So far we have made awards to over 30 prison staff, enabling them to set up a wide variety of new projects and initiatives.

At Downview prison, Assistant Chaplain, Gill received funding to produce a DVD which trains volunteers to meet women who have just been released from prison. Women will face a whole range of complex challenges on release, many of which they are not prepared for. Gill focused on the day of release itself – a really vulnerable moment of transition, particularly for the many women who have no one to pick them up. The DVD provides a resource to train volunteers to meet with offenders prior to release, and at the moment of release meet them at the Gate and escort them to their destination or station. The DVD aims to sensitise volunteers to how a woman might be feeling at this point, and help the women understand why that person has elected to support them.

At Wandsworth Prison, James, a Senior Officer in Security set up an in-prison homework club at HMP Wandsworth where children can involve their fathers in their education. There is very limited statutory provision to help prisoners maintain relationships with their families while they’re inside, yet it is widely recognised that strong ties are a factor in reducing re-offending - and reducing the likelihood of a prisoner’s children ending up in prison at some point (50% of the sons of serving or ex-offenders do time by the age of 32). The homework club encourages more children to visit their fathers after school, and creates an opportunity for fathers to become more involved in their children’s lives and education.

At Highdown Prison, Senior Officer Shaila is managing a project that will produce a multi-lingual DVD that explains the visits process to the families of foreign national prisoners. Upon arrival to prison, visitors are faced with a confusing and seemingly hostile environment. The DVD will explain all aspects of the visits process in simple terms and in 4 languages. The DVD aims to help allay fears, contributing to a better visit experience and strengthen family relations, which are a crucial part of the prisoner’s resettlement process.

At Brixton Prison, Radio Station Manager Andrew is running a project to produce a series of short radio programmes on the topic of health, including safe sex and mental health. The content of the programmes will be developed by prisoners who work on the radio station, and the finished spots will be broadcast on air inside the prison, and sent out to other prisons that have radio stations.