About this theme
This theme covers topics relating to prison and penal reform including ways to reduce reoffending in the UK. Many Fellows have undertaken projects addressing this over the years including as part of our recent programme of Fellowships developed in partnership with The Prison Reform Trust in 2013-2015. Partnership stories
Fellows' updates May 2024 Fellows' update: David Morgan
David Morgan (CF 2018), Founder and Director of Entrepreneurs Unlocked CIC, which he established in 2019 as a result his Fellowship, recently had the social enterprise featured by BBC News.
By David Morgan, 2024
Fellows' updates May 2024 Fellows' update: Alex South
Alex South (CF 2017) appeared on BBC Radio 4 and on BBC 2's Politics Live discussing the current conditions within prisons.
By Alex South, 2024
Blogs & conversations A Fellowship Journey - 10 Years on
Mark Walsh recently retraced his Fellowship journey to the USA, this time accompanied by his family. Here he reflects on what has happened since his original trip and what his Fellowship means to him.
By Mark Walsh, 2024
Blogs & conversations Unlocking Rehabilitation: Learnings from high imprisonment rates
England and Wales imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in Western Europe according to a Prison Reform Trust Report. And in 2015, I became one of those imprisoned citizens.
By Jacob Hill, 2024
Blogs & conversations Reading in prisons - why there are grounds for optimism
Ministry of Justice data shows that 57 per cent of adult prisoners have literacy levels below those expected of an 11-year-old.
By Richard Wakelin, 2024
Blogs & conversations Behind These Doors: humanising the people behind the headlines
I became a prison officer at 22. As a young woman starting my first proper job, I found those first few months tough. Intense, intimidating, even misogynistic at times. But I also found courage and hope. My nerves turned into confidence, and those months turned into years.
By Alex South, 2023
Fellows' updates October 2023 Fellow's update: Alex South
Churchill Fellow Alex South's (CF 2017) gripping journey as a prison officer revealed in 'Behind These Doors,' airs on BBC Radio 4 this week as the prestigious Book of the Week. Don't miss this powerful tale shedding light on the realities behind prison walls by listening to BBC Radio 4.
By Alex South, 2023
Fellows' updates July 2023 Fellow's update: Richard Wakelin
Regional Lot Manager (Women’s Estate North Prisons) for Novus, part of the LTE Group, Richard Wakelin cCF 2017), has had an article published in FE News, in response to the Ofsted Report, 'Reading in Prisons, a Year On'. Richard expands on why there are grounds for optimism as reading education in prisons improves.
By Richard Wakelin, 2023
Fellows' updates July 2023 Fellow's update: Alex South
Former prison officer, Alex South (CF 2017) has written a book about her time as a prison officer called 'Behind These Doors'. It was recently serialised in the Sunday Times and selected as a Radio 4 Book of the Week. Alex also spoke on 'Womans Hour'about it in July and appeared in The Guardian. The final chapter of the book is about her Fellowship and the incredible experiences she had abroad.
By Alex South, 2023
