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

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A
Ann Fitzparick
Baking bear

I bought two bears as Christmas presents for my daughters. The quality of the stitching is truly excellent. The embroidery is very fine and intricate and the stitching to assemble the bear has been expertly done. The bears are very charming and characterful and will make a lovely heirloom gift. A real quality item, well worth giving. Thank you.

K
Kay
Brilliant Baking Bear

The Bear was well made and the detail of the costume, the Christmas and the hat makes it easily identifiable. Excellent workmanship.

R
Rowena Daniels
Baker Bear

Dear Fine Cell Team,
Your latest little hanging decoration is absolutely delightful and so beautifully made. We buy at least one of your hanging decorations at Christmas every year and hang them all up in our window which faces the street. We now have over 20 of them! Everyone admires them as they walk past and I put the information leaflet there too, so people can see who has made these beautiful decorations. It never ceases to amaze me how well made they all are and we really appreciate the dedication of the team at Fine Cell Work helping the stitchers to gain in self confidence and expertise. We will look foreword to next year to see who appears! All your work is wonderful....