<![CDATA[Blog]]> Sat, 09 May 2026 03:58:44 +0000 hourly 1 <![CDATA[Smile while you shop]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:42:00 +0000 It has been scientifically proven that altruism is good for us. Not just that warm fuzzy feeling of doing a nice thing but an act of kindness - thinking of someone or a cause and intentionally doing something which takes us outside of ourselves to benefit others.

]]> <![CDATA[SPCK works to improve adult literacy]]> Fri, 06 Sep 2019 11:44:00 +0000 Did you know 1 in 6 adults in England have very poor literacy skills? Rebecca Law, Project Manager of SPCK's Diffusion Books tells us about the work that the project does to help prisoners, ex-offenders and homeless people improve their reading skills so they can find work and build a more hopeful future for themselves. 

]]> <![CDATA[How literacy reduces reoffending - the impact of Diffusion books]]> Fri, 12 Jul 2019 09:17:00 +0000 In an evening spent with Olympic rower Debbie Flood we find out how reading in prisons can help reduce reoffending. Debbie Flood experienced this impact first-hand in her role as prison officer. 

]]> <![CDATA[World Population Day and Christian Demographics]]> Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:43:00 +0000 Our Global Advocacy Manager Dr Angus Crichton reflects on the continuing expansion of humanity and the shift of worldwide Christianity.  

]]> <![CDATA[I can’t read or write at all: Diffusion reading group at HMP Downview]]> Fri, 31 May 2019 16:26:00 +0000 Did you know that SPCK provides free easy-to-read books to prison reading groups? Our Diffusion books are specially written to help prisoners who need to improve their reading confidence so that they are better able to find employment on release. We also work to change, attitudes, thinking and behaviour so that prisoners can build more positive relationships with their families and society.

David Kendall, an independent reading consultant, recently visited the women’s prison HMP Downview in Surrey to run a workshop on Diffusion book, Uprising, by award winning author Alex Wheatle.

Here’s David’s report:

]]> <![CDATA[Inspiring hope: SPCK’s ministry to prisoners]]> Fri, 24 May 2019 10:00:00 +0000 Did you know that SPCK uses its skills as a publisher to help prisoners improve their reading skills? As a Christian charity we consider our work with prisoners to be a direct response to Jesus’ commandment to minister to those in prison (Matthew 25:36).

SPCK’s Diffusion books are specially written to help adults who need to improve their reading confidence and are given to prisoners for free. We have given away over 7,000 books in the last twelve months.

Diffusion author Tom Palmer recently visited a Young Offender Institution to talk about his book, Barcelona Away, and to inspire the lads to work towards a more positive future for themselves and their families.

Here is Tom’s report:

]]> <![CDATA[SPCK's Diffusion Project]]> Tue, 07 May 2019 11:23:00 +0000 All of us face personal struggles in our lives.

Most us have the privilege of a stable upbringing, shelter, security and the safety that comes with it.

]]> <![CDATA[Diffusion: using books to make a difference in the lives of prisoners ]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2018 15:09:00 +0000 We caught up with our Commercial Director Alexandra McDonald about the work she does with our Diffusion programme. Diffusion works with prisoners to improve their literacy skills. This helps with self confidence and independence, which are essential when re-integrating into the community upon release from prison.

]]> <![CDATA[SPCK works to improve prisoners’ literacy skills]]> Sat, 08 Sep 2018 08:46:00 +0000 Rebecca Mulhearn is the project manager for Diffusion. She previously worked as a commissioning editor for SPCK and lives in Bedfordshire with her husband, two daughters and cat. In honour of International Literacy Day, she blogs about her work with Diffusion, a programme designed to help prisoners improve their literacy skills.

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