Fine Cell Work is granted a Royal Warrant as Supplier of Hand-Embroidered Products for Her Majesty, The Queen.

Embroidery work undertaken by prisoners in their cells is given a Royal seal of approval for quality, integrity and excellence.

The rehabilitation charity and social enterprise, Fine Cell Work has been granted a Royal Warrant from HM, The Queen for providing needlework products stitched in prison. As one of the very few charities to have received a Royal Warrant, Fine Cell Work is the only British charity providing purposeful, paid activity to people in prison that can be undertaken in their cells.

With almost thirty years’ experience working in prison, Fine Cell Work teaches people who have never stitched before to create intricate, hand-stitched products either commissioned by heritage organisations, renowned designers and contemporary artists or sold to the public.

“We are honoured and delighted to receive this warrant in recognition of our long-standing relationship with the Royal Household. We are hugely grateful for the recognition of both the skill of our stitchers and Their Majesties’ belief in the social value of our work in giving people in prison another chance.  

The warrant is testament to our stitchers, the dedicated volunteers, the Fine Cell Work staff team and to the long-standing loyal support of generous donors and customers, which we are most grateful for.”

Victoria Gillies, Executive Director, Fine Cell Work

The Royal Warrant is granted to organisations that have supplied goods or services to the Royal Household for at least five years and continue to uphold the highest standards of sustainability, quality and reliability.

Granting the Royal Warrant to Fine Cell Work acknowledges the highly skilled work of our stitchers in prison. This extraordinary accolade to the products they make will help our stitchers realise how much their dedicated work matters to the world beyond prison, providing a critical connection for people who need to develop a future away from crime.

“Every stitch done inside has made this moment possible. It makes us feel very honoured – that our work is good enough, that we are good enough.” 

Fine Cell Work stitcher on the Royal Warrant

Working across the country with 600 people in prison and prison-leavers each year, we have created the largest workforce of highly skilled hand-embroiderers in Europe. The charity has helped over 8,500 people rebuild their lives. Our unique process boosts our stitchers’ self-worth, provides soft work skills, supports financial resilience, instils accountability and creates a positive connection with society. It illustrates what can be achieved by people in prison with focused, ongoing training, work and support.

“Fine Cell Work helped massively with finding a positive purpose. The work connected me to society and provided hope of eventually integrating into a worthwhile role. Since becoming a stitcher, I have gained a sense of responsibility and saved a significant amount for release. Receiving feedback from the public and interacting with FCW staff and volunteers has helped bridge my isolation from the world.”

Fine Cell Work stitcher

For press enquiries, please contact: Vani Krishnaswamy

Fine Cell Work | vkrishnaswamy@finecellwork.co.uk | 0207 931 9998