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!!
Empathetic Frustration
We must embrace a paradigm shift—one rooted in empathy, acceptance, and compassion. It's about providing resources, not retribution; opportunities for growth, not perpetual condemnation. Only then can we truly foster a society where every individual has the chance to rewrite their narrative and live a fulfilling life free from their past.