Crafting wonders

Our production process

Each of our products goes on a long and impactful journey before it is ready to be sold. And every one of our items touches the life of at least one prisoner or prison leaver in some way.

Our needlework kits are put together in our prison workshops before being distributed from our London hub to our wonderful volunteers. These inspirational supporters teach people in prison the necessary skills to craft each piece. The completed stitchwork is then returned to us, to ensure it meets our exacting standards, before finally being sent back into a prison to be 'made up', turning it into the final product (e.g. stuffing and adding zips to cushions).

In total, this process can take up to 200 hours and over 70,000 stitches (per piece!)

We know that every single one of our products boosts self-esteem, builds confidence, has a positive impact on a stitcher’s mental health, and gives them the opportunity to transform their lives.

By purchasing a product, you become a part of that journey.

DONATIONS

Support our work

By purchasing from Fine Cell Work, you are making social change. However, 75% of our rehabilitation programmes are funded through donations and grants. We know that transformation is possible - for our stitchers, for our communities, and for our society as a whole. Your support - through donations or by purchasing products - will help to break the devastating cycle of reoffending and repeated imprisonment.

£10 donation
Provides a prisoner with the materials for one tapestry cushion (100 hours of creative activity). 

£20 donation
Will enable us to continue providing paid, creative and productive work to even more prisoners around the UK, helping them to build a brighter future.

£50 donation
Sponsors a prisoner to train as a volunteer 'class coordinator', teaching and mentoring other prisoners.

£250 donation
Covers the volunteer costs of a stitching class in prison.

£500 donation
Pays for the training, materials and support for one prisoner for an entire year, helping them to rebuild a meaningful, independent,crime-free life.

By giving prisoners hope that transformation is truly possible, they can envision a meaningful life after release. But nobody tells the story of how Fine Cell Work has helped them better than the prisoners themselves:

“Stitching allows me to use a totally different part of my brain and personality. I can move away from the more difficult reflections and anxieties and feel creative and purposeful. This means I no longer feel that my life has come to a halt and that I am of no use to anyone else.”

- Tom, FCW Stitcher -

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
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K
Karen
Gerry the Gingerbread Christmas decoration

Such neat stitching, Gerry was beautifully made. Thank you to those involved in creating him.

G
Georgina Clark
Gorgeous gift

Like everything we’ve bought from Fine Cell, this is gorgeous. It will make the perfect gift for our niece. Worth every penny.

R
Rowena Daniels
Little Treasures

This season we have bought a whole range of your goods from four cushions to eight Christmas hanging decorations. We love all of these items and feel very strongly that the work that you do as an organisation is so important and worthwhile. We commend all your efforts. We are also most grateful for all the hard work on behalf of the men who find themselves unfortunately having to spend time in prison and we do hope very much that you enjoy making these wonderful things and are very proud of your own efforts. I have used the delightful hanging decorations in my window display for Christmas and have enjoyed hearing the lovely comments from people passing my door, some have even taken photos. Thank you very much and best wishes.

A
Amelia Rope
Utterly Superb

I bought Gerry for a present ... but I don't think I can let him go now. The stitching is second to none as with all FCW products. Incredible skills by the stitchers and how wonderful to be giving back with each purchase.

A
AMR
Unique and sure to be much admired!

I loved my gingerbread person. It was very different, very charming- and the workmanship was wonderful. Great care had been taken!