Short Sentences - Are they really worth it?
Being a 30-year-old woman, having left prison 1 year ago, I would never have imagined that I would be working for the very charity that helped me during my time and after prison. Imago Dei – ID Essence allowed me to explore my inner negative feelings and turn them into positives, along with the Flourish course, changing my perception on my life and where I wanted to be and allowing me to see a future and breaking the cycle that I had been in for years.
Released With £76 and a Dream: The Harsh Reality for Women Leaving Prison in the UK.
For many women leaving prison in the UK, freedom begins with a shockingly small amount of money — often just the statutory release payment of around £76 — and a list of hurdles that can feel almost impossible to overcome.
Sasha’s* Story - Meeting at the gate.
What is it really like for a young woman on the day of release from prison?…
Once she walked out of the gate, she was happy, excited, nervous and apprehensive – ready to start her new life on the other side of the gate.
But with no home to go to!!
Lily's Story
For some of our engagees, us being around for many years means we might first meet them as teenagers, then a few years later see them becoming parents and starting a family. This is the path that Lily’s* journey has taken, here is part of her story of being supported over many years by ID Essence, and moving forward positively away from prison. Read her story here….