There are currently over 80,000 people in the UK prison system. The majority of these people have experienced significant marginalisation and trauma throughout their lives. Many become trapped within a devastating cycle of reoffending and repeated imprisonment. 

One of the most effective ways of breaking this cycle, and providing real rehabilitation, is to support people in and leaving prison to access professional employment. And that’s exactly what Fine Cell Work does. 

Fine Cell Work is a charity and social enterprise committed to the rehabilitation of prisoners through providing them with purposeful activity. We do this by teaching them soft work skills, by training and paying them to do exquisite needlework to create beautiful products for sale. 

Our aim is to support prisoners and prison leavers to finish their sentences with work skills, money earned and saved, and the self-belief to rebuild meaningful, independent, crime-free lives. 

Fine Cell Work trains prisoners and prison leavers in high-quality needlework skills, and then supports and pays them to create beautiful handmade products, designed by world renowned artists. These luxury products are sold to the public, designers, artists, and heritage organisations, many of whom commission bespoke pieces. 

Our unique process boosts our stitcher’s self-worth, instils accountability, and fosters hope. Hope that transformation is possible- for our stitchers, for our communities, and for our society as a whole. 

In order to provide work for as many stitchers as possible, both in and out of prisons, each Fine Cell Work product passes through many pairs of hands before it's ready to be sold. Learn more about the unique journey of a Fine Cell Work product below.