A FORMER prison officer has been rewarded for her efforts in unlocking the potential of her colleagues.

Claire Simpson's work in establishing a prison learning centre has won her the 2007 Northern Trade Union Congress Union Learning Representative title. She also received a prison service award in the North-East for staff support.

This success has helped Ms Simpson, 35, from Durham, move on to become a trade union tutor at the City of Sunderland College.

She said: "From the day I joined the prison service when I was 21, I always believed that learning and training were crucial to personal and workplace development.

"Although the staff do undergo training it is, quite naturally, work-based and is non-accredited.

"I wanted to broaden the spectrum of training available and introduce programmes which were recognised outside the prison service so, with the support of my union, I went to the governor and asked about setting up a learning centre."

The response to her proposal was positive, with the prison service covering the cost of the premises at Holme House Prison, in Stockton.

The Prison Officers Association contributed the equipment and the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) Learning for All Fund covered Claire's salary,

An IT suite and classroom were created.

The City of Sunderland College and Stockton Adult Education provided all the courses for the learners.

Ms Simpson said: "Of course I was delighted to be recognised for what I was doing, but without the support of the union, the LSC, the prison and the staff this could never have happened."