Fine Cell Work have been supporting prison leavers through work experience, further training and mentoring since 2017.

Below, two Open The Gate graduates, Lisa and Brian, talk about their time as Apprentices, and how the program has helped to prepare them for a life after prison.

"When I walked into my probation office I was scared, grey - petrified of what would happen in my future.

Reflecting on how things have changed since I stared working with Fine Cell Work, I'm much more confident now, a year on. I can get a bus, a train, and it doesn’t overwhelm me. Taking the dog for a walk on my own no longer overwhelms me. It’s the silly little things that people don’t think about, that I can do now

My probation officer has noted how happy, bright, confident, and willing to learn I am, and they are encouraged for my future. They have put this down to the support of my family support, my own hard work, and my involvement with Fine Cell Work. At first, they were shocked and surprised by my confidence, but encouraging and fully supportive of the work I have been doing, particularly in supporting the new prison workshops. 

I'm always excited about the work I’m doing, and my family asks me what I’m working on every week. Coming through the tunnel at the entrance to Fine Cell Work, the world melts away and I can be myself and forget about everything else. 

It has made everything a little lighter."

"A year on, I’m happy, confident and no longer scared of the future."

"Having worked with Fine Cell Work whilst in prison as a stitcher, a class coordinator, and then a lone stitcher, I took advantage of all the opportunities I had to learn new skills and techniques. Stitching became a coping mechanism too - I could’ve gone down a totally different route when I went into prison, but I had my stitching to help me get through. 

I decided to join Open The Gate when I was released because there was still more I wanted to learn. As well as new skills, I found the benefit in meeting other people. Some Apprentices hadn’t stitched inside, and I was able to pass on what I had been taught. 

Since graduating from Open The Gate, I have been working as a carpenter to support myself. I work with veterans in my area as part of the Royal British Legion. I am also the facilities manager for my village hall, and do 30-hours of maintenance in a nursing home too. 

I would like to take the opportunity to say to others, don’t be put off by disclosure for work. It is a horrible feeling. I have had to do it with my relationship and for work and it is hard - one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. But I look where I am right now and I know a lot of people would think I can’t do this with the embarrassment, and it hits me every day, but I can't change the past, I can only make better for the future. 

I know a lot of people would think they haven’t got a life after prison, but you do – I have. I plucked up the courage to disclose, and here I am."

"There is still life after prison, it’s not all doom and gloom."

"The confidence I gained on Open The Gate helped me get my part-time job. I was struggling before I went into work, and Fine Cell Work have really helped me. I’ve been involved in many different activities which have supported me to get where I am now. I’m on the programme to engage with my future."