Lee Child Visits HMP Millsike
November 06, 2025Posted by:
World-renowned thriller writer Lee Child visited HMP Millsike this month for the second stage of his partnership with PeoplePlus - an initiative designed to build confidence, literacy and self-expression through the power of reading and writing.
This pilot partnership began when Lee approached PeoplePlus earlier this year with an idea to make reading more accessible in prisons and to share its benefits more widely – as part of the Pilot Prisons Literacy Project Lee is leading with MP for Colne Valley, Paul Davies. Lee’s vision was to use his own work as the catalyst, encouraging men to read one of his novels, Killing Floor, write a short review, and then come together to discuss the themes, emotions and moral choices that emerge through the story. Throughout the partnership learners who demonstrate a particular flair for writing and positive behaviour, will be mentored on release and provided with a reference from Lee to help them further their writing aspirations on the outside. This in itself offers the learners something to focus on and aim for during their time in HMP Millsike. Looking ahead, Lee has pledged to continue supporting the men at HMP Millsike.
Speaking about why this matters to him, Lee said:
“People who didn’t get the start that I got, people who’ve had trauma or bad luck, aren’t bad people. If we can help even one in ten to rebuild their lives, that’s good for everyone. It saves money, strengthens communities, and gives people a way to start again. This isn’t a soft idea, it’s practical. It’s about solving problems and helping people not to come back.”
Lee is clear that his involvement is about pragmatism as much as compassion.
“It’s about paying forward the luck I’ve had,” he explained. “Literacy is power. If you can read, you can work things out for yourself, you can get a job, you can manage your life. And if we can help people improve those skills while they’re inside, we give them a better shot when they leave and that helps everyone.”
The author led two Question & Answer and reading review sessions with groups of men who had each received a complimentary copy of Killing Floor and written their own reflections. The learners asked Lee about his background, how he got into writing, the characterisation around the central character in Lee’s books; ‘Jack Reacher’ and the plots throughout the books, plus any advice he’d give to budding writers.
Lee spoke candidly about his own journey from redundancy to becoming one of the world’s most successful writers, describing how reading had shaped his childhood and provided both escape and imagination during difficult times.
“Reading gives people a few days of freedom and immersion in another world,” he said. “Writing goes one step further, it gives you a way to express feelings you might not otherwise talk about. You can write about a character who’s really you, and that helps make sense of what’s in your head.”
As HMP Millsike continues to deliver its reading strategy, this partnership has been invaluable in promoting a culture of reading for pleasure amongst the learners.
Head of Education Skills & Work at PeoplePlus, Jo Hepi commented: “Collaborating with Lee and his team has been a powerful catalyst in embedding literacy, creativity, and aspiration at HMP Millsike.”
The initiative is part of a wider commitment across the prison to improve literacy and engagement through creative education. With around half of prisoners nationally estimated to have reading or writing difficulties, building literacy levels and confidence in reading and writing is a top priority for the education provision at PeoplePlus. After Lee’s visit the men spoke with genuine enthusiasm about how engaging, candid, and honest he was throughout the session. Lee personally signed 61 copies of The Killing Floor and took the time to speak individually with every participant. One learner, Tim shared:
“Today has been inspirational, Lee was really engaging and I appreciated his honesty around why he became a writer. To be given this opportunity in prison is something I’ll never forget.”
Alongside the benefits for learners, Lee also emphasised the value of shared reading across the prison community. He hopes the programme will help build common ground between staff and prisoners using literature as a leveler and a source of connection.
“Reading calms things down,” he said. “If people are reading, stress goes down for everyone, that’s been proven. But it’s also something staff can take part in too. If people on both sides of the gate talk about the same stories, it makes daily life that bit easier and a lot more human.”
Library Manager Suzy, at HMP Millsike said the initiative has created a real buzz across the site:
“Reading has a ripple effect across the whole prison. It calms the wings, gives people something positive to talk about, and has created real excitement. The men have been counting down to Lee’s visit and have taken huge pride in their writing.”
Emma Yorke, Divisional Managing Director for Justice at PeoplePlus, said:
“Lee’s involvement with the learners and the Library has brought something genuinely special to HMP Millsike. His approach is grounded, generous, and focused on giving the men a fair chance to rebuild their lives. Having someone of his caliber and standing in the literary community spend time with our learners here shows that rehabilitation can be both aspirational and practical. Reading and writing are central to that process and this partnership is one of many ways we’re helping prisoners grow their skills and confidence.”
November 06, 2025Posted by:
