You might be surprised to learn that we don’t receive government funding for our work with people preparing to leave prison. There are good reasons behind this decision. Zoe, our Fundraising Officer, explores the power of being an independently funded charity.
Read MoreWe asked our participants (all of whom have spent time in prison) what sets a “good” prison officer apart from the rest. Their reflections formed the basis of our response to the government’s inquiry into prison culture.
Read MoreVolunteering in a prison is unique, and so worthwhile. Our Communications Lead, Hannah, writes about why we invite volunteers to join us inside – and the impact this has on our participants, volunteers, and society.
Read MorePeople in prison are constantly reminded of their mistakes. So, what happens when you are instead reminded of your strengths? In this blog, Rosie, one of our coaches, shares how affirmations and challenges help participants to see their potential, set goals, and grow.
Read MoreOur community coaches love being able to meet participants at the prison gates on their day of release, to support them on their first day in the community. Tony takes us through a typical ‘gate meet’.
Read MoreHM Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor, joined StandOut to discuss the four challenges facing rehabilitation in our prisons.
Read MoreA recent graduation at HMP Wandsworth reminded us of the importance of relationships for people preparing to leave prison.
Read MoreMoving through the justice system and rebuilding a life on the other side requires significant resilience. In this blog, Molly – StandOut Coach at HMP Pentonville – explains how we support our participants to recognise, and sustain, their inherent resilience.
Read MoreAs we launch our strategy for the next two years, we also announce our new value - Courageous - which will guide our work with people leaving London prisons in 2024-2026, and beyond.
Read MoreAfter prison, comes probation. For some, this transition can be confusing - even frustrating - and there are significant consequences if it goes wrong. In this blog, Senior Lead Coach Amrit explains why it’s important that we talk about the challenges and opportunities of working with probation during our three-week course in prison.
Read MoreWhat happens when you encourage people in prison to connect with people in the community? From building confidence to systems change, we spoke about what it really means to volunteer in prison as we celebrated PA Consulting reaching 100 StandOut volunteers.
Read MoreBy recognising that we have choices, we can feel more in control. But how does this work for someone in prison? Amy, one of our Lead Coaches, recalls a recent conversation with StandOut participants at HMP Pentonville about what it means to have "the slight edge".
Read MoreMen at HMP Wandsworth and HMP Wormwood Scrubs tell us what they’d like to see bridging the gap in provision that exists between leaving prison and thriving in the community - and how we could support them to navigate this transition.
Read MoreAs Alex, our Head of Programmes, moves on from StandOut after six years, he reflects on all that he has learnt, and all that he will take with him to his new role at The Hardman Trust.
Read MoreStandOut’s new Communications Lead, Hannah Stevens, reflects on her first six weeks in the role. She’s finding that an organisation’s values are easy to learn, when they’re woven into everything.
Read MoreAnyone who has been in a StandOut classroom will tell you that there’s something special about it, magical even. But it’s difficult to put your finger on what that is. Joe Tarbert, Programmes Manager at StandOut, puts into words what that “magic” looks - and feels - like to him.
Read MoreStandOut is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 and we need your support. Donate to our campaign between 28 November and 5 December to have your donation, and your impact, doubled.
Read MoreAs we come together at the end of each StandOut course, we share special moments, reflect on progress, and recognise that each person's journey through the course has involved commitment, energy, and resilience. The recent graduation at HMP Pentonville was particularly special, as we were able to invite family and friends of the men on the course along to celebrate with us.
To mark StandOut’s fifth year as a registered charity, we welcomed guests to ‘join the conversation’ at our recent celebration event at Salesforce Tower in central London, where the stunning views provided a striking backdrop for the evening.
