Time In Issue 24

Issue 24 - Summer 2025

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AI: Creative Exploration

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am not one to shy away from referencing innovative writers, and given that our theme in this the summer issue is Arti�icial Intelligence (AI), the topic provides an ideal in-road to discuss one of the great imaginations in science �iction writing—and whose work actually pioneered science fact.

Isaac Asimov wrote and edited over 500 books, and amongst them The Robot Series which introduced the Three Laws of Robotics which has in�luenced science �iction and realworld robotics. He coined the term “robotics” in the short story “Liar!”

(1941).

Asimov’s works have been adapted to �ilm including “Bicentennial Man” (1999) and “I, Robot” (2004). He accurately predicted how technology would work and the phrase “today’s science �iction is tomorrow’s science fact” is attributed to him. His visionary writings utilize science to explore themes such as human progress, ethical dilemmas, and the relationship between technology and society.

Therefore, we have taken our regular features and applied our imagination in addition to researching science facts so as to consider the role of AI in nature, music, art, poetry, mental health and wellbeing, as well as the future of work. Like it or not, AI is now very much present in our dayto-day lives, and even within the arts many see it as a formidable collaborator, rather than something

Issue 24 Page 2 to criticize without understanding it, or, indeed to let it raise even more questions. This is only the dawn of AI in our world.

Additionally, Summer 2025, Issue 24 of Time In presents Magilligan writers’ award-winning poetry and short stories from Listowel Writers’ Week 2025. Three awards in the poetry section, and two in the short story categories! Once again these awards gained highlight the high standard of literary achievements.

Furthermore, the edition presents artworks created for the Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) Imprisoned Imagination exhibition 2025, showcasing art, ceramics, music, and writing created in Maghaberry, Magilligan, and Hydebank Wood College and Women’s Prison.

As always this edition would not reach fruition without its patrons, and so I wish to take this opportunity to thank Governor Gary Milling for his enduring support of the arts in prison. To the PAF Board of Governors, our Chief Executive Fred Caul�ield, and Co-Ordinator Adele Campbell. The librarian, Andrea, for her day-to-day support of the Writers’ Group, the Staff in the Creation Station and Print Shop at Magilligan who facilitated many aspects of the publication. Thanks to my co-editor, our graphic designer, our cover designer, and all the dedicated, seasoned, and novice creative writers who provide the articles, content, and skills to make each edition a re�lection of the productive work of each contributor.

Who says creative writing cannot change or shape our world? It is a re�lection of our inner selves, in�luenced by experiences, beliefs, and the way we perceive and interpret our environment. So, like Asimov, when we apply critical thinking to our imagination, we can look at the future in new ways. It is often when we break our own algorithms and take a creative approach to a subject that we can understand challenges and change, and appreciate how this in�luences our communities and has furtherreaching consequences.

Finally, I have to confess, I was tempted to input some key words into an AI generator and request it write this editorial, but needless to say, while I am curious about AI's advancements and outputs, I decided to continue using my own voice, encouraging individual expression while embracing discussion regarding the contributions and drawbacks of technology, in terms of convenience, creativity, innovation, and well-being.

Pamela Mary Brown, Writer-in-Residence, Magilligan

New Frontiers

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ew Frontiers came to mind when I thought of AI, the theme for this issue of the magazine.

Given that the technology opens up so many possibilties for the future of society, and that this, my �irst foray as co-editor, will likewise impact my own personal future, I

though it somewhat apt as a subject to explore.

The prospects can be very exciting. As we can see from the articles within, AI will have a huge impact on the world and is set to be one of the most, if not the most, transformative technologies in the history of our species.

What struck me reading the articles, and in conversation with the writers, was the fear that exists, even amongst those that had the most positive things to say. I completely understand this. I have concerns too. But, if you drill down into it, I suspect the fear isn’t of the technology itself, but of what we, the human species, will do with it, or more speci�ically, what big corporations and state bodies involved in its development will do with it.

So, it’s good that we express our fears.

Let’s keep talking about them, and use that conversation to keep a check on what the powers-that-be are going to do. But let’s also focus on the positives: the hopes and dreams of what the technology could allow us to achieve. The articles featured here do exactly that. They keep the conversation going.

The articles cover a wide range of contexts in which AI will create change, giving a little taste of how revolutionary it can be and how many parts of our lives will be touched.

But aside from AI, it’s exciting to see within these pages all that’s been going on within the prisons and beyond. That prisoners, and exprisoners, are getting opportunities to explore their creativity is to be celebrated, and PAF is to be lauded for all the support, encouragement and facilitation that they provide.

Editorials Acknowledgements

Sincere thanks are offered to all who played a part in the creation of this magazine, in particular the contributors, without whom there would be no publication. Additionally, it would not have been possible without the support of Governor Gary Milling, our CEO Fred Caul�ield, Prison Arts Foundation Staff and Board of Directors, the librarian Andrea and staff in On Point Printing. Sincere appreciation is extended to all PAF Artists-in-Residence and prison educators who supported their students as they created their submissions. Particular gratitude is offered to JPW for Graphic Design and Layout and RMcA, our in-house artist, for the evocative and bespoke cover art.

Finally, it’s wonderful to see, once again, another successful exhibition at 2 Royal Avenue (page 13), where people in the real world get a rare opportunity to see the skills and talents that exist behind bars. It’s great to see Honest Jim with his regular feature (page 4), and Big L Down at the HUB (page 10) back for his second (of many, I hope) update. I should add that Big L is the author of Memoirs of a Belfast Boy, which is available online, and comes highly recommended from us here at Time In. JPW, Magilligan

Contents Navigating Mental Health Honest Jim Is AI the future of Gaming?

AI and the Future of Work PAF at a Glance MaGNitude PAF at Buckingham Palace Down at the HUB with Big L Imprisoned Imagination The Transformative Way The Big Book Is AI taking us away from nature?

Rory McIlroy Creative Expression The Butter�ly Effect AI and Music A New Dawn for Creativity?

Ati�icialis Ulster University in Magilligan Listowel 2025 The Shannon Trust Services

3 4 5 6 7 11 12 12 13 20 20 21 22 23 23 24 25 26 27 28 33 34

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Issue 24 Page 4

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very few years scientists come out with spectacular announcements. They cloned a sheep, “Dolly,” to prove it was possible and Genetically Modi�ied (GM) crops were yet another feat that aimed to genetically alter certain crops to make bigger and better harvests.

AI has the potential to re-define diagnosis and understanding mental illnesses…

T

he title was the �irst thing that came to mind when tasked with writing this piece on mental health and AI. The question I think relevant to this is—How many people will have to be lost to suicide or become so broken, and are completely beyond help, before AI delivers information to the powers that be that the way forward is to help people when they �irst experience mental health issues, and not be left in limbo suffering or falling into selfdestruct mode, or taking their own life or someone else’s?

I wonder will AI be listened to or will the usual thing happen, and no one will ever know AI’s conclusion. The information will be hidden away for hundreds of years with other important information. I would love to �ind out AI’s conclusion in terms of what should be done with someone who has committed a crime but has had adverse childhood traumas which has affected most of their life? What about prisons? What will AI make of the concept of prisons and how they don’t work? How exciting it will be to �inally get a solution.

Where humans have failed, can AI pick up the pieces?

Regarding other topics, what will AI make of companies drilling for oil and gas into the earth’s crust?

The saturation of the earth with mercury to obtain gold from the ground? The cutting down of trees? All these things, especially, have an effect on people all over the world in terms of their mental health. As long as money can be extracted it seems no one cares about the ordinary person’s needs outside of greed and gain.

A notable strong point about AI is the ability to rapidly patternanalyse large structured collections of data. Yet, while AI is more prevalent in medicine and physical healthcare, the discipline of mental health has been slower to adopt it. Mental health practitioners are more focused toward patient-centred practices, taking a softer skills approach, including building relationships and trust with patients and direct observation of behaviours and emotions. AI has the potential to re-de�ine diagnosis and understanding of mental illnesses but the challenge is that we still have limited understanding of biological, psychological and social systems. There are discussions around prediagnosis screening tools, and identifying the risk of developing mental health issues, both of which could personalise mental healthcare in the future.

Navigating Mental Health The Role of AI

“Responsible AI is not just about liability—it’s about ensuring what you are building is enabling human �lourishing.”

Rumman Chowdhury (CEO at Parity AI, 2023)

Ultimately, AI’s involvement in mental health has to be about improving care for individuals, and, ultimately, making those who can instigate change listen to the recommendations.

BT, Magilligan

During the seventies they predicted that in a few decades the whole world would be run by robots. Fifty years later and this writer’s view is that their predictions are well off target. Some robotics are used in industry, most notably in car manufacturing and there was the “Sinclair C5”, brainchild of Clive Sinclair. This “vehicle of the future” was basically a three wheeled capsule shaped car. You just sat in the small cockpit and drove or pedalled off.

Fast forward, and why would anyone want a self-driving car? Would you really feel safe doing eighty down the motorway in a car that’s driving itself? And at the risk of sounding �lippant, who would pay �ifty grand for such a car? Why not save your �ifty grand and pay someone else to let you sit on their back seat instead: a taxi driver for example? You’d probably feel safer.

The latest buzz-phrase is “Arti�icial Intelligence” (AI). This involves advanced machines that are capable of thinking for themselves. That’s the theory, but how does it stack up?

According to Arend Hintze, researcher and Professor at Michigan State University, there are four main types of AI. Reactive Machines: very basic systems that have no memory and consequently cannot “learn”. They take information (such as purchase history) and produce outputs (such as product recommendations), outperforming humans in the huge amounts of data they process.

Examples include IBM’s Deep Blue chess playing system and Net�lix recommendations.

Limited Memory: can remember past events or situations and learn from them. These memories can then be used to in�luence future decisions that the machine makes.

Limited memory machines are used in airports to keep track of multiple �lights simultaneously, control traf�ic

lights and even in the manufacture of self-driving cars.

Theory of Mind: can understand the thoughts and emotions of other entities. It is purely theoretical however and has not been achieved or established to date. It is currently about as scienti�ically realistic as warp speed is on Star Trek.

Honest

JIM AI & Healthcare

Would you really feel safe doing eighty down the motorway in a car Self-Aware: the apex that’s driving itself? technology but again is purely hypothetical. It involves machines that are actually self-aware and conscious of their surroundings. These machines could decide what they want and how to get it. For example, a self-aware AI could decide it needed an oil change or a coat of paint. This again is purely theoretical and many believe it would be best if such technology was never realised. It is way beyond anything that humans can achieve.

AI diagnostics are now widely used in certain aspects of healthcare. In radiology for example, various forms of scans can be used to locate and identify an illness or disease inside a patient’s body. Cancers, broken bones, brain haemorrhages or arterial blockages can be diagnosed by scans like Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These forms of scans, along with others such as Dexa Scans (used to identify osteoporosis), provide doctors with a three dimensional image of the inside of a patient’s body. This is far more

useful than a standard x-ray and can lead to a better chance of recovery for the patient who hopefully can return to his/her normal life.

All in all, AI has huge potential for the future. It is already proving helpful in the spheres of healthcare, �inance and transportation systems.

But a lot more scienti�ic innovation is required before we start talking about machines that can diagnose their own need for a paint job, or before we think about self-driving cars. Lots of this is still strictly hypothetical, like warp-drive for interstellar travel. Beam me up Scotty.

Honest Jim

Page 5 Time In

Issue 24 Page 6 Is this not a bit of a narraow assessment?

Do we lack the imagination to think beyond the current working life mindset?

If we allow ourselves to think bigger, AI can allow us to abolish work.

The evolution in gaming with Artificial Intelligence has only really just begun

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rti�icial Intelligence is transforming the Gaming Industry at an unprecedented pace.

From the hyper-realistic Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) to the personalised experiences in gaming, AI has rede�ined the creation of the games we play and has monetised design.

Games such as “The Last of Us Part 2” utilised AI to create the NPCs that populated the world within that game, which react emotionally and therefore tactically to their environments. Research from Newzoo put forward that 70% of game developers invested in AIpowered design of characters to enhance immersion. AI-driven NPCs lift gameplay and the storytelling, interactions made lifelike and engaging.

Games like “No Man’s Sky” and “Minecraft” use AI to develop endless worlds and unique experiences for the players’ gameplay. “No Man’s Sky” used AI to create the billions of planets within the game. It was calculated that, if a player were to travel to each world, it would take the entire age of the Earth to complete the journey. This was enabled by procedural content generation (PCG) without manual intervention.

By 2028, with the immersion of AI integrated with VR and AR gaming, the gaming market is expected to reach $90 billion. AI powered chatbots and voice assistants will ultimately improve in-game

communication and technical support. Virtual reality assistants will permit players to generate voice commands for real-time actions.

Games like “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” integrates AI-driven dialogue for �lawless gamer-to-NPC interactions. According to Gartner, “AI-driven customer support in gaming will handle 85% of player inquiries by 2026, streaming game assistance.”

becoming more lifelike and more reactive to the players gameplay.

NPCs will now analyse players’ behaviour and change their responses. OpenAI’s GPT models and DeepMind’s AI have demonstrated the capabilities in natural language processing and sensible decisionmaking. This will contribute signi�icantly to the gaming industry to a projected $321 billion of generated revenue by 2026.

Arti�icial Intelligence in gaming is transforming game testing by improved bug detection and shear quality assurance. Game testing generally required a lot of human effort, but now AI bots can effortlessly simulate thousands of scenarios of gameplay to detect glitches and unintended inconsistencies. Huge gaming companies like Ubisoft use AIpowered tools to test the quality of their software to detect bugs more ef�iciently, therefore reducing development time. According to a report by Grand View Research, “AI in the gaming market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 23.3% from 2021 to 2028, partially due to advancements in AI-based testing. Automated testing ensures that games are polished and ready for launch, improving player satisfaction and reducing post-release patches.”

Conclusion:

of

JWMC, Magilligan

AI Future Gaming? the

Lastly, the gaming future will see the NPCs

AI in gaming will ultimately forever alter the gaming industry, pushing the boundaries of creativity. The evolution in gaming with Arti�icial Intelligence has only really just begun—what truly comes next in gaming, is anybody’s guess—but it’ll be game changing. LOL.

Is

A

I has the potential to generate many positive changes in society. It can enhance overall productivity, improve healthcare and demolish obstacles to education, as well as help solve complex problems. Generally it could make our lives easier.

Others, of course, take a dimmer view. They see it as a disruptive force that will turn many things on their head. Most prominent among the objections is that it will deprive a lot of people of work. It has been estimated that AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full time jobs and that two thirds of jobs in the US and Europe are at risk. In fact, it is thought that as many as two million manufacturing workers could be replaced by AI by this year.

Much customer service interaction is carried out by AI already.

Receptionists are frequently supplanted (by, for example, AimeReception, an AI which can see, listen, understand and talk with guests and customers) and accountants, researchers, analysts, warehouse workers and retail staff (the list goes on) are at risk too. As we can see, the impact will be huge.

The counter to this however, is that any loss of jobs will be offset by the creation of new jobs. Some even say that AI will create more jobs than it replaces.

But is all this debate around job numbers, who will work where and how people will earn money, underestimating the potential of AI.

AI and the Future of Work

What does that mean?

It means the abandoning of the idea that we must use up our energy and time carrying out activities that, truth be told, we don’t really want to. If AI can get to a stage of development that it can look after all our basic needs (completely automated farms, delivery services, warehouse management, house building and all those kinds of things) then we need not do it ourselves. In such a situation, nobody needs to work anymore.

Do we lack the imagination to think beyond the current working life mindset?

And, in case you’re worried, the alternative to work isn’t idleness. It need not be a case where the robots are doing everything so humanity suffers from having nothing to do. In reality, we can do whatever the hell we like.

Bob Black, in his essay The Abolition of Work, calls it ‘play’, or the ludic revolution. He does not mean play in the children’s sense of the word, but in a way that takes in any and all activity that is done voluntarily. If an activity is forced (by the need to earn a wage for example) then it is work.

Otherwise, it is play.

With AI, there may be the potential for true freedom. If you fancy tending to the garden, have a go at it. If not, the AI will look after it.

If you fancy building a shed, you are free to do so. You can even cut down and prepare your own wood: if you

choose. Otherwise, the robots will do it all for you. Just let them know what you need.

This all might sound utopian, but the potential is there. So, workers of the world, don’t panic…relax. AI might just set you free.

JPW, Magilligan

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PAF

Issue 24 Page 8 to individuals. The calendar’s creation involved the use of Microsoft Publisher and spanned several months. The design concept aimed for cohesion, while ensuring each month could stand independently as well. The calendar was printed and distributed within the prison and to community partners, showcasing the transformative power of creativity in raising mental health awareness. The size was carefully selected to allow for convenient desk top placement while maintaining portability. The project was a collaboration with the Prisoner Safety and Support Team at Magilligan.

At A Glance: Creativity with Purpose

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cross Northern Ireland’s prisons, creativity is transforming lives.

From music and writing to sculpture and visual art, the Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) helps people behind bars express themselves, build con�idence, and rediscover their identity. These are more than just projects— they’re personal journeys that prove your voice matters, and it’s never too late to start a new chapter.

GM, Magilligan

The Calendar Project 2025 The unique artwork and text originated from an in-house writing and art competition held during Mental Health Awareness Week in June 2024. The calendar was designed to be suitable for use by prisoners and serve as a gift for Christmas. Twelve winning pieces were selected to represent each month, highlighting personal journeys of resilience and recovery. Images were selected to represent each month, with speci�ic dates highlighted that might hold interest or signi�icance

As a result of donations made during prisons week, the prison chaplain generously made a £250 donation to PAF, helping to ensure ongoing support for prisoners and creative expression.

It is anticipated that collaborating with Libraries NI will result in the book being available for Libraries Week. Copies will also be distributed in ‘visits’ at Magilligan, Hydebank, and Maghaberry.

This year, Prisoners’ Sunday takes place on 12 October 2025.

Some feedback from the books availability at the ‘Imprisoned Imagination’ art exhibition included:

Babadoo & Friends The project, through the medium of nonsense verse and AIgenerated images, was envisioned to entertain children, especially those visiting their parent(s) in prison. The project revolved around a collection of original nonsense poetry that provided key words to generate corresponding prisoner’s experience of prison in the form of a letter that was given by church communities throughout the North of Ireland and to their parishioners to help raise awareness and support for anyone affected by prisons, including prisoners, families, victims of crime, and those working in the criminal justice system.

Prisons Week: Letters from Prison The creative writing group produced a booklet anthology of letters for Prisons Week, 13-19 October, 2024. Prisons Week aims to raise ‘awareness and generate prayer’ and ‘provides an annual focus and reason for Christians to work together,’ the writers’ group wanted the letters to connect with and reach out to all individuals, families, and communities affected by prisons, both secular and non-secular.

The writing shared the individual

‘The ripple effect of what I have done and who it has affected has been massive. I have lost my relationship with my son recently because of me being in prison, and the fact that he is struggling out there and I am not there to help or guide him, which is my fault but I know he loves me but I don’t think he can forgive me for making the choice I made to end up in prison and in turn leaving him out there without a dad. This is something I will work on until I’m able to reconcile with him.’

The group discussed the content, encouraged edits and/or additions where appropriate.

The letters proved to be popular during October 2024 and the prison chaplain later explained that they had to do a second print run of the booklets.

“My young boy was completely captivated by it. He was so engrossed that he forgot I was even there, he was just focused on the book. It was clear to see the fascination and joy it brought him.”

“My boys will love this, especially my six-year-old who likes books with peculiar characters.”

Creativity for Wellbeing and Recovery ARTernative: Change Through Creativity

Each letter was distinct in terms of content, expressing the individuals’ experiences, hopes, fears, worries, concerns, and re�lections:

The ARTernative project used group art therapy to help participants explore themes of identity, addiction, and prison life.

One standout project, Inside and Outside the Prison Cell, featured hand-crafted boxes revealing deeply personal stories. characters and a variety of imaginary creatures, each with unique features and personalities.

A range of images were produced, and the poet involved in the project carefully selected those that most closely aligned with his original vision. Following this selection, a process of graphic design ensued, with layout, colouring, and additional creative elements being meticulously crafted and discussed among the team members before �inal implementation.

A decision regarding inclusiveness and multilingualism was made by incorporating pages that showcase various ways to say “hello,” “goodbye,” “please,” and “thank you” from across the globe.

Interested in joining? Speak to Donard Centre staff, PAF Art Therapist Christine McSherry, or the PSS Team, Maghaberry prison.

The impact? Improved mental health, fewer disruptions, and stronger relationships with staff and peers. One participant described the sessions as “therapeutic” and “motivating.”

Creative Recovery: Art That Speaks of Struggle and Strength A group of men tackling addiction created Creative Recovery, a striking installation of painting, sculpture, and writing. Led by PAF and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT), the art therapy project encouraged honesty, healing, and connection.

Displayed in an in-house exhibition, the work moved staff and prisoners alike. As one participant said, “Art speaks louder than words”—and in this case, it truly did.

Want to take part? Speak to Christine McSherry or the SEHSCT Prison Healthcare Team Maghaberry prison.

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performances, readings, and the launch of Time In magazine. Author Carlo Gébler spoke about the power of �inding your voice through art, while Stevie Greer, now a professional artist and PAF Artist-in-Residence, shared how creativity helped him turn his life around.

Art, Insight, and Global Recognition Correctional Research Symposium: International Focus on Rehabilitation

Koestler Arts certi�icates were awarded, and a donation from Father Kevin Mulhern for Prisons Week 2024 was gratefully received.

In May 2025, Belfast hosted the �irst Correctional Research Symposium, bringing together experts to explore what truly works in rehabilitation.

Hydebank: Marking Koestler Success

Too Many Birthdays Club: Ageing, Insight and Expression At Davis House, older prisoners created a powerful book of poetry and artwork re�lecting on ageing behind bars. Originally a personal re�lection, it became a resource for all prisoners and is now given to men on their �irst night.

Group to show how art can support personal development and positive diversion. Meanwhile, Writer-inResidence Pamela Brown led a session at Ballymena’s Service User Group, encouraging participants to use writing to re�lect, grow, and reconnect with themselves.

These efforts show that creativity can change lives on both sides of the wall—supporting #ChangingLives and building #SaferCommunities.

A second edition is already underway, exploring housing and life after release.

Celebrating Talent and Achievement

Interested in contributing? Speak to Learning & Skills or PAF Artistin-Residence Lucy Turner, Maghaberry prison.

Magilligan: A Day of Creativity and Recognition

Creativity Beyond the Walls: Outreach That Inspires Change

In December 2024, Magilligan held a special celebration featuring live

PAF’s outreach work goes beyond prison gates. Artist-inResidence Stephen Greer visited Probation Board Northern Ireland’s (PBNI) Portadown Service User

In January 2025, Hydebank hosted its �irst Celebrating Creativity and Achievement event. Carlo Gébler read from the award-winning piece Why Am I Not Driving Home With My Teabags, before handing out Koestler certi�icates to proud recipients.

Justice Minister Naomi Long opened the event with this message: “Rehabilitation is not just about punishment—it’s about potential.”

artwork made inside has real value on the outside.

a gallery �illed with emotion, insight, and hope.

In February 2025, PAF celebrated the achievement at the Donard Centre, with certi�icates presented and words of encouragement shared. One participant summed it up: “The awards showed us that creativity can open doors.”

Guests—including the Deputy First Minister and senior NIPS of�icials—praised the depth and honesty of the work. For many, it was a powerful reminder of the talent and potential often hidden behind walls.

Connecting With the World Outside

Remembrance Behind Bars: Honouring Service and Sacrifice

No Comment Exhibition: Voices Heard in London

PAF Coordinator Adele Campbell reminded the group: “You’ve used creativity to take control of your story— you inspire all of us.”

Maghaberry: Koestler Excellence on Display Maghaberry submitted more than 100 creative entries to the 2024 Koestler Awards. Three were sold and six were donated—proving that

Between November and December 2024, London’s Southbank Centre hosted No Comment, a national exhibition of prisoner artwork curated by Jeremy Deller and John Costi. Of the 200+ works shown, nine came from Northern Ireland.

PAF’s Artists-in-Residence travelled to London to represent the men and women they support inside, helping to raise the pro�ile of prison-based art and ensuring that the artists’ voices were heard loud and clear.

Freedom Through Art: Exhibition in the Community In December 2024, art from Hydebank and Maghaberry was exhibited at the Barrel & Bean Café in Dromore. The café became

Prisoners, including former servicemen, created two ceramic poppy wreaths—one now stands in Hydebank’s Memorial Garden, the other was gifted to the Somme Nursing Home, unveiled by SSAFA’s Tommy Linton.

Want to get involved? Speak to Tommie Linton (Start360) or PAF Artist Lucy Turner, Magilligan or Maghaberry prison.

PAF gifted a painting by prison artist

Bobby Mathieson, which featured on commemorative biscuit tins given to all delegates—proving that prisoner creativity has global reach.

Get Involved: Share Your Story, Shape Your Future If you’ve been inspired by the stories above, know this: you can be part of what comes next.

Whether you paint, write, play music, sculpt—or just want to try something new—PAF offers regular workshops to help you unlock your creativity, build con�idence, and shape your future.

Speak to a PAF Artist, Writer, or Musician-inResidence to get started.

Your story matters. Let it be heard.

AC, PAF Coordinator

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MaGNitude Art, Music and Spoken Word

‘I would love to see more music programmes in prisons.’

–Liam Kelly The Concert

Join us for an afternoon of visual art, music and spoken word featuring prison artists and guests!

O

n the 29 November 2024 an inaugural concert of spoken word and music held at Magilligan also saw the launch of this year’s edition of All In magazine.

The event was attended by prisoners as well as Beverely Wall, Director General, David Kennedy, Director of Prisons for NIPS; Fred Caul�ield, Executive Director Prison Arts Foundation (PAF); Magilligan Activities Governor Colin Rice; and representatives from Start360 and AD:EPT.

All In Magazine A cross-border publication, the third issue of All In, involving submissions from three prisons in the North and fourteen prisons in the South, supported the Writers’ Group and the new Creative Media group at Magilligan in gaining additional skills in graphic design during two workshops over two days in April and June.

Tom Shortt, co-editor and Arts Of�icer, Irish Prison Education Service, complemented the writing and art showcased in the edition adding that, ‘despite being cut off from society, prisoners have made a signi�icant contribution to culture, education and cross border cooperation at the heart of society.’

Pamela Brown, co-editor and PAF Writer-in-Residence at Magilligan Prison, said that ‘collaboration is innovation and while we often create in isolation, we bring elements together to close off production and what is here achieves amazing results in our accomplished, new look All In, a model for teamwork.’

The PAF Music group and Musicianin-Residence at Magilligan, Jonathan Bailie must be commended for the work they put into rehearsal and performance. The genres of music represented included original singer-song writer, country, punk rock, alternative rock, electronically generated music as well as Mexican Folk song. There were poignant covers of well-known classics within these categories highlighting the phenomenal range of the collective.

There may have been issues with the sound system but it is fair to say that the equipment, somewhat outmoded, didn’t impede or inhibit the performers. Importantly, the works showcased versatility and passion demonstrating the potential that can be achieved in the future with adequate funding support to upgrade the equipment.

Spoken Word Liam Kelly took the lead during this section of the event. Liam, an exprisoner and an advocate for PAF, has written Memoirs of a Belfast Boy, available on Amazon. He outlined his �irst-hand experience of the creative writing workshops in Magilligan and, crucially, being able to continue writing after his release through PAF’s support hub in Belfast.

Another prisoner’s spoken word piece centred on a metaphor of life as parallel to climbing a mountain, how we endure and survive obstacles. This was a �irst time performance as a spoken word artist, making the event about con�idence building and showcasing abilities from the beginner to the more accomplished performer.

Speaking after the event Liam Kelly said, ‘while I performed as part of

the spoken word I would love to see more music programmes in prisons.’

Artwork Stephen Greer, ex-prisoner and artist, now a PAF facilitator, was emotional when he spoke about Alison Wilson, his art teacher who helped him gain quali�ications and con�idence in his art.

Stephen’s current class in Magilligan is a leisure class where people can �ind their own personal creative spark. Established artists continue to grow and practice their skills whereas beginners can learn from scratch and develop.

Stephen said ‘PAF don’t only give prisoners hope, they give them a future.’

Following on from the event a prisoner in Magilligan said that he has been in prison for ‘over ten years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.’ He was thankful to get a copy of All In magazine due to having family in the South and felt the magazine formed a link with them. He has now joined the writers group.

PMB, PAF Writer-in-Residence, Magilligan

PAF at

guidance, our mission at PAF is to provide a platform for prisoners to express themselves through various art forms, offering a path to rehabilitation and growth.

at PAF, and in the recognition of the arts as a vital tool for change, transformation and rehabilitation.

The recognition is a signi�icant milestone for the Prison Arts Foundation, highlighting the positive impact of their work.

We had the distinct pleasure of gifting The Big Book of Creative Writing.

This anthology is the PAF ten-year retrospective of over 250 award winning, multi-genre, writings showcasing the authors having been recognized with awards including Koestler Arts awards and from the Listowel Writers' Week.

The anthology is a collective testament to the transformative impact that the arts have on these individuals’ lives.

PMB, PAF Writer-in-Residence, Magilligan

Buckingham Palace

I

am pleased to share that I attended the garden party at Buckingham Palace on 14th May 2025. The event was designed to recognize individuals who have made signi�icant contributions to the �ields of Education and Skills.

The event celebrated those who shape the future of education, break barriers and champion inclusivity.

The invitation came as a testament to the innovative programmes at Prison Arts Foundation (PAF), and I attended alongside our Chief Executive, Fred Caul�ield. Under his

Thank you kindly to everyone who supports and believes in our vision

Down at the with

H

Big L

ello to all at Time In, it truly has been an eventful �irst half to the year for me, to say the least. My book, Memoirs of a Belfast Boy was released on the Amazon KDP publishing platform and it sold in America, Australia, and recently Spain, which is mindblowing for me. It took me a year and a half to write, and it was an emotional rollercoaster, reliving the trauma and the comedy of growing up during the troubles, with a particular focus on the 1970s.

I don’t think I could have done it if it wasn’t for the dedication of Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) and their Writer-in-Residence at Magilligan, Pamela Brown, for her knowledge and creative writing skills. Pamela was like a shrink; old wounds reopened many times during the process, but I managed to focus and keep going, and even surprised

HUB

myself along the way. I will forever be indebted as the process freed me from all my demons.

Next, I co-facilitated with Pamela, and we had an open house creative writing class for the public at 2 Royal Avenue during the annual PAF arts exhibition. I really enjoy telling my prison story and how creative writing both changed and saved my life in jail. Creative writing opens my mind to endless possibilities, which brings me to my next project: a play called Waiting on Wings. This creative endeavour retold my journey in jail.

Pamela had the initial idea of collectively writing a play, so we got Stephen Greer involved, who in turn got Jason Thompson added to our short cast list. Pamela, as usual, knocked it out of the park, transcribing audio, editing, reediting, and formatting to industry standards to come to the �irst draft.

Also involved in Waiting on Wings, thanks to the Community Relations Council, was an independent �ilm company from Belfast. Larry Cowan, who set up Lamb Films in 2007 to provide a platform for local talent,

�ilmed a �ly-on-the-wall style documentary. This involved the creative process, writing the script, the consultation process to ensure authentic content with Fred Caul�ield, as well as read-throughs and revisions. Hopefully, now we can take it to the next stage (see what I did there!).

Gordon Hewitt based at the ARC and Community Arts Partnership also interviewed me regarding my memoir. Thanks to Gordon, I will be featured on the cover of The Monthly magazine. It also looks like my book will be reviewed for All In magazine and will further feature a short interview. A big thank you to all at PAF, especially Christine, Adele, and not forgetting Fred Caul�ield, who regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty.

So stay tuned in, pick up a pen and start writing, as it set me free.

Big L

Photo by PicStory Belfast PicStory are based at 2 Royal Avenue every Saturday fortnight and are free of charge.

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Imprisoned

PAF Exhibiton

Imagination

Judge. Raw and unapologetic, it offered a truth many had never heard. Visitors stopped, read, and reconsidered what they thought they knew about life inside.

back into supporting the artists and PAF’s programmes.

“This exhibition proves that people inside still have something to say— and it’s worth hearing.”

— Visitor feedback PAF Board of Directors, Former Governor, Austin Treacy; Former PAF Chariman, Oliver Brannigan; Executive Director, Fred Caul�ield; New Chairman of the PAF Board, Tom McKeever

An Exhibition Born Behind Bars

W

hat does it mean to be creative in con�inement? How can a poem, a painting, or a piece of music shift how the world sees people in prison—or how we see ourselves?

These were the questions that shaped Imprisoned Imagination, an exhibition we launched at 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast. Over 25,000 members of the public walked through its doors. They came to experience the talent, truth, and humanity of people serving time in Northern Ireland’s prisons. Many left with something they didn’t expect: a new perspective.

A Window into the Soul Every piece in the exhibition came from workshops we’ve run inside prison walls. Visual art, music, ceramics, and writing—each one made by someone in custody.

Our Artists-, Writers, and Musicianin-Residence supported work that began as hesitant sketches or stories and developed into powerful

personal expressions. Some of the pieces speak of regret, others of resilience, humour, hope, or healing.

But all of them show that creativity doesn’t stop at the prison gate. For many people, it begins there.

“I am blown away by the artwork of Bobby and Stephen—such talented artists who have turned their lives around and now do so much to support others.”

— Beverley Wall, Director General, NIPS One of the most talked-about pieces was a poem titled For Those Who

“Every piece tells a story. Every purchase makes a difference.”

The Creative Writing Nook

People didn’t just buy objects. They took home something meaningful.

Tours and Masterclasses

One of the most personal spaces in the exhibition was the Creative Writing Nook. Visitors could pause, re�lect, and read excerpts from The Big Book, a 10-year collection of award-winning writing by people in custody.

We also offered the public a chance to take part in our Invite to Create challenge. Using prompts and techniques from The Transformative Way—a creative writing guide developed especially for prison writers—we invited people to write a poem, short story, or memory piece and place it anonymously in a box. These writings may form part of a future publication.

I was the only person to read them so far, and I can honestly say: every page carried something real. One stood out so strongly that I wanted to share it here:

I was 5 when my uncle went to prison I was so upset The Sheriff gave me a present A pink unicorn I do not remember the rest.

It’s simple—and quietly devastating.

This anonymous poem captures how prison reaches far beyond the individual serving time. A pink unicorn becomes a symbol of

Over 350 people joined our guided tours and special events, including a Late-Night Art session. What made these tours so impactful was that they were led by Stephen (Stevie) Greer—a gifted artist and former prisoner whose journey helped shape the exhibition.

comfort in a confusing world—a child’s memory shaped by absence.

Art That Speaks We �illed the gallery walls with original paintings and drawings.

Ceramics and group projects were displayed on tables. Delicate matchstick models stood on plinths.

All of it was created in prison workshops—some by people picking up tools for the �irst time, others by long-time artists.

What united them all was care, effort, and a sense of purpose.

Music That Transforms A standout moment came from the Transforming Lives Through Music

showcase—original tracks recorded by men at Magilligan as part of our music residency.

I’ve been in those sessions. I’ve seen people �ind connection through rhythm and vulnerability through lyrics. The recordings moved visitors to tears. It was, for many, the �irst time they’d really listened to someone behind bars—without judgment.

A Chance to Sell & Support At our pop-up shop, we sold ceramics and woodcraft created by men in Maghaberry. Each item came with a short message from the maker. Every penny raised went

Stevie didn’t just explain the work— he told the stories behind it. His insight transformed the experience from an art show into something deeply human.

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Issue 24 Page 16

Memoir Writing with Pamela Brown

great to see a real-life example of how people can change themselves and inspire others to do the same.”

Writer-in-Residence Pamela Brown led two Memoir Writing Masterclasses during the exhibition. She guided participants through exercises drawn from The Transformative Way, encouraging them to write from feeling, not just fact.

Our feedback form included the following statement:

“We hope that you, the viewer, will see that participation in the arts is a powerful learning tool and catalyst for the personal and social transformation of an individual.”

Based on what we heard, I believe that message came through—loud and clear.

“Memoir writing isn’t just about telling your story,” Pamela said, “It’s about the process of writing as an artistic discipline as well.”

To Those Still Inside

Drawing with Stephen Greer I had the privilege of taking part in one of Stevie’s Life Drawing classes—this time, as the model.

I’d never done anything like it before. Sitting still while others sketched my face felt vulnerable at �irst. But soon the room shifted. It became focused, respectful, and strangely calming.

At the end, Stevie and the other artists gave me all the portraits. I kept every one. Not because they were perfect—but because they captured something real: a moment of connection through art.

Please keep writing. Keep painting. Keep making music. Keep creating.

You are part of something bigger—something worth sharing.

The Launch: Words That Matter On 6 March, we launched Imprisoned Imagination with spoken word and testimony from two incredible voices: Liam Kelly and Stephen Greer. Liam, a writer and former prisoner, made the room laugh and re�lect.

“I never read a book until I went to prison,” he said. “But once I

started writing, I couldn’t stop. It saved me.”

Stephen also spoke—about �inding purpose through creativity and about being seen not just as an exprisoner, but as an artist, a father, and a guide for others on the same path.

What the Public Said As part of the exhibition, we invited visitors to rate their experience—from 1 (not great) to 5 (loved it). Almost 9 out of 10 people gave it the top score. And the number of people who chose to leave feedback this year was three times higher than in previous years.

That tells me people weren’t just passing through. They were feeling something—and they wanted to say it.

One visitor left this message:

Tom Shortt, Arts Of�icer, Irish Prison Service; Larry Cowan, Documentary Maker, Lamb Films; Stephen Greer, PAF Artist-in-Residence, Magilligan Prison

“Really inspiring to see how art can have an impact on people from all different backgrounds. As someone with family from these backgrounds, this has given me hope that people can change.

Some talented artists in this exhibition with some real raw emotional pieces. Stephen was so lovely and hilarious—and it’s

AC, PAF Coordinator

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Issue 24 Page 18

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Issue 24 Page 20

The

Transformative

T

he Transformative Way is a new innovative book by PAF Writer-in-Residence Pamela Brown.

It presents 52 ‘tried and tested’ workshop-resources based on years of experience, which are grounded in Pamela’s vast background projected onto the genre of prison literature—a tradition that encompasses centuries of writing.

The resources are proven to empower prison-writers, maximising the ‘journey’ for the prison writer entering the workshop environment, combating literacy issues (if any) and

progressing while receiving validation.

Way

The textbook makes the case for wider acknowledgement of the prison writing and literature genre within the academy related to psychology, law, criminology and ‘post trauma individuation’.

Prison-writing facilitators will identify with Brown's engagement within creative writing as artistic discipline demanding education, talent, achievements, experience, and depths of knowledge vital to directing each workshop event, incident and outcome.

The Transformative Way is available online.

Prison is a sealed location–not the usual form of education campus

T

he Big Book of Creatvie Writing presents Koestler and Listowel Award winning prisonwriters and their works of prose and poetry, exhibiting differing levels and forms. The collection of writings are a tenyear retrospective representing Pamela Brown’s creative writing classes, 2014-2024, based at Magilligan.

The world of prison, prison life, and prison experience are laid out here, and are invaluable, not only to prison populations, but also wider society and those who study the penal system. Within they will �ind the prisoner psyche and inner landscapes, shame and

The

Big Book

“He strolled out of the shop, the newspaper baton under his armpit, the cool wrappered soap in his left hand.”

Ulysses, J. Joyce (1922)

The Transformative Way featured in Sweny’s Chemist in Dublin where Leopold Bloom purchased the Lemon Soap. sufferings, �illing out in great or little detail.

This is a private world made public; every piece of writing amounts to increasing the prison genre: highlighting the prison writer above stereotypes.

Prison is a sealed location–not the usual form of educational campus– wherein communication and community are con�ined in one space. What comes across is the population unto itself attempting individual and wider communication.

The Big Book is available from PAF.

of Creative Writing

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A

rti�icial intelligence, also known as machine intelligence is the process by which humans create intelligent machines, teaching them how to mimic human physical movements and respond in human-like ways.

The application of AI in all domains will also bring a shift in the way we do research and development in horticulture.

In the horticulture industry today machines may frequently be made to perform tasks more effectively than people, including planting, and watering, as well as testing new systems. It provides more ef�icient ways to produce, harvest and sell essential crops.

and boom in horticulture, helping to feed the increasing human population of world. Arti�icial intelligence will complement farmers and horticulturists and challenge them to make correct decisions.

Currently there is an emphasis on checking defective crops and improving the potential for healthy production. The growth in AI technology has strengthened agrobased businesses to run more ef�iciently and is used in applications such as automated machine adjustments for weather forecasting, disease weed or pest identi�ication.

AI not only assists farmers in automating their operations but also allows precise cultivation which can lead to the consumption of fewer resources. For horticulture, labour is a signi�icant expense. In comparison to large-scale farming, intensive horticultural crops require a signi�icantly more skilled labour force. Hiring labour for various tasks is responsible for over 50% of manufacturing expenditures. With the help of AI, you can reduce labour use, make effective use of herbicides and fertilisers, and minimise crop losses by harvesting at the right time.

The application of AI in all domains will also bring a shift in the way we do research and development in horticulture. AI-based goods and services, such as training data for drones, automated manufacturing, and agriculture, will progress technologically in the future and offer more valuable applications to this industry. AI can be a technological revolution

This all sounds great for some but could these new technologies be eliminating jobs for millions of people? Those that can work will have to be familiar with high tech AI, a challenge for so many people who don’t have the best education, or students trying to �ind work to get them through college.

Also, AI in horticulture won’t be cheap to get set up, meaning many small farmers may be left behind as bigger industry farms take the lead with AI systems producing so much more crop faster and cheaper. This means big industry could sell their produce at a price the small farms just can’t compete with.

There will of course be limitations on arti�icial intelligence in horticulture—for example a lack of

Is

AI

Taking Us Away From

Nature

familiarity with high tech machine learning solutions across poorer parts of the world. Cost is a big challenge and AI systems need a lot of data to train and make precise predictions.

So many people today don’t get to connect with nature and it’s not until they, on the off-chance, study horticulture or end up in a job were they have to interact in some way that they �ind out that it is actually great for their mental health. For a lot of people, they have discovered nature in this way and went on to enjoy the bene�its of walking in nature through forests and country parks. AI technology is also making the gaming world take off bigger than ever and most children these days are glued to their computer games, making fewer want to go out and explore nature—a far cry from previous generations.

WV, Magilligan

R

ory McIlory is the new winner of The Masters at Augusta National becoming the sixth ever member to reach the Grand Slam of golf (2025). Being Irish and from the North he developed an urge for swinging golf clubs from the early age of two. His father, in order to tease his wife, purchased Rory a plastic ‘play set’ as he noticed his young son’s enthusiasm. McIlory wanted to be like his father watching him as he played or walking the local golf courses together. His father guided him towards his own personal development, and as McIlory quickly grew as a player gaining attention from coaches and memberships, although, family �inances were squeezed. His parents worked tirelessly, day and night, to help fund his game.

Rory played amateur golf until the early stages of 2007 where he ultimately made a leap of faith to turn professional (aged 17). His career accelerated, now following in the footsteps of his personal icon Tiger Woods. His career developed with wins across major tournaments and challenging renowned players: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh. McIlroy himself developing a growing number of loyal fans.

After McIlroy’s fourth Major in 2014 (the US PGA) his talents continued to shine but feeling overwhelming by pressure, from both fans and critics, it took him another 11 years to be given the chance of becoming the ‘sixth’ Grand Slammer, �inally achieving his objective, his dream from childhood, of receiving that iconic ‘Green Jacket’ shared by his fellow best.

In April 2025, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose ventured into a remarkable play off. Rose himself aiming for the iconic Green Jacket. McIlroy started exceptionally well, but soon felt the pressure and expressed his challenges from one hole after the other. Finally, feeling deep distress he distanced himself from everyone believing this may be the best approach for his game play. How wrong he was,

and it took Gary Player, at 89, the oldest living member of the now six-strong Grand Slam club, to converse with him and remind him he had the best swing he’d ever seen and “do what you did at the start of the tournament, I and your fans have faith in you.” McIlroy embracing Player’s words came out in the �inal round of the tournament, inspired and cheered on by fans. McIlroy rolled the little white ball closer and closer, decisively inching within the winning hole. Drop!

McIlroy broke down, fell onto his knees and said, “my battle today was with myself,’ adding, ‘It was a struggle but I got it over the line.”

Championship, US Open and US PGA Championship titles.

PMN, Magilligan

McIlroy credits the support of his fans alongside his mum and dad’s commitments as the driving force for his achievements. The 35year-old has become only the sixth man and the �irst European to win the career Grand Slam of Masters, Open

Rory McIlory The Augusta National

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Issue 24 Page 24

Creative Expression at Hydebank Wood College

I

of the Library/ Activities department and the event was advocated for by SO Cromie and representing the Safety and Support team was SO McElnea. Their attendance underscored the commitment to fostering an environment that supports personal growth and rehabilitation.

The gathering included the prison’s Governor Farrelly, a representative

The Prison Arts Foundation’s (PAF) Chief Executive, Fred Caul�ield, was present to lend his support and share insights on the positive impact of artistic programmes within the prison community. Fred reiterated that PAF are, “dedicated to

n Hydebank Prison, on the 9th May, an evening of creative expression saw female Residents and Students share their personal thoughts and feelings through the medium of poetry. The event, a reminder that the arts can thrive in the most unlikely of places, showcased 12 emotive pieces penned by the prisoners themselves.

The evening included a presentation from Writer-in-Residence at HMP Magilligan, Pamela Brown. She read excerpts from The Big Book, a compendium of the past decade’s award-winning writings that have emerged from Magilligan. Speaking at the event Pamela said that "The Big Book is a testament to the writers’ group at Magilligan, to their dedication, the therapeutic dimensions and expressive nature of the written word." A copy of The Big Book was gifted to the Hydebank Prison Library. Pamela added that, “she hopes the book will serve as an inspiration.”

The poems read at the event referenced topics such as addiction, loss, personal development, hope, mental health and lived experiences.

The complexities of emotions that resonate with many people, providing insight, catharsis, and re�lection.

This event was a resounding success and now will be built into the centre’s quarterly events calendar.

B

Spanner in the Works Theatre Company’s production explores how trauma, lack of opportunity, and a lack of resources can in�luence young people's choices.

How do we take care of each other

Butterfly Effect

and ourselves in a world where the odds can seem stacked against us? How do we change or recover from choices that have led us onto dif�icult paths?

Butter�ly Effect is written and directed by award-winning playwright Patricia Downey.

It contains strong language and scenes that some might �ind upsetting making it suitable for ages 15+ and funded by Assets Recovery Community Scheme (ARCS).

The theatre company were based in Magilligan for several sessions, in

AI and Music

providing creative outlets for prisoners.”

The

utter�ly Effect is inspired by the real-life stories of young people and exoffenders who have been impacted by prison, addiction, and struggles with their mental health. They follow six characters from their school days to the present, exploring why they made the choices that led to them serving time in jail and how they might have made different decisions or accessed support.

artist and musicians back catalogues.

the build up to the performances on the 20 May 2025 and worked with prisoners exploring prison narratives. Following on from this they will be delivering a number of theatre writing workshops. A prisoner who took part in the workshops commented that, ‘I really enjoyed the play(s) and the script writing exercise on how to construct a working script, and it was a creative and enlightening experience.’

A

I is becoming one of the biggest and most in�luential innovations in recent years. It’s being used by almost all areas of world industry from computing to engineering and the military industrial complex, which is scary in itself, but I’m interested in what the pros and cons of its use are in music.

Would it help or hurt it?

The evolution of music from the dawn of time was only limited to the musician’s own imagination and creativity, each new instrument or technique developing into various genres from classical to EDM, Country to Hard Rock, RnB to Grime/Hip Hop. But recently with the help of AI tools all the creative ground breaking leaps in music making and song writing have been broken down into some AI program, put through an algorithm, and with the click of a button can compose in an instant a piece of music. This works especially well for electronic music of various genres.

This also goes for lyrics and song writers. As above, you can ask AI to write a song and seconds later lyrics are produced by an algorithm? All of these tools are already here and are being used.

Recently, Elton John and Dua Lipa, amongst others, have expressed their worries about the potential copyright infringement in relation to the techniques of some of these AI Programs use of

Music made by a musician or composer is made with emotion and creativity, sometimes blood, sweat and tears, every song, ever written, has a story behind it. All this, in turn, gives the listeners their own individual emotional response to it.

I would see AI as a plus, for the artists who struggle engineering/ mastering their own music, when a musician has help from it to navigate music programs like Logic, Reason, Q-Base or FL Studio and the software plugins for these platforms.

Sometimes if you’re a fan, knowing the story behind a piece of music makes it feel like much more than a song. On the other hand, instead of blood, sweat and emotion we have in 30 secs, a few gigabyte (GBs) and an AI algorithm later, a piece of music which realistically is a fancy remix of all

the music analysed by the AI software.

AI has both the potential to open the door for many looking to �ind their voice through music, supporting them technically and giving them the space to focus on the creative side, while also exploiting the hard work already done by many artists, undermining their achievements and ownership of their art. It is both sides of this coin we should be conscious of as the technology progresses.

JK, Magilligan

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Issue 24 Page 26

New Dawn for Creativity?

A

rti�icial Intelligence is being used to generate all kinds of art at the minute and selling for huge sums of money. Is this the end of an era for creativity or the beginning of a new dawn?

I was reading an article on this recently and the theme of it was AI vs the mind which explored the limits of AI compared to human creativity. The main subject was a humanoid robot artist called Ai-Da, and certainly questions how we de�ine art. You only have to look at some ‘exhibits’ in recent times to see that anything can be considered as art. Take the recent banana duct-taped to a wall, would you consider this as an art piece?

Well then certainly anything can be classed as art no matter who or in this case, what, created it.

Plagiarism is a concern for artists as their work is used to train algorithms, but then there are artists who are embracing it and are seeing it as a new outlet for their own creativity. Sougwen Chung, a Canadian artist – has fully embraced AI and has exclusively trained algorithms on their works

alone to further push their creative boundaries.

Although society’s fear is jobsnatching AI algorithms and robot domination, I do not see it as such. AI is a technological revolution, and the possibilities of harnessing it are endless. I would see it as an opportunity to start creating art in a totally different way. Instead of being bogged down with certain styles—AI could open us up to new collaborations with the machines!

There are examples of technology in history sending us in new directions throughout history, photography being one. In the 1800s artists saw the camera as the antithesis of the artist, and photographs as the enemy of the art establishment. But instead of replacing painting, photography played a pivotal role in shaping the art movements as artists moved away from realism towards abstraction.

As technology advances ever faster, I think we should embrace it and as an artist, I certainly will be utilising it.

Recently I saw an AI app which can

create any image you can think of in a number of different styles which could transform my painting style overnight! This is just one example of many and when I am released from prison, will be diving head �irst into AI to see how I can improve my art output.

So instead of being afraid of the beast, why not try to tame it?

Society’s fear of AI has been hugely in�luenced by movies (Terminator or Wargames springs to mind), so I think it’s time to roll with it or else get rolled over by it!

“When we can start to see that the systems we build are actually us in another form, then we’re heading in the direction around a multiplicity of intelligences and approaches to intelligence.”

—Sougwen Chung.

RMcA, Magilligan

So instead of being afraid of the beast, why not try to tame it?

A

rt in its many forms from cave painting to digital artistry, Mozart to Kae Tempest, Shakespeare to Dan Brown (well, maybe not the last example), has maintained its hold on our societies, mainly due to how it expresses our creativity and individuality in accessible forms. From our early years, of �inger painting, scrawled on reams of paper, we produce art.

Much of it festooned upon fridge doors, nursery walls, or, in grandparents’ cupboards. For why?

The artistic ape will find a way of existing alongside its creation version of my poem, was, why all the extra words, sixty in total. Maybe because computational science does not easily tolerate gaps in data. It is apparent to me that the AI tried to �ill in the gaps, which I have intentionally left out, in the information, with its own supplementary explanation. For example; The AI has added, “I drift

Artificialis Because art says something about the artist and their understanding of the world, in a relatable way. My form of artistic expression is literature, especially poetry. It enables me to put into the material world, the observations of my life, on myself and others. Humanity has a comparative ability, used in order to make thousands of decisions every day, which enable us to function and remain safe. So, can we the artistic apes, tell the difference between AI and human art?

Included are two poems, addressing the same topic, one written by AI the other by myself. If you have not yet read them, I suggest you do that now, else be confronted by spoilers.

Can you tell which is which? Was the decision easy, or, did you have to reread the poems in order to develop an opinion? My initial thoughts, when confronted by the AI

command or instruction. My poem is entered as information, for the AI to use, as an indication of the elements required in the answer. The answer AI gives, is also dependent upon the parameters it has been provided with, in this case the creation of a poem. Which will consist of the elements we recognise, e.g. rhythm and rhyme. To be creative within the constraints of rudimentary and purposeful adaptations AI, in my opinion, at this stage of its evolution, is only going to be able to formulate art from information, deplete of what us mere mortals like to call emotion. As this fascinating and exciting new age of technological intelligence progresses, the artistic ape will �ind a way of existing alongside its creation, in a way that Mary Shelley would have been proud.

with thoughts unchained” into my second line. An attempt to explain what I am doing, or, thinking, �loating in the cold empty place. And AI adds “A revelation grows like dawn’s �irst light” is AI’s attempt to deliberate, as it uses the word “like” RED, Magilligan instead of as. The AI, in my opinion, has been learning and feeding on classical literature. For Floating inside this cold empty example, place, Devoid of time, “settles heavy like a stone, I drift with thoughts unchained, my hollow echoes mind turns in on itself, whisper truths” A dark embrace, to face a madness, reads, a little quietly constrained. like, a line from someone as Alone. How much longer do I have distinguished as to wait? To wake Percy Shelley.

What I �ind intriguing is how the AI processes the

Floating inside this cold empty place, Devoid of time, my mind turns in on Itself to face a madness. Alone.

How much longer do I have to wait?

To wake. Endlessly. I am losing, Weakness is winning. Am I even Breathing? I can’t feel, all movements gone.

Revelation. These are my last thoughts.

Realisation. This is not sleep.

From this endless void where shadows play; I am losing, Weakness is winning my fate—am I even breathing?

Moments slip away. I can’t feel; all movements gone, Erased, a revelation grows like dawn’s first light, These are my last thoughts in silence encased: This is not sleep... no comfort in the night. Realisation Settles heavy like stone, Hollow echoes whisper truths Yet to be told; as dreams unravel in the twilight alone, The essence of being fades into the cold.

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lster University were in Magilligan prison delivering the �irst two co-learning experiences involving prisoners and students from the outside.

The �irst law course was introduced into Magilligan prison during the �irst semester of 2024, and the �irst Criminology course in February 2025. The courses were set up through Ulster University and based on models from the United States of America such as The Inside Out Program.

The law course entailed the coming together of outside students from Ulster University in Belfast and inside students from here in Magilligan. The course ran for 12 weeks, and we had to complete two 1000 word essays, complete group work on several types of law which we would feedback to the lecturers and in the last three weeks we did group projects and presented them to the class, family members and the head of the school of law at Ulster University.

The Criminology course entailed again the coming together of students from Ulster University, this time from the Magee Campus in Derry and inside students from here in Magilligan. The course ran for 12 weeks, and we had to complete four re�lective diaries of 500 words each and in the last three weeks we again did group projects and presented them to the lecturer, class and an assessor. We also got an extra visit with our families at the end of both

Issue 24 Page 28 the courses, and even a barbecue at the end of the criminology one.

Listowel 2025

The only criteria needed to join these courses is dedication to study, engage in the best way you can and write a few essays on the course work.

There was plenty of support, advice and guidance throughout the courses to help you to achieve good marks and succeed.

I was made aware of the course by a friend and a member of staff. I immediately turned it down, and said this is way out of my league, as I hadn’t engaged in any accredited courses since 2004/5. These were gym instructor level 1&2 and it didn’t entail too much written work with more of a practical style and exams based on multiple choice answers. A friend convinced me to have a go and see where it leads to. I’m glad I listened to the advice as the courses were great and I learned a lot and surprised myself how well I’d done.

This was the �irst high level educational course I had done in my life. I left school when I was 14, to work, and these were the �irst essays I had ever written. It was not easy and I toiled with whether I should

Ulster University in Magilligan

T

he submissions for the Listowel Writers’ Week writing competition are categorized into two distinct genres: Short Stories and Poetry. Writers are invited to participate in one of three skill-based levels: Getting Started, Intermediate, or Advanced. This year’s event saw participation from a diverse range of individuals, with 247 entries received from 136 writers across various locations: 14 prisons in the south, one additional secure facility, and 3 prisons located in the north.

continue. I felt like I was taking up a space better suited to someone else who was more capable. I now know that was not the case as I exceeded my expectations and got good marks. So please don’t think you are not capable as I am the perfect example that you are.

I’m ashamed to say I had a preconception of students and lecturers from past experiences of mingling with students and lecturers in Cambridge. I wrote about this in my essay and I’m happy to say my mind is well and truly changed. The students and lecturers were all sound and we had good craic throughout. I’d also like to thank the lecturers and my fellow students for all their encouragement, guidance and support throughout the two semesters.

If this is something you might be interested in? Please contact SO Gerry or look out for posters being put up around the prison in the near future. I hope I have done the Ulster University justice by writing this article and provided you the reader with enough information, encouragement and the belief to take part. Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

MJS, Magilligan

The entries are showcased in the following manner: a selection of writings are presented here in Time In while the �irst prize winners in each category are showcased in our cross-border magazine collaboration All In, providing the authors with a valuable platform to share their literary talents and gain recognition.

Additionally, the competition winners receive prize money while a notable feature of this event is that every winner, including Highly

Commended, receives a classical Cross Pen as a symbol of their achievement.

This year, Magilligan Writers secured a notable win in the Poetry Getting Started category, claiming �irst place with the poem "Australia," which was written by WB. Additionally, within the Poetry Intermediate category, the group distinguished themselves with two more accolades: a secondplace for "Ag Fánacht," penned by SMcC, and a third-place award for

DH's piece, "How to stay centred when you’re surrounded by chaos."

Their literary success extended to the short story genre writing as well, where they earned a second prize in the Short Story Intermediate category for JPW's narrative titled "Are you Santa Claus?" and a prestigious second prize in the Short Story Advanced category with the "The Last Day," authored by DON. PMB, PAF Writer-in-Residence, Magilligan

Page 29 Time In

Issue 24 Page 30

The Last Day

Ag Fánacht

3rd Prize Advanced Short Story

2nd Prize Intermediate Poetry

F

or as long as Michael could remember, the walls of the prison had been his world.

They were solid, unyielding, and inescapable. And after years of living within those walls, they had become more than just the physical boundaries of his con�inement. They had become a part of him—his prison, his identity, his reason to wake up each morning. Or, at least, that’s how it had felt for the �irst few years.

Now, on the eve of his release, as he sat in the small, grimy cell that had been his home for so long, Michael felt a strange weight in his chest. It was not the excitement he had expected; it wasn’t the relief that everyone said he would feel. Instead, it was something far more complicated—guilt.

Tomorrow, he was walking out of this place. He was going home. Or at least, that’s what they had told him at the parole hearing. But the thought of leaving behind the men he’d come to know, to care about, left a bitterness that soured the air around him.

He looked out the small, barred window above his cell, watching as the last traces of daylight faded from the sky. He could hear the usual sounds from the yard below: the shuf�le of footsteps and keys, the quiet chatter, the distant clang of metal doors. He thought of the men who wouldn’t be leaving, the men who, like him, had been here too long. They had become like brothers to him over the years—some of them good men who had made terrible mistakes, others who had just gotten lost along the way.

“Hey, Mike,” came a voice from the door. Michael turned to see Sam, a burly man in his forties with a scar that ran down the length of his cheek.

Sam had been here longer than Michael—longer than anyone, it seemed. He had heard Michael’s story a hundred times, the one about how he’d been a promising college student before a rash decision turned his life upside down.

Sam had made his own share of bad decisions, but unlike Michael, he had never seen the light at the end of the tunnel. He was in for life.

Tá mé ag fánacht ar traein le mo thuras deirenach a glacadh.

Cá háit a bhfuil mé ag dúl?

Níl a �hios agam.

Tá eagla orm.

Tá imní orm.

Níl mé réidh, ach sin ráite, cé atá réidh?

Tá mé ag fagáil mó phaistí.

Tá mé ag fagáil mo bhean cheile.

Cad é a tharla domh?

Níl a �hios agam.

Bomáite amháin bhí mé sa bhaile le mo leanbh Agus bomáite eile tá mé i mo sheasamh anseo, ag an staisiún, ag fánacht.

Beidh an traein anseo i gceann cúpla nóiméad Agus glacfaidh mé mo thuras deireanach.

Tá rudaí iontach deanta agam, Agus tá rudaí milteanach deanta agam.

Nuair a amharcaim siar, tá aiféala orm.

Tá spriocanna agus cuspóirí nar bhain mé amach.

Tá mé brodúil fosta áfach, brodúil as an �hear a bhí mé.

Bhí saol mór sásta fadálach agam agus as sin tá buíochas orm.

Feic�idh mé mo chlann lá éigin sa todhchaí Agus beidh muid uillig le cheile arís?

Ach go dtí sin, beidh orm an traein a glacadh ar m’aonar.

Tá sí ag teacht anois.

Caith�idh mé imeacht.

Tá an fanacht thart Agus tá mé imithe ar mo thuras deireanach.

“You okay?” Sam asked, his eyes softening as he took a step inside.

Michael forced a smile. “Yeah, just thinking.”

Sam raised an eyebrow. “Thinking?

Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts.”

Michael sighed, looking down at his hands. “I don’t know, man. It’s just…

I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m free. But it doesn’t feel right. These guys… they’re still here. I can’t help but feel like I’m abandoning them.”

Sam sat down on the edge of the bed, his large frame making the already cramped cell feel even smaller. “You aren’t abandoning anyone, Mike. You did your time. You paid your dues.

They aren’t mad at you for getting out.

Hell, some of them probably wish they could be in your shoes.”

through hell and back. That’s the hardest part. Whatever comes next, you can handle it. And you’ve got something most people out there don’t even know about—perspective.

You know what it means to �ight for something. You know what it means to make a choice and stick with it. Not many people get that.”

Tomorrow, he would walk out of here.

And he would carry with him the lessons he had learned—not just about surviving, but about living.

About redemption. About how the greatest victory wasn’t leaving this place behind—it was taking everything he had learned and making it count in the world outside.

Michael felt a �licker of hope rise in him, but the guilt still weighed heavily on his chest. “I just wish I could do more. I wish I could help them. I feel like I’m walking away from all the promises I made—promises I couldn’t keep.”

He didn’t need to carry the weight of others’ dreams. He just needed to live his own.

Sam’s eyes softened, and for the �irst time, Michael saw a trace of something like understanding in them. “You’re not walking away from anything, Mike. You’re just moving forward. And you can help them, in your own way. You can make it out there and show them that there’s still hope, that life can change, even when it feels impossible. That’s all you can do.”

Michael was silent for a moment, the weight of Sam’s words sinking in. He hadn’t thought of it that way before.

Maybe he couldn’t save them all, but he could show them what was possible. He could live a life that proved change wasn’t just a fairy tale.

SMcC, Magilligan

“Maybe you’re right,” Michael said, his voice quieter now. “Maybe the best thing I can do is make something of myself. Maybe I can be the guy who doesn’t let this place de�ine him.”

Michael shook his head, his mind whirling. “But I know what it’s like to be stuck in here. To feel like you’re never gonna get out. I’ve made peace with the idea of being in prison. I’ve come to accept it. But… what about them? What if they never get a chance?”

Sam nodded. “That’s the spirit. And hey, we’ll be cheering for you. You get out there, make something of it.

You’re not alone, even if you think you are. We’ll be here, keeping an eye on you.”

Sam’s face grew sombre. “Some of us will never get out. That’s the way it is.

You can’t save everyone, Mike. You can’t carry all that weight. All you can do is take care of yourself now. You’ve got a second chance. That’s what matters.”

Michael stood up, pacing the small space. “I don’t know. I’m just… I’m scared. What if out there, the world’s changed too much? What if I don’t know how to live outside anymore?

What if I fail?”

“You’re not going to fail,” Sam said �irmly, his voice steady. “You’ve been

Michael smiled, the �irst genuine smile he’d worn in days. “Thanks, Sam. I needed to hear that.”

Sam stood up, clapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t mention it. You’ve earned it. Now get some rest.

Tomorrow’s a big day.”

As Sam left, Michael stood there for a moment longer, looking at the cracked walls, the faded paint, the bars on the window that had framed his life for so long. He wasn’t the same person who had �irst stepped into this prison all those years ago. He had been broken, confused, angry. But he had learned.

He had survived. And now, it was time to move forward.

As the lights �lickered off in the corridor, Michael took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his past and the possibility of his future. And for the �irst time in years, he felt ready.

Tomorrow wasn’t just his release. It was the beginning of something new.

He could do this. He would do this.

The past was gone. The future was waiting. And he was ready to embrace it.

DON, Magilligan

How to stay centred when you’re surrounded by chaos…

3rd Prize Intermediate Poetry

S T A Y C E N T E R E D

taying centred in prison, being surrounded by chaos, and the only thing you are in control of is what is going on inside your head, ake time to understand everything that is going on around you,

llow others to have their say,

ou don’t know what other people are going through,

are about everyone’s opinion that matters to you,

njoy the things in life that make you happy,

ever get consumed by the negatives,

omorrow can always be better,

mpty your mind of the things you don’t like,

ecognise your thoughts and feelings and don’t allow others to force their thoughts and feelings onto you,

ach new day brings new hopes and dreams,

on’t stay down because you only have one life to live, so get up and �ight for it.

DH, Magilligan

Page 31 Time In

Issue 24 Page 32

Are You Santa Claus?

2nd Prize Intermediate Short Story

H

e stood looking out at the ocean, its vivid blue re�lecting the clear sky above. The foam from the waves were cloud-like in their white clarity and he listened to them crash against the cliff face below him. They were a soothing sound, like the white noise machines he’d heard other people use to help them sleep. He examined the sky, clear but for a few solitary clouds, engaged in a slow waltz across their bright cerulean stage. The sound of childish laughter and excited screams from the play park behind him in the distance added a muted backdrop. He shivered slightly as a soft but crisp breeze tickled him, disturbing his long bushy beard and hair, both brilliant white, robbed of their colour by the trammels of time.

He took a deep breath, tasting the salt on the coastal air.

‘Beautiful,’ he thought, ‘but not beautiful enough.’ *

*

*

‘Gerry!’ Margaret shouted as she came in through the front door.

‘Gerry!’ louder this time after getting no reply.

She hung her coat behind the door and went into the living room. She sat her burgundy handbag down on the new cream leather sofa they had just bought last week. She had argued with Gerry that they couldn’t afford it, but he had been set on it.

He’d been a little morose of late so she had relented, hoping it would cheer him up.

She looked through to the kitchen but could see no sign of him.

Walking to the bottom of the stairs she called him again. Still without success, she returned to the living room. ‘Where the fuck’s he got to?’ she thought to herself.

She went to her handbag, intent on retrieving her phone but got distracted by a white envelope atop the mahogany coffee table. She noticed her name written neatly across the front, recognising the

penmanship as Gerry’s. Forgetting her phone, she went to it. Opening it, she began to read, the blood slowly draining from her as she did so.

When she �inished, she thought her heart was going to literally break in her chest.

She went straight to her phone and called Gerry.

*

*

*

Gerry looked down at the screen of his phone as it rang. He didn’t consider answering it even for a second. He had been expecting this call.

The ringing stopped and the screen �lickered, now telling him that he had one missed call from Margaret.

Help Me! 2nd Prize Getting Started Poetry Daily I have the weirdest dreams It involves shootings, beatings and always screams They come so fast in waves and streams Lately my head’s been so f***** up I can’t get myself out of this rut, I feel stuck I know in my life I have always done wrong But I dunno how to be normal, I’ve been like this so long I just wanna be the best dad I can be I was brilliant at the start; I was only 17 I’m really trying to be the best dad I can be I’m lost without my kids, its’ like I’ve lost a part of me Please someone help! I wanna be free I wanna be free to make all my own choices My head is so tired from �ighting the voices My mind and my body don’t seem to do what I tell it Even when I cry, even when I yell It’s as if someone is controlling me Why won’t it stop? I just wanna be free!

I think of suicide all the time, I even buy a rope Sometimes I fell there’s just no hope Since the age of 12 I thought I was someone else So I tried to hang my original self I tried to swing but I snapped the belt No-one could see how unhappy I felt Sometimes I just feel there’s no way out So I �ight and I kick and I scream and I shout But then I think about your tiny little face Finally, I see the light, I turn to my faith Please Lord save me with your love and grace I know I need to try harder from here on I can’t let this addiction win, I gotta be strong You’re the reason that I can keep going You’re my little cute angel with such a cute face It reminded me how great is God’s loving grace I’ll try the hardest I’ve ever tried to be your dad I never wanna see you hurt, angry or sad I love you forever deep in my heart I just need a little HELP! To know where to start All I need is a chance to prove to you When I start this time, I’ll see it through I’ll see it through to the very end You can be my daughter again and daddy’s best friend I love you so much and always want you to know this I wish you could give me one big hug, one big kiss I miss you so much, that much is true I hope you love me like I love you You’ll always be my daughter and my best friend too.

FD, Maghaberry

He switched the phone off and let it drop to the grass at his feet.

‘Something for them to �ind afterwards,’ he supposed.

He returned his gaze to the scene before him, the ocean waves and soft-clouds still entwined in their carefully choreography.

Another deep breath returned him to serenity. Never before had he experienced such peace of mind.

Devoid of all other thought, his focus was solely on the sounds, sights and scents of this cliff-edge tableau.

‘Excuse me, sir,’ a voice tingled at the edge of his consciousness.

‘Excuse me!’ more insistently this time.

The voice �inally broke through and he turned to �ind a woman wearing a look of deep concern. At her side, and attached to her outstretched hand, was a young girl, six or seven years old by his estimate. She, in contrast with her chaperon who he assumed was her mother, had an expression of curious wonder. He worked up a smile which he quickly presented to the pair.

‘Hello. Can I help you with something?’ he asked softly.

‘No, its �ine,’ the woman responded, ‘I just thought you were standing awfully close to the edge there. We get strong gusts up here so it can be dangerous being that close. Please, be careful.’

‘Oh, don’t worry about me,’ he guffawed, ‘I’ll be �ine.’

She didn’t look convinced, but neither did she comment further.

‘Thanks for your concern,’ he added, ‘but I assure you, I’ll be �ine.’

He turned again, intent on returning once more to his hypnosis.

‘Mister! Mister!’ he heard behind him, the young girl this time.

‘Shush, Katie!’ her mother interjected, a hushed but insistent reprimand.

He turned to face them, his broad smile �ixed back on his face.

‘Mister!’ the Katie continued unabashed, ‘Are you Santa Claus?’

Chuckling to himself, and giving his abundant white beard a tussle, he moved towards the girl, creakily

The Orange Dancer 2nd Prize Advanced Poetry …an Orange Dancer upon a blue-lit stage, you �licker back and forth with an unkempt rage.

Man’s �irst discovery, a gift from the Gods but destructive and ruinous to even the odds.

There are a thousand daggers as you dance upon my skin, a pain so unbearable to hush the war within, a permanent mark, a temporary solution, I’ll do whatever it takes to stop my Brain’s revolution.

“You are worthless, you are nothing,” It screams from inside, “the world would prefer if you curled up and died.”

So I turn to the Dancer, put �lint to the steel, replace the burning inside with a pain that is real.

“Good, burn deeper,” It says as it stares, “You can’t seriously believe that anyone cares.”

So you dance once again, the stage lit bright as you sway back and forth, turn my �lesh black and white.

The others, they notice as skin becomes scar, maybe just this time I took it too far.

No right to complain, a self-in�licted af�liction, the screaming inside, it only fuels my addiction.

An Orange Dancer upon a blue-lit stage, maybe next time I will turn a new page.

For now, the war starts and I have only one answer, on a blue-lit stage, stands a lone Orange Dancer.

MH, Hydebank

hunkering down so that he was level with her.

‘It’s important now Katie,’ he said quietly, ‘that we keep our voices down. I’m taking a little holiday before I have all my deliveries to do and we don’t want everyone knowing that I’m here.’

He offered her a conspiratorial wink to which she adopted a look of unquali�ied seriousness.

‘Your secret’s safe with me,’ she said, sealing her mouth with an imaginary zip.

This provoked warmth and a genuine smile in Gerry. Looking up at her mother he commented, ‘Well if that’s the case, I think Katie will be getting a special gift this year.’ He received a nod and smile in con�irmation.

Just as he �inished speaking he found himself rugby tackled by the young girl who leaped on him to hug him tight. Caught unaware, he almost toppled over, but regaining his

balance he returned the hug. The innocence, sincerity and sheer delight wrapped up in that embrace left him a little stunned. And when she turned her head to whisper in his ear, ‘I love you Santa,’ and to give him a small peck on the cheek, he found himself choking up. His eyes welling, he was left speechless.

The girl let him go, turning her attention to her mother, ‘Mummy, can we go to the park now?’ With permission, the girl took off.

The mother gave Gerry a look of bemusement as he attempted to regain his composure. Without a word, she turned to pursue Katie, shouting to her to slow down and wait.

Gerry watched them go for a few seconds before he returned to the cliff edge. He took one �inal deep breath, savouring the fresh saltiness, before retrieving his phone from the dewy grass.

JPW, Magilligan

Page 33 Time In

The

Issue 24 Page 34 How the Shannon Trust works? It’s on a one to one basis, peer to peer. It’s also con�idential and can be done over lunch or off the wing for your privacy. The requirements? Be willing to learn, the minimum Learning to read, learning to write, amount of I was full of frustration, I had to sessions are three get it right, half hour lessons per week with I was full of confusion, I didn’t feel you and your that bright mentor. You can I’m not going to lie, I was getting gain up to six it tight. accredited certi�icates for Letters from my girlfriend I’d reading and the wonder what they say, same for They’re coming in the post every numeracy. If you are interested other day. here in Magilligan, Dose she still love me? Is she ok? please put it on a I need to ease my mind so I request to SO Davey Spratt, practice every day.

Ashley Paul or ask for the Shannon I got a pen and paper, and a few Trust Mentor Coordinator to come CDs see you.

Shannon Trust A Prisoner Led Initiative

I

trained as a Shannon Trust mentor in April 2016, in Peterborough prison, England.

I’ve since worked in my role as a mentor in �ive prisons across the North of Ireland and England.

I’ve recently been promoted to Mentor Co-ordinator.

At �irst there were challenges, it was a new initiative in the prison, and getting individuals to enrol involved changing mind-sets and priorities.

Other stumbling blocks included building positive attitudes and trust between of�icers and mentors, as well as with prisoners on the wings in terms of no hidden agendas and our commitment to the project.

I almost gave up, even before my �irst learner had completed the programme, until one day he read a letter, for the �irst time in his life, from his eight-year-old daughter.

The moment was so powerful, I had a lump in my throat and quickly made an excuse to go to the toilet. I needed to collect my thoughts, and get back in the zone. The pride and the joy on this man’s face made up my mind for me, and the good that came from this was time well spent and far outweighed the negatives. I decided no matter what obstacles I faced I was going to continue being a mentor for the Shannon Trust. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made on my journey through my prison sentence.

I’ve taught over �ifty learners to read, twenty �ive prisoners to write and thirty to spell. I’ve taught six learners numeracy, which is a new addition. The Shannon Trust is an asset to prisoners and their chances of gaining an education, and not least at a basic level managing day to day life in prison, and, crucially, being able to read letters from loved ones.

If you are in Hydebank or Maghaberry, and are interested in being a mentor or learner, please contact your sentence manager or anyone from Shannon Trust to take part in the program.

Watch this space, a new Shannon Trust Hub is opening very soon. For anyone who would like to learn with more privacy, off the wing, or with a mentor from another wing the hub will be the perfect spot for you.

MJS, Magilligan

Learning to Read

I blocked out the words and listened to the beats A mind full of rhythm, I write it on a sheet, As I think about home the words started to flow, Scribbles on a page only I’d know, Each and every day my learning style grows I never went to school, it could be worse, I can block out the lyrics and write my own verse I’d bang on my door, I’d shout and curse.

I was locked up in prison through learning I’d leave Always be creative and have selfbelief If you put your mind to it, anything can be achieved As my book opens my world is revealed.

VD

When someone dies we can feel a lot of emotions including being abandoned, angry, guilty, shocked and sad. Talking about how you feel when someone has died can help.

Cruse can offer you a weekly session with a volunteer who will listen and provide support.

Listeners

Interested in applying for the Open University?

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to offer support to inmates who are having a difficult time.

Speak to Andrea in the library for an application form and Prospectus.

To make a request ask an officer on the landing. The scheme is independent of the prison authorities and completely CONFIDENTIAL.

CCRC

Devoted to improving the health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ people and their families, as well as those questioning their orientation or gender.

Confidential one-to-one support and counselling is available.

Speak to Safety and Support or contact us using the confidential phone numbers that are on the privileged phone list: Belfast: 02890 319030

Turning Pages Shannon Trust is a reading programme specifically designed for adults who struggle with reading.

It’s a peer led, confidential, one-toone programme that can be worked through in short bursts of 20 minutes a session.

If you are interested in improving your reading or becoming a Mentor speak to landing staff, Andrea in the library or any of the Learning and Skills staff.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Wrongly convicted of a crime?

Support services are available for all in custody and their families.

Speak to your class officer, your sentence manager or the family support team for further information.

Lost your appeal?

You can apply to the CCRC! Free to apply Forms available in the PDU

AD:EPT provide a range of services to people who have problems with drug and alcohol abuse.

All AD:EPT workers are trained professionals who offer a sensitive and confidential service.

Ask an officer on the landing to arrange an appointment or speak to your medical officer or probation officer.

Church Services

Being a dad in prison isn’t easy.

For help and support request an appointment.

The spiritual needs of inmates are catered for in prison as well as on the outside. The main denominations have chaplaincies but others are also accommodated.Speak to your landing officer to contact them.

Need Help With Housing?

Housing Rights are Here for You! Just Request to See Us!

Page 35 Time In

Artificial Intelligence So many advances and changes Since I’ve been imprisoned Where will we be in 2028?

How far can it go?

Do we need to worry about employment?

Our future?

Will humanity be made redundant?

Will Skynet strike �irst?

Is Terminator 2: Judgement Day about to happen?

Will Robots take over?

Is this for our own protection?

Is this evolutionary progression?

Is humanity up for natural selection?

Can AI save our precious planet?

STOP the rise of dangerous gasses?

Stem hunger among the masses?

Finally �ind a cure for Cancer?

Is AI humanity’s answer?

End suffering and human torture Building blocks to stack the future.

WB, Magilligan

Credits Cover Art: RMcA; Graphic Design: JPW Writers: BT, Honest Jim, JWMC, JPW, AC, PMB, Big L, WV, PMN, JK, RMcA, RED, MJS, DON; Poets: RED, SMcC, DH, FD, MH, VD; Thanks to LRL for his help with the proof reading.

C������ U� Prison Arts Foundation (PAF) is a registered charity that seeks to provide access to the arts for people who have offended in Northern Ireland. Our mission is to inspire creativity and encourage personal and social change in offenders within the criminal justice system, through the arts.

Time In Magazine

Prison Arts Foundation

Education Centre

Unit 3, Clanmil Arts & Business Centre

HMP Magilligan

Northern Whig Building

Point Road

2-10 Bridge Street

Limavady BT49 0LR

Belfast

Phone : 028 90247872 Email: info@prisonartsfoundation.com

All contributions welcome. While reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of material in the magazine, Time In accepts no responsibility in law for accuracy or contents of each issue. No item may be reproduced without the written permission of PAF. Printed by magilliganprinting@gmail.com Phone: 028 777 20 598