technology company Coracle.
The move marks the first time Coracle’s technology has been deployed within the Scottish prison system, providing inmates with access to offline educational materials.
Research indicates that the investment in digital education can yield significant societal savings, with reports showing every £1 spent generating £16 in return through increased post-custody employment and reductions in prison violence and self-harm.
Coracle, an independent company based at Chesterton Mill in Cambridge, already provides around 3,000 similar secure devices to more than 100 prisons and secure environments across England and Wales.
The proprietary software is specifically designed for secure environments, ensuring that prisoners can access designated learning materials while maintaining strict separation from the internet and other external networks.
James Tweed, CEO of Coracle, said the laptops have been well received by prisoners and staff and education programmes have already begun.
He said: “Myself and the Coracle team have been keen to provide our services to Scottish prisons for some time now. So we are very grateful to the staff at HMP Addiewell and Sodexo for their support and progressive outlook.
“Coracle is on a mission to give prisoners access to digital learning and help prepare them for life beyond the prison gate and expanding into Scotland is an important moment for us.
“Digital exclusion doesn’t stop at the border and neither should the opportunity to learn. We’ve seen the impact these devices can have in prisons across England and Wales and we’re delighted to now be bringing that opportunity to prisoners in Scotland.”
Director of HMP Addiewell, Jonathan French, said: “We are pleased to welcome Coracle’s digital learning initiative to HMP Addiewell.
“Providing prisoners with the tools to succeed is a priority, and being the first facility in Scotland to pilot this program demonstrates our commitment to modern, effective rehabilitation pathways.”
Last year, Coracle was recognised for its work in increasing access to digital education for prisoners by receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity.
The technology provider, which operates as a certified B Corp, was one of only nine organisations to be awarded in that specific category in 2023.
