The Prison Phoenix Trust

© illustrations Korky Paul

The Prison Phoenix Trust encourages prisoners in the development of their spiritual welfare, through the practices of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath.

We offer personal support to prisoners around the UK and the Republic of Ireland through teaching, workshops, correspondence, books and newsletters - and to prison staff too. We work with people of any faith, or of none, and honour all religions. We are a registered UK charity.

"Since an early age, I never knew how to deal with all my trapped emotions or how to recognise them. Just sitting still and looking inside has transformed my whole Being. Once I gained some freedom with meditation, I was able to write to my wife, the first contact I had had in more than a year"

Visits and workshops

Recently completed visits:
- HMP Glen Parva, Leicestershire, 1 June: Workshop for staff and inmates.
- Cloverhill, Ireland: a Dublln yoga teachers' meeting with Cloverhill's head teacher, to set up a weekly class.
- HMP Broadmoor, May 14: workshops for staff and patients.
- Cheswold Park Hospital, April 2: Sam and Jason ran a patient workshop at the hospital.
- HMP Styal, May 5: The three workshops went well, and we're hoping to establish regular classes very soon."

Sponsored bike ride

On September 11, Dot Eaton, a PPT yoga teacher, is riding from Cork to Kerry, a distance of about 100 miles, for the PPT's benefit.

Click the Donate button in the JustGiving 'widget' to read more about it!

We're also hearing rumours about a sponsored Sun Salutation sequence. More details as they materialise.

Sponsored row for the PPT

Malcolm, a prisoner in HMP Acklingon, did a sponsored row on Monday May 25, to benefit the PPT. He wanted to run in the BUPA London 10000 race, but since he couldn't make it, he did a 10K row, on a rowing machine in the gym, at the same time. We'll give more details here when we have them.
You can still sponsor him, or make a donation, by visiting our JustGiving page - he and we would like to thank you.

Samye Ling meditation retreat for yoga teachers

The retreat was held at Purelands, a retreat centre isolated high on a beautiful and quiet hill near the river Esk in the Scottish countryside. There was no mobile phone reception, and only the sound of birds could be heard.
A teacher from Scotland said that she'd climbed Ben Nevis the previous week, and that this was harder, but she felt good about herself.
Another teacher, from Wales, said it had given her the confidence to slow down in her sessions, and to offer meditation as an integral part of her teaching rather than an add-on at the end.

Prison Officers' Conference

Sandy and Jo travelled to the Conference in Southport (during week beginning May 11) to meet old friends, make new ones, and to remind prison officers of the benefits of yoga and mediation. A leaflet specially designed by the PPT, called '3 minutes to spare?' with a subtitle of '6 simple ways to unwind' disappeared like the proverbial hot cakes.

Art Weeks 2009

The ArtWeeks week was very successful - we more than covered our costs and introduced some new people to our work. And us workers like working in an art gallery!

Yoga Junction talk

Sandy gave a talk to British Wheel of Yoga Diploma students at the end of their course, to encourage them tko take their practice behind bars as a possible career. The venue was the new Yoga Junction in Crouch End, north London.

Being Flexible in Bolton, September

The workshop is called Being Flexible: Acceptance in Prison Teaching, and is taking place in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on Saturday 12th September, from 10am to 4.30 pm. Contact Sam or Kate on 01865 512521 for further details.

Oxford yoga teachers workshop in April

We greeted many teachers from far flung outposts of the PPT empire, and were joined by prison yoga teacher Mo from Morton Hall.

We've won an award …

The PPT is proud to announce that we've won a Rediscover Your Heart award from Fred Matser, philanthropist and author of 'Rediscover Your Heart: 7 keys for personal and planetary transformation'. The £1000 we're receiving will be spent on materials for young people in juvenile and young offender institutions, and bail hostels.

… and been shortlisted for another

PrisonerActionNet works 'to strengthen identity and belonging in prisoners and ex-offenders'. We've been shortlisted for an award in recognition of our work in this area, and will hear how we've done in early May.

Wallingford night of magic

We're having a PPT benefit of storytelling and music, in the riverside garden of PPT friends John and Liz, on Sunday June 7th, from 4pm to 9pm. The venue is Wallingford, in Oxfordshire. Come and hear Nick Hennessey, storyteller, singer and musician of international repute.
Tickets are £25, including supper and a glass of wine. Call 01865 512521 to book.