Teaching in Prisons
Edith has launched a campaign to raise £20,000 to fund the continuation of her initiative to teach ancient thought and civilisation in UK prisons: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ace-in-prisons
Since 2024, in partnership with Novus Education, a team in the Durham Department of Classics and Ancient History led by Edith and her colleague Arlene Holmes-Henderson, has been bringing a new course entitled Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life into English and Welsh prisons. The aim is to share precious advice from ancient thinkers on life goals, potential, happiness, friendship, decision-making, emotional literacy and effective persuasion as well as inspiring insights into ancient civilisations.
In January 2026, Edith and Arlene trained eleven professional prison educators to deliver the course, with the aim of it becoming available across the sector.
In February 2026 the course was awarded the Outstanding Team Quality Award-Learner Facing at the annual national Outstanding Achievement Awards scheme won by Novus, and Arlene, second from left, was present to receive it at the Manchester awards ceremony.
