Volunteers' Week, running from 3rd to 8th June, celebrates the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK. It's a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK's incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector, and society as a whole. 

Volunteers are essential for Fine Cell Work, and are on the front line of our programmes, delivering our services both inside and outside of prisons. To mark Volunteers' Week, we spoke to some of the amazing individuals who give their time and energy to help deliver our services. In this article, we meet Terri Sidgwick, who has been volunteering with Fine Cell Work since 2018. 

I have a varied background, but I have always been creative and started stitching when I was very young...

I started out academic life studying mechanical engineering, then spent time as an events co-ordinator (on and off through my working life) and ended up working for a big multinational as a corporate tax adviser after obtaining my financial accounting qualifications. Now retired I spend a lot of my time stitching, developing my painting and drawing skills as an aid to creating my own stitching and mixed media projects, volunteering and being a full time carer to three miniature schnauzers.  

I have a lot of personal ‘works in progress’ in my little studio room but bigger projects include a couple of cushions, my Royal School of Needlework blackwork piece, a little sampler to share with my Fine Cell Work stitchers and a lovely doorstop canvas work kit actively being worked on whilst travelling. I’m also in the process of working on designs for a few different projects.

I currently have two volunteering roles at Fine Cell Work...

The first is working with the Commissions Team at the Battersea Hub. This involves helping to support pieces that people have commissioned Fine Cell Work to produce, but also the development of in-house designs. This can mean (sometimes repeatedly) stitching samples to test different stitches or colour combinations, making kits, transferring designs onto fabric, or helping to put the final finessing onto kits that have been completed by stitchers in prison. 

The second is as a team lead for two prison groups – one women's and one men's prison. I work with two lovely teams of volunteers who support a group of between 13-15 stitchers in each prison.  My role firstly consists of supporting the other volunteers by planning and liaising on rotas and keeping them all updated on what the stitchers are working on, where they are in terms of their mental and physical health, what concerns the stitcher may have, or what concerns we might have about the stitchers and what needs to be focused on during any particular session.

I also support the stitchers in prison through understanding where they are in their stitching journey, what they need help on, what kits to supply, when to challenge them, when to take time and work with them, help them on their own personal goals and for those on the Open College Network (OCN) path to keep them moving forward. I help the stitchers to build their portfolio of work documenting it through photographs (and constructive feedback) so they can show the prison staff and their families the beautiful work that they are doing.  Throughout all of this, as volunteers, we aim to provide them with a safe, calm, social, kind and happy space where, as a group, we can celebrate their achievements, work through the occasional stitching hiccup and be supportive to each other.

I also keep Fine Cell Work updated on our stitchers - who has joined the group, who is leaving and why, referring stitchers (and non-stitchers) to the Open The Gate programme, creating invoices for completed kits, keeping an active log of kits taken and returned and helping stitchers to build relationships with the prison staff who are supporting the groups. 

I was drawn to Fine Cell Work because of the charity's goals and origins...

I love the charity's basic principle of teaching people in prison to embroider and giving them the means and materials to encourage them to develop those skills. At the same time, this enables the stitchers to be productive in their cells and get paid for the work they do. 

What really convinced me to give Fine Cell Work my time and support was that when I first met the team there was a real belief in what they were doing and what they hoped to achieve, and whilst they may have changed over time, their values and motivations remain true. 

I love to teach - I like to help people learn and grow...

The fact that the stitchers are in prison just makes it more important as they learn so much more than just about stitching. They learn patience, confidence in doing new things, to feel what it is like to accomplish and finish something and a great sense of achievement. When a stitcher finishes a piece and can say that they have done this to the best of their ability and that they are happy and proud with what they have done, then that is the best reward. 

Fine Cell Work has given me a great group of new friends, inspiration and joy. 

The most unique thing about volunteering at Fine Cell Work is the people - whether they be charity staff, prison staff, volunteers or the stitchers.  The work is collaborative with everyone willing to pitch in and help to make the work that the charity does a success.

If you're considering volunteering for Fine Cell Work, then go for it!

You don’t have to be a stitcher to support the charity.  If you are, then volunteer to help a prison group or you can help with the Commission and Production teams at the Battersea Hub. If your stitching skills aren’t that advanced then there are lots of other ways to support the Charity. You can help spread the message and sell products in a pop-up shop or event, come into the Hub to help put kits together, help mentor the apprentices in the Open the Gate Programme or assist the Sales Team with dispatch.  The charity appreciates all its volunteers and is supportive and helpful in any volunteering role.

I've been thinking about my favourite Fine Cell Work products...

I love the lavender bags, because they are the generally the first thing that our stitchers work on, and you can always see how hard they have tried to make them beautifully. The Utility Range Apron is beautiful to wear and you can make them your own by embroidering your own designs onto them – making them a great personalised, yet practical, gift. 

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Learn more about volunteering with Fine Cell Work here.
Learn more about Volunteers' Week here.

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You can support our work in prisons and post-release by choosing to buy a Fine Cell Work Product, by making a donation or by leaving a legacy to Fine Cell Work.

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