Author Michael Maisey visits HMYOI Aylesbury YOI to discuss his book and his experience of life after prison

Author and ex-offender Michael Maisey visited HMYOI Aylesbury to discuss his debut novel, a memoir, Young Offender: My Life from Armed Robber to Local Hero.
Author and ex-offender Michael Maisey visited HMYOI Aylesbury to discuss his debut novel, a memoir,Young Offender: My Life from Armed Robber to Local Hero.Author and ex-offender Michael Maisey visited HMYOI Aylesbury to discuss his debut novel, a memoir,Young Offender: My Life from Armed Robber to Local Hero.
Author and ex-offender Michael Maisey visited HMYOI Aylesbury to discuss his debut novel, a memoir,Young Offender: My Life from Armed Robber to Local Hero.

He also spoke to inmates about his experiences of life after release and setting up his own business.

The visit was part of the National Literacy Trust’s Inside Stories programme, which uses the power of reading to help young people lead productive and fulfilling lives while in custody and on release.

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Ten young people attended the session with Michael and received a signed copy of Young Offender.

Michael shared his personal story with the group and talked about how he worked hard to regain focus and purpose after leaving prison, how everyone’s story is important and that everyone has the potential to move forward from their time in prison and pave a new, positive path for themselves.

He invited questions from the group, who wanted to know about various topics from the challenges that come with leaving an old life behind, his time in HMP Feltham and how he came to be a writer.

Michael Maisey was born and raised in Isleworth and following a tough childhood spent most of his teenage years in and out of Feltham Young Offender Institution.

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Twenty years on, he is now sober, married with two children and owns his own estate agency business.

He is also an actor, having been inspired by being part of a school play in his youth, and he dedicates a lot of time to mentoring young people in custody and people with addiction, recently receiving an award from the London Borough of Hounslow for his services to the community.

Michael Maisey said: “I’ve really enjoyed meeting the lads at Aylesbury.

"I’ve been in their shoes and I understand that life on the outside seems like a daunting prospect.

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"But I hope I’ve showed them that anything is possible, and everyone matters. It was important for me to put my story down on paper, to recognise how far I have come, and I hope these guys will do the same.

"Sharing stories, communicating how you really feel, opening up to people - it’s what helps us get through and move on from difficult times in our lives.”

Hannah Young, Learning and Skills Manager at HMYOI Aylesbury, said: “Thank you Michael for taking the time to come in and speak to the group. It’s been great for them to talk to someone who has spent time inside and has come away from it and worked really hard to make something of themselves that they’re really proud of.

"Michael also talked about the resilience and self-reflection he needed to be able to work and give himself and his family a better future. It’s been great to be able to show them that writing can be a viable and successful career path, as well.”

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HMYOI Aylesbury has started a weekly reading group, and the young people involved will be discussing Young Offender as their first book.

They will also have the option to have any of their own creative writing reviewed by publisher, Hachette UK.

Rebecca Perry, Criminal Justice Policy and Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust, said: “The group have gained some really important insights from Michael, which I hope stay with them. It’s a privilege for us to be able to connect them with someone who understands what they’re going through and the nervousness that comes with the big question: what’s next? I’d like to extend a big thank you to Michael for also highlighting to the group the importance of reading and writing skills in all career choices, not just in terms of being an author.”

For more information on Inside Stories please visit: literacytrust.org.uk/programmes/books-unlocked/inside-stories/

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