Fine Cell Work's programmes for people in prison and post-release support the development of high-quality needlework skills as means for rehabilitation. We then support and pay 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.

We work with prisoners of all identities, lived experiences and abilities. Together, our stitchers form the largest workforce of hand-embroiderers in Europe.

Since our organisation began in 1997, we have worked with over 8,500 people in prison.

Paying our stitchers for their labour and skills is an essential part of our mission. Our stitchers earn approximately one third of the proceeds from sales. Stitchers are paid per item and receive their wages as soon as we receive the completed piece, regardless of whether it is sold or not. The more complex the piece, the more they can earn. We also award bonuses for work which is completed to a particularly high standard.

The money stitchers earn is theirs to spend as they wish. Some send money home to loved ones, some use it to purchase items from the prison canteen, whilst others save it in preparation for their release.

All our stitchers are offered the opportunity to access and be supported to complete formal training courses accredited by the Open College Network (OCN).

Guided by our staff team, Fine Cell Work's skilled volunteer teachers visit different prisons across the UK every two weeks, delivering needlework training sessions to 'cell groups' of 8-15 prisoners. The volunteers train, coach and support, patiently sharing their expertise with the group members.

Each stitcher begins their journey by learning the basic stitches needed to complete simple designs like our Embroidered Lavender Bag, before then progressing onto more complex stitches and advanced designs like our Animaux Hand-Embroidered Cushions.

In 2024, 461 stitchers returned work, compared to 398 in 2023.

In between the volunteer-led sessions, the cell groups work together, helping each other to practice and master their needlework skillset from inside their prison cells. Stitchers who progress quickly can step up into a 'class coordinator' role, taking on the responsibility of assisting the volunteer teacher and acting as a peer mentor to their fellow group members. 

The UK prison system is complex, and prisoners can often be moved from one prison to another, often at short notice. Sometimes a talented stitcher is transferred to a prison without a Fine Cell Work cell group, but they want to continue stitching. In these situations, they can apply to join the waiting list to become a lone stitcher.

In 2024, we worked with 28 lone stitchers.

Our lone stitchers work independently, communicating directly with our staff team through phone calls and prison staff. Being a lone stitcher means being able to work successfully without the support of a volunteer teacher or cell group, and that requires a particularly high skill level.

Our lone stitchers are often our most confident and talented stitchers. They are responsible for completing some of our most complex and high-profile commissions, like Odyssey in Quilting (2019), created in collaboration with world-renowned contemporary artist, documentarian and activist, Ai Weiwei and, more recently, facsimiles of the stitching work of artists such as Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf for Charleston House.

Our prison workshops are responsible for many stages in our production system. From making up needlework kits, which are then sent to cell groups and lone stitchers for completing, to creating products from scratch, like our Pomegranate Linen Table Napkins.

They also carry out textile production using sewing and embroidery machines, in order to transform the finished needlework pieces completed by cell groups and lone stitchers, into beautiful products.

We provide prison leavers with post-release support and training, bridging the gap between prison and further employment, training and education opportunities.

Our Open the Gate programme has supported over 104 prison leavers - whom we call Apprentices - since it began in 2017. In 2025, fifteen apprentices undertook accredited training alongside their work in the Hub, receiving formal certificates of achievement.

Our ‘apprentices’ have a less than 2% reoffending rate, compared to a national average of around 40%.

The programme is run from our London-based community workshop and delivered by our specialist staff team.

Click here to learn more about Open The Gate or submit an application.

“Open the Gate has helped me rebuild my future, given me purpose, and motivated me to be
part of the community."