We are delighted to announce that The Prison Phoenix Trust has been Highly Commended for supporting the health and wellbeing of people in prison in the 2024 Inspire Justice Awards.
Host Clive Myrie presented our Director Selina Sasse and the team with a Highly Commended Health and Wellbeing Employer of the Year award, saying: “Their work represents the best of us.”
Helen Judge, Area Executive Director HMPPS, recognised The PPT’s work with ‘some of the most troubled in society’.
In the UK’s only awards programme dedicated to recognising the achievements of the entire criminal justice sector, The PPT was praised highly for its innovative use of yoga and meditation to support the mental health of prisoners during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. This award builds upon the organisation’s 2023 Charity of the Year in the Om Yoga Awards and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which we have held since 2011.
Selina said: “Our intervention in the lives of people in prison and with prison staff is something we believe in passionately At a time of particular stress within the criminal justice system, it’s an honour to be recognised for the exceptional work of our staff, volunteers, mentors and prison yoga teachers across the nation have been doing, guided expertly by our Board.”
It’s great to be recognised for the work we have been doing since our foundation in 1988. Across our 35 years, The Prison Phoenix Trust has become the UK’s leading provider in expertise in yoga and meditation in prisons. We support around 5% of the prison populations of the UK and Ireland with mentoring, in-cell study resources and peer support; and we are proud to provide accredited training to prison yoga teachers on behalf of The British Wheel of Yoga.
“Many people we work with are able to turn things around and come out of prison in a better place with more self-respect and self-esteem and feeling more positive about their lives,” Selina explains. “That in turn creates safer communities and helps people to reintegrate back into society.”
Covid was a particularly challenging time for prisoners and staff, with much longer periods of lock-up since becoming the norm. According to last year’s Chief Inspector of Prisons’ Annual Report 42% of prisoners were locked up for 22 hours or more each day on weekdays. On weekends 60% of prisoners stay in their cells 22 hours or more.
Our own survey, drawn from feedback from three young offenders’ institutions and one adult prison, found that after engaging with our services 87% of prisoners reported that they felt better physically, 75% experienced improved mental focus, 73% had improved mood, 69% benefited from improved sleep and 69% felt better able to manage stress.
“Over many years working in prisons, I have seen people benefit from yoga and meditation…” says Jamie Bennett, former Prison Governor and Chief Strategy Officer at Youth Justice Board. “It has helped them on their journey towards health, happiness and realising their potential.”
Organised by Skills for Justice, the awards are supported by BT, PeoplePlus, UNISON, Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, HM Courts & Tribunals Service and SFJ Awards. Established in 2004 as the Sector Skills Council for the UK justice sector, Skills for Justice works across the UK’s Justice, Fire and Rescue, Local Government and Armed Forces sectors.
It’s only through the continued dedication of our staff, volunteers and board — and the ongoing generosity of our donors — that this important work can happen. Here’s to helping more people in 2024 and beyond!