Uncategorised Archives - The Prison Phoenix Trust

‘You gave me back my dignity’ – Lisa

The PPT Ambassadors Jasper, Richard and Lisa (L-R) in the plush surroundings of the House of Lords

Over the summer The PPT brought together policymakers, prison leaders, practitioners and people with lived experience at the House of Lords for ‘Prisons: A Time of Change’, hosted by Baroness Jan Royall.

As The Prison Phoenix Trust looks ahead to its 40th anniversary in 2028, the event explored change on multiple levels: changing policy, changing prison conditions, and perhaps most importantly, the possibility of profound personal change.

Lord James Timpson in shirt and tie wearing bright spectacles at a lectern in the River Room, House of Lords Then prisons minister Lord James Timpson recognised the impact of The PPT’s work:

“When you turn up, like you do, and show kindness to people in prison, it makes a big difference.”

He also praised The PPT’s letter-writing service, noting the importance of handwritten letters in reminding people in prison that someone cares, and welcomed our pilot project delivering yoga and meditation sessions digitally to people in their cells: “I think the digital side you are developing is going to make a real difference.”

Prison yoga goes digital

Fair haired woman sitting cross-legged on yoga mat in a prison gym looking down at a singing bowl In 2025 The PPT created a 12-week yoga course, Freedom Inside with Yoga, for people to follow in their cells in HMP Erlestoke on prison service laptops, known as Launchpads.

Part of a 2-year research project, this is a collaboration with colleagues in His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and Royal Holloway University of London.

It aims to contribute to an evidence base that will help the wider criminal justice sector understand how digital learning and enrichment projects can be cost-effective in supporting rehabilitative interventions in prison.

An important aspect of the pilot was the involvement of users of the course in its co-creation, with content designed to meet specific needs they raised. Learnings from this will influence the next stage, which is an expansion of the project to another 3-5 prisons in England and Wales.

Barred window, dark all around, looking out into light green Technologically, most prisons still resemble the 1950s more than the 21st century, but since 2021 more than 16,000 Launchpads have been introduced into 20 prisons.

“I’ve I really got into the yoga. I do it every day, I pull my mat out in the mornings, put the new session on and away I go. I’d like to say a very, very big thank you. It’s very much appreciated.” Nick

Responses to the pilot were very positive with more than 50% of the prisoners in HMP Erlestoke taking part. Prison staff are also being asked if they’ve noticed any changes in people taking part in yoga.

One staff member wrote that a man in recovery from addiction had a goal to stay sober ‘til lunchtime:

“I just wanted to let you know that he came into my office this morning and was glowing. He stated he loved yesterday; he had the best night’s sleep ever and fell asleep at 6pm and slept all night. He also did not use at all yesterday 😊. I am giving him a mat and he is going to try your videos in his cell now.”

Thanks to support from funders, the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, this research project will continue into 2027.

“This was an amazing project that has over-delivered in its result from a starting point of 0 prisoners to half the prison population doing some yoga.” Digital Manager, HMP Erlestoke

Download Impact Report 2025

We are recruiting: could you be our Treasurer?

Prison officer in uniform standing and reaching down to help a prisoner up from the ground, firm grasp of hand

The Prison Phoenix Trust is recruiting a new voluntary position of TREASURER to join our Board of Trustees.

Who we are

We are the leading yoga charity in the UK and Ireland, sharing meditation and yoga with people in prison since 1988. Continue Reading

Meet the 2026 Prison Yoga Teacher Cohort

A diverse group of people sitting in a circle on yoga mats, sun streaming in through window We are proud to welcome our 2026 Prison Yoga Teacher cohort — twenty‑two dedicated yoga teachers who have begun their specialist training to deliver trauma‑informed yoga and meditation inside prisons across the UK and Ireland.

This year’s group was selected from more than 60 applicants. Each trainee brings a powerful combination of compassion, teaching experience, and a commitment to making yoga accessible to people who are often excluded from wellbeing spaces. Many also bring lived experience of the care system or childhood adversity, giving them a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people in prison.

What the 2026 cohort will learn

Male yoga teacher of colour sitting on mat in a sunny room. Over the next six months, trainees will take part in an intensive programme designed to prepare them to teach safely and effectively in secure environments. Their training includes:

trauma‑informed yoga and meditation
supporting emotional regulation and nervous‑system health
adapting practices for people with complex needs
understanding the realities of prison life for both residents and staff
creating calmer, more supportive environments inside

This pathway is more than a training course. It includes mentoring, community support, and real‑life teaching experience. Those who complete the full programme — including teaching a class inside a prison — will earn British Wheel of Yoga accreditation as Prison Yoga Teachers.

Why representation matters in prison yoga

Summer Appeal – Your Donation Doubled

Help Someone in Prison Take Their First Breath Toward Change

When Jasper first woke up in a prison cell, he felt like a “broken human.” The weight of what he had done – and the harm he had caused – felt unbearable. He describes those early days as being “wrapped in cling film”: tight, suffocating, and impossible to escape.

In the middle of that pressure, Jasper found something unexpected: a yoga mat.

“Yoga gave me three inches of air around myself.” – Jasper

For Jasper, yoga wasn’t just exercise. It was the first moment of stillness he had felt in years. A place where his nervous system could settle. A space where he could breathe again.

Bearded man ibn dark jacket petting a horse He says: “I was claiming back a little bit of personal space and creating three inches of air around myself. It gave me armour. My anxiety would go; that fight-or-flight tension just dissipated. It gave me the breathing room to carry me through the week.”

Week by week, Jasper rebuilt himself from the inside out. He learned to sit with difficult emotions, to reflect without fear, and to imagine a future beyond the walls around him.

From Rock Bottom to a New Beginning

Yoga helping break the cycle of crime

Yoga to break the cycle: man in grey prison sweats carrying a yoga mat

A pioneering project in south‑west England is using yoga and meditation to support people with long histories of offending—and early signs suggest it’s making a real difference.

Repeat offending is a major challenge for the criminal justice system. Adults with 11 or more previous offences make up around 39% of all adult offenders, yet they account for 78% of total adult reoffences. Helping this group to change course could significantly reduce crime and ease pressure on overcrowded prisons.

But so‑called prolific offenders are among the hardest people to reach. Many live with the long-term effects of unresolved trauma, neurodiversity, and adverse childhood experiences. Breaking entrenched cycles of behaviour requires more than punishment—it requires trust, stability, and new tools for coping.

A holistic approach to resettlement

Health and social care charity Change Grow Live has been commissioned by the probation service to explore new ways of helping people caught in cycles of offending to break that cycle. They are combining practical resettlement support with holistic wellbeing interventions. Their aim is to build trust, resilience, and hope—qualities that are often in short supply for people who have spent years moving in and out of the criminal justice system.

One of the most promising strands of this work is a yoga and meditation programme delivered in four prisons across the region.

Yoga in prison: a new starting point

For the past six months, specialist teachers from The Prison Phoenix Trust (The PPT) have been running weekly sessions in:

HMP Bristol
HMP Portland
HMP Guys Marsh
HMP Channings Wood

The sessions offer a calm, structured space where people can begin to take responsibility for their own mental and physical wellbeing. Simple breathing techniques, gentle movement and meditation help participants develop emotional regulation, focus, and a sense of agency.

The PPT approach is deliberately flexible. In some prisons, teachers work one‑to‑one with individuals who need tailored support. In others, group classes help build a sense of community and mutual encouragement. Participants also receive illustrated sheets of simple exercises they can practise in their cells.

Early signs of change

Teachers report encouraging levels of engagement. One instructor at HMP Channings Wood described a session of chair yoga:

“From being quite unsettled to start, the men were able to focus on their breathing, sit still and meditate—almost surprising themselves that they’re able to do that.”

Participants themselves echo this shift:

HMP Channings Wood: “Was stressed at first, now relaxed. Very good, my head feels clear.”
HMP Guys Marsh: “Was not expecting today, but 100% committed and look forward to coming back next week. I feel good—relaxed and calm.”
HMP Bristol: “I’m open to yoga, which is helping my mental health and movement.”

Female yoga teacher sitting cross-legged in gym class for prolific offenders

Building trust beyond the mat

The impact goes beyond the sessions themselves. By showing up consistently and without judgement, The PPT teachers are building trust—something many participants have rarely experienced in institutional settings.

This trust opens the door to deeper conversations about life after release: fears about finding work and housing, reconnecting with family, and navigating the challenges of resettlement. Yoga becomes the starting point for wider support.

As The PPT’s CEO Selina Sasse explains:

“When people are at rock bottom, yoga and meditation can give them a starting point. It helps people begin to focus, to feel part of something, and to commit to something positive. Just getting people to engage can be a real breakthrough.”

Change Grow Live’s Jenny Sherwood agrees:

“The Prison Phoenix Trust have been true partners in this project—reliable, consistent, and willing to go the extra mile. This cohort faces many challenges and often struggles to make prison work for them. The PPT teachers have played a valuable role in building trust by meeting men where they’re at, listening without judgement, and offering simple, practical ways to build resilience and confidence—vital for recovery and resettlement.”

Get ready for Mental Health Awareness Week

Graphic showing free resource for Prisons Mental Health Awareness Week

Give It 10: Free Yoga & Meditation Pack for Better Mental Health in Prison

To mark Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May), we are offering our free Give It 10 pack to support the wellbeing of people living or working in prison. This simple resource invites participants to try 10 minutes of yoga and meditation a day for 7 days, helping introduce calming, grounding practices into daily life.

What’s Included

The Give It 10 pack is designed for use by individuals or groups, and is ideal for prison officers, health teams, peer supporters and activity coordinators. Each free pack includes:

Illustrated yoga sequences (print)
A display poster
Essential safety tips
A 7‑day practice calendar

Order your free Give It 10 pack

Why Yoga Supports Prisons’ Mental Health Awareness Week

Research shows that yoga and meditation significantly improve wellbeing in prison environments. In 2023–24, The PPT evaluated 40 participants in yoga classes using the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Results included:

84% reported a meaningful improvement in mental wellbeing
Those with low wellbeing fell from 69% to 5%
Moderate wellbeing increased from 31% to 78%
High wellbeing rose from 0% to 18%

These findings highlight the impact of even short, structured wellbeing activity.

See more on the evidence base

How Yoga Helps People in Prison

Yoga provides practical tools that support both mental and emotional resilience:

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Breathwork and mindful movement help calm the nervous system and reduce hyper‑vigilance.

Build Self‑Worth

Regular practice creates a sense of grounding and increases confidence and focus.

Improve Emotional Regulation

Participants learn to pause, notice and respond rather than react impulsively.

Support Trauma Recovery

Yoga gently rebuilds connection with the body, helping address negative self‑image linked to past trauma.

Find out more about how The PPT can help

Start in Just 10 Minutes a Day

The Give It 10 pack makes it simple to introduce low‑cost, high‑impact wellbeing activities into the prison environment.

Order your free Give It 10 pack

See other resources free from The PPT

Quaker partners of The PPT

This spring, Quaker communities across the UK and Ireland are invited to partner with The Prison Phoenix Trust to support people in prison through yoga, meditation and spiritual practice.

Supporting people in prison through yoga and meditation

Prisons can be noisy, stressful and isolating environments. Through yoga, meditation and reflective practice, The Prison Phoenix Trust (PPT) helps people in prison find moments of quiet, reconnect with their inner strength, and begin a journey of personal change.

Each year, The Prison Phoenix Trust supports more than 5,000 people in prisons across the UK and Ireland, providing:

Free yoga and meditation resources for people in prison
One-to-one written mentoring and guidance
Access to spiritual support rooted in compassion and non-judgement
Encouragement towards reflection, responsibility and rehabilitation

This gentle but powerful prison outreach work often offers something many participants have never experienced before: being listened to without judgement. For many, it becomes the first step towards lasting change and successful resettlement.

Register your interest

Dennis’s story of inner transformation

While serving an 18-year prison sentence, Dennis received a letter from his daughter asking him to give up drugs and crime. That moment became the turning point in his life.

He connected with The Prison Phoenix Trust and began practising yoga and meditation in his prison cell. He relied on the charity’s written mentoring and free resources to build a daily practice. Slowly, he began to change how he related to himself and his future.

Through yoga, meditation, and later support from the Quaker community, Dennis discovered what he calls his “inner light” — a steadier, more peaceful way of living guided by honesty, responsibility and self-respect.

Now aged 75 and more than ten years after his release, Dennis lives a completely different life. He is an artist, serves as a Quaker adviser within a university chaplaincy team, and continues his daily yoga and meditation practice.

While in prison, a Quaker chaplain once told him:

“Walk in the light. Be in the light.”

At a time when Dennis felt hopeless, those words reminded him that his inner light was still present — even in the darkest moments. Through yoga and the quiet presence of Quaker chaplaincy, he began reconnecting with that light and allowing it to guide his choices, one day at a time.

Partner with The Prison Phoenix Trust

Quaker Meetings can help expand access to yoga and meditation in prisons across the UK and Ireland.

You can support this prison yoga charity by:

Holding a collection at your Quaker Meeting
Featuring The Prison Phoenix Trust in your newsletter
Sharing Dennis’s story through your community networks
Requesting a fundraising pack to help your Meeting get involved

Funds raised through Quaker communities directly support the creation of spaces of stillness within prisons, helping people find hope, resilience and inner change — even in the most challenging circumstances.

Register your interest

As Selina Sasse, CEO of The Prison Phoenix Trust, shares:

“We are deeply grateful to the Quaker community for its long-standing support. We would love to continue growing this relationship by inviting your Meeting to hold The Prison Phoenix Trust in the Light.”

Together, we can continue supporting rehabilitation, spiritual wellbeing, and positive change for people in prison through yoga and meditation.

New trustees join The PPT board

We are delighted to announce the appointment of four new trustees to our Board. Their expertise, experience, and commitment will be invaluable as we continue to develop our service delivery and support those in prison.

Valerie Smith is Head of Legal and Business Affairs at an independent television production company. She says “I am truly delighted to have been appointed as a trustee to the board of the Prison Phoenix Trust.  Over nearly 40 years, the PPT has transformed lives and been a light for people living and working within the prison system and it is a privilege to be able to contribute to the board and exceptional work of the PPT.”

Jasper Jameson is a personal trainer, coach and mentor. He brings valuable experience of serving time in prison, where he discovered yoga and meditation through classes with The Prison Phoenix Trust. He says “I am incredibly proud to now serve on the Board of Trustees for The Prison Phoenix Trust. I bring my lived experience to help ensure that the same support I received is available to people in prison now and in the future, and to highlight the importance of these practices in the wider community.” Continue Reading

Simon wins award for helping others through yoga in prison

Prison Reform Trust CEO Pia Sinha announced Simon’s award

Simon, a mentee of The Prison Phoenix Trust, has been recognised with a Hope and Fulfilment Award from the Prison Reform Trust for his outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of others in prison.

While serving his sentence in 2 prisons, Simon created and led the Inner Strength, Movement and Breathwork course — a programme that uses yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to build resilience and emotional strength among his peers.

Celebrating Hope and Human Connection

Simon’s recognition marks the third major award for The Prison Phoenix Trust in 2025. In September, long-time volunteer Yvonne was highly commended in the BBC Make a Difference Awards after 22 years of mentoring people in prison. In May, yoga teacher Emma won the British Wheel of Yoga Heart of Yoga Award for her work teaching young offenders.

Together, Simon, Emma and Yvonne’s achievements highlight the power of human connection, compassion, and personal growth in the rehabilitation journey. Continue Reading