Can I personally thank everyone who helped make our first meeting so successful - both organisers and participants -, despite the dramatic weather we had to cope with. I think all of us who attended found it stimulating and encouraging, not least because of the range, experience and diversity of the partnership, and I don't think we could have asked for a better start to our exciting adventure.

The meeting, attended by 24 representatives from 13 countries, was opened by Willie Mills, the Principal of City College Manchester, who emphasised the importance of prison education in the college's work. The coordinator, Alan Clarke, then gave a detailed overview of the project, before the meeting split into smaller groups to discuss how the key theme of "Policies & Approaches" and the different art-forms would be covered.

After a buffet lunch, Alan Clarke did a presentation on the financial aspects, which provoked a number of questions, followed by Anne Costello, the EPEA chairperson, who described how the Network could contribute to the EPEA Conference in Dublin. Finally, Merron Mitchell, head of the Offender Learning Directorate at City College, described the Directorate's role as the largest provider of prison education in the UK with responsibility for 47 offender centres, which was received with great interest by the delegates. The day finished with a very enjoyable communal meal in Manchester's Chinatown.

The next morning the delegates visited Styal Women's Prison near Manchester Airport, which provided an excellent example of "best practice", including a strong encouragement for involvement in the arts amongst the inmates.