03/06/2026
This year, we have worked closely with prisoners at HMP Featherstone and HMP Swinfen Hall, delivering targeted interventions to some of the most disengaged individuals within the prison estate. The programme focused primarily on long-term and life-sentenced prisoners, including some of the prisons’ most serious violent offenders, who often face significant barriers to engagement, rehabilitation, and personal development.
The project was designed to support positive behavioural change, reduce levels of violence within the prison environment, decrease incidents of self-harm, and improve participants’ mental health and overall wellbeing. By providing consistent, meaningful engagement opportunities, we sought to create a positive culture shift among individuals who are often considered the hardest to reach.
Participants engaged in a range of structured activities, including DJ workshops, photography workshops, and sports-based programmes, which helped develop confidence, communication skills, emotional resilience, and a sense of purpose. Alongside these activities, participants worked towards and successfully completed the NCFE Understanding Mindset Employability qualification, equipping them with valuable skills, knowledge, and attitudes to support their future reintegration into society.
Through this approach, the programme has contributed to improved engagement, enhanced wellbeing, and more positive behaviours among a cohort of prisoners who have traditionally been among the most challenging to engage within the custodial system.
