Two young men training through St Giles Trust in prisons in East Anglia have won awards for their efforts to transform their lives through learning.

Both of them won Big Skill awards, organised by the Learning and Skills Council in partnership with BBC East, which reward efforts by individuals who have improved their own lives or those of others through learning.

Both young men have worked with St Giles Trust to become Peer Advisors under our Peer Advice Project, which trains prisoners to become skilled advice workers and provide an advice service to other prisoners.

One winner has achieved some 60 certificates during his five year sentence despite leaving school at 16 with no qualifications. 

The other young winner has discovered a passion for working with people with disabilities as a result of his running of a literacy group and gym session for people with learning disabilities.

Rob Owen, Chief Executive of St Giles Trust said, "These young men prove that prison can present an opportunity for people to change and improve their prospects for the future. It is important to continue to invest in services that help prisoners to move their lives forward in a positive way."