Voluntary work in prisons
Julia Scott
At the beginning of 2019 an old schoolfriend persuaded me to apply to be a volunteer at Fine Cell Work, a charity which makes beautiful handmade stitched items in prisons. After visits to two of the prisons as an observer, to find out what I might be letting myself in for, I duly applied. I would still have to be security-vetted and receive all sorts of training – but before I could embark on any of that Covid-19 arrived and the prisons were all in lockdown.
The prison to which I had been assigned has only just opened up, and a second one where I also now volunteer has taken forever to deal with the vetting and training. However, nearly three years after I first thought about this volunteering, I am now visiting two men’s prisons in the London area, teaching stitchwork to prisoners. At one we teach canvaswork (needlepoint) and embroidery and at the other we teach them to make patchwork quilts.
The prisoners are mostly very keen to learn: it gives them something constructive to do in their cells where they are locked up for many hours of the day. In addition, once they become competent stitchers they can embark of making items which can be sold by the charity and for which the stitchers receive a modest payment. Everyone who purchases an item stitched by a prisoner is encouraged to write a ‘thank you’ card which the charity forwards to the prisoner, and these words of appreciation are much valued by the stitchers. Many of the prisoners find stitchwork very good for their mental health as it seems to help get rid of any stress they might be feeling.
When stitchers become really competent they can stitch their way to an Open College Network accreditation, which is equivalent to a GCSE and is recognised by employers and education providers, and can enhance their payments for completing Fine Cell Work kits.
I had never previously come across members of the prison population, but so far the men (for the prisoners I see are all men) are always very polite and cooperative – though one or two do need careful watching to make sure they take away only what they are supposed to at the end of a session! They are allowed one needle and a supply of threads, but because they are not allowed scissors they have to use nail clippers to cut the thread.
I urge you to look at the Fine Cell Work website to view the items that are for sale, ranging from small inexpensive gifts up to very expensive cushions
