Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent, statutory organisation which reports on the treatment and conditions of those detained in prisons, young offender institutions, secure training centres, immigration detention facilities, police and court custody and military detention.
The unannounced inspection of HMP Eastwood Park, a women’s prison in Gloucestershire, took place in May of this year and its report has recently been published, with the work of Recoop’s Day Centre for the older population, run by Alma Hageman, highlighted:
“Older prisoners (aged over 50) were appreciative of the support provided by the four-times weekly Recoop Rubies groups”.
The Day Centre was set up in 2011 by Recoop and the impact the sessions have on the women becomes evident when reading what they have to say:
“The group has given me the chance to explore and challenge myself in ways that I thought I was incapable of. It has given my prison sentence structure and makes me feel I have more choices in life when I am released.”
“For me, it isn’t even so much what I do or make, but the thought I can do it. It has given me such confidence”.
“It took a little while to come out of my shell and a few weeks later I was ready to partake and get busy with all the exciting Ruby projects. Now I feel confident for my next journey through the gate”.
“This is far more than a craft/coffee session. It is therapy and Samaritan session included and is so important for well-being”.
“Rubies means: holding on to some purpose in life”.
[…] those who attend and allows the ladies to have a purpose while serving their sentence. In fact, in 2019 Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, carried out an unannounced inspection of Eastwood Park and the positive impact on those attending Rubies was […]