MEDIA: Bri Lee, Women’s Justice Network fundraise for women in prison

Award-winning author, Bri Lee, and The Women’s Justice Network are crowdfunding for a project to support women's access to books while inside New South Wales correctional facilities.

196 donations have been made since the campaign began in November 2022. So far they have raised nearly $25,000 to help run a year of book club programs.

The group are targeting $55,000, explaining on their mycause fundraising page: “Engaging and educational opportunities like this are wonderfully beneficial for reducing recidivism, and these book clubs will be run by WJN members who have experience of incarceration themselves.”

This is the next stage in the ‘freedom Inside’ project, started by Bri Lee in consultation with Sydney-based bookstore Gleebooks, Corrective Services NSW, and The Women’s Justice Network.

Since its inception 1 year ago, the initiative has seen more than $30,000 worth of books bought and donated to correctional facility libraries.

Now, the teams are fundraising to implement a comprehensive Book Club program.

Donors of their latest activity have been writing special messages of support on the mycause fundraising page.

Marque Lawyers, who donated $3000, wrote: “What a game-changer!” 

Another donor wrote: “I've always found books to be welcome windows and doorways into other worlds and a meaningful way to connect with other personal perspectives and I'm happy to support an inspiring initiative that does this in such a significant way.”

Frances Drake, Mentor Coordinator for Women's Justice Network, and author Bri Lee, spoke on The Drum about the importance of providing books to women incarcerated "for up to 22 hours a day".

"It's absolute sanity...It's what's got a lot of girls through their prison time," said Drake.

Drake clarified that it is actually very difficult to access books in prison due to stringent processes.

"For example, in Silverwater Women's Prison, there's a huge library but the access to the library is very stepped..."

Restrictions related to officers working times and availability also create obstacles to access.

"So you really don't get to see the inside of a library very often."

See the full interview here.

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