JUSTICE with prison philanthropist Edwina Grosvenor

In our final episode in our series exploring motherhood in the justice system, Edwina reflects on what we’ve heard, and looks to the solutions to some of the challenges we’ve explored this series.   Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing, returns to discuss her thoughts and feelings on what she’s heard on the series, and shares what she hopes those listening will take awa...

In this episode we focus on the experiences and voices of children affected by maternal imprisonment. So often children are kept in the dark about what is happening, or their views and wishes are overlooked. This episode contains the voices of children who have been affected alongside professionals working to improve the support available. We hear from Farhana and Tiff who have both been personall...

In this week’s episode, Edwina explores the issues affecting black and racially minoritised mothers in the justice system. She speaks to two researchers at the cutting edge of improving knowledge of these experiences.  Dr Sinem Bozkurt is a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Westminster and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her PhD explored the prison an...

In this week’s episode, Edwina speaks to Becky Wray and Katia Parent, the two family social workers who are part of the pilot project run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) that sees family social workers being based inside women’s prisons for the first time. We hear the unique perspectives of these social workers – the difficult job of managing the connection or separation between mothers...

Please note this episode contains discussion of traumatic births and infant mortality that some listeners may find upsetting.  This week we are continuing the exploration of pregnancy and birth in the justice system. In our last episode Edwina spoke with Dr Laura Abbott, a registered midwife and Associate Professor in Research at The University of Hertfordshire, who has extensively researched...

In this episode, we explore pregnancy and birth in the justice system. What are the experiences of those who enter prison pregnant and are faced with giving birth inside? And what impact does imprisoning pregnant women have on their safety, and their baby’s?   To help us explore these questions, Edwina spoke to Dr Laura Abbott, a registered midwife and Associate Professor in Research at The U...

In this week’s episode, Edwina explores what rights mothers in the justice system have. She speaks to Kate Lill, Women Prisoners Caseworker at the Prisoners’ Advice Service, whose role involves providing free legal advice to women in prison, and making sure they are able to assert their rights.   Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) are a charity providing free legal advice to those in prison. The...

In this first episode in our series exploring motherhood in the justice system, Edwina sat down with Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing, to discuss some of the key issues and challenges facing mothers in the justice system.    Lilly is a survivor and campaigner on Domestic Abuse who started her campaigning work whilst in prison. After being sentenced in 2016 to 8...

Introducing our new series of JUSTICE where we will explore the experiences of mothers in the justice system - from women who enter prison pregnant and give birth inside, to those who are separated from their children through imprisonment and involvement from social services.    With those working on the front line, and those with lived experience, this series sheds light on the untold s...

This week Edwina speaks Joy Doal, CEO of Anawim, Birmingham’s Centre for Women. Anawim is an award-winning Women's Centre with over 30 years' experience. They provide support, advocacy and campaign on a local and national level. Anawim’s mission is to help women from all backgrounds and communities in and around Birmingham to get the support they deserve. They provide a tailored package...

Please note, this episode contains descriptions of conditions in prison including suicide that some listeners may find distressing. In this week’s episode, Edwina speaks to Michael Spurr, the former Chief Executive of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Starting out as a Prison Officer in HMP Leeds in 1983, Michael has occupied a variety of roles in prisons and probation, including...

This week Edwina speaks to Sarah Dangar, CEO of Ahimsa. Ahimsa is a Plymouth based charity that challenges and supports perpetrators of abuse to cease their violent and abusive behaviour. They deliver one on one support and group programmes for male perpetrators of abuse, supporting their behaviour change and preventing future incidences of domestic abuse. In this episode, Sarah shares more about...

In this week’s episode Edwina explores the often unspoken impact of menopause on women’s lives. Despite the fact that 51% of the population will experience menopause, and the estimated 13 million people who are currently peri or menopausal in the UK, this topic has remained taboo. Edwina speaks to two advocates driving change in the national conversation around menopause on their experience of thi...

Please note this episode contains descriptions of treatment of women in prison including sexual threat and abuse that some listeners may find distressing.  Edwina speaks to Sandra Barefoot, Raushia Coles, Siobhan Jackson and Ruth Chitty from The Forgiveness Project. The Forgiveness Project works with people who have rebuilt their lives following hurt and trauma to explore what it takes to heal, r...

Please note this episode contains discussion on domestic abuse and sexual assault. This week Edwina looks at justice through a literary lens by speaking to Harriet Still, the curator of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex exhibition. In this episode Harriet explores one of Hardy’s most famous works,  Tess of the D’Urbervilles , and highlights how this novel sparked conversations around the world on violenc...

In this week’s episode, Edwina focuses on the UK’s criminal record system. She speaks to two supporters of the  Fair Checks campaign  led by Transform Justice and Unlock, which is calling for a fresh start to the UK’s outdated criminal records system.   Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin, discusses why no one should be judged by their worst moment, and the commitment of Virgin...

This week Edwina speaks to Natasha Finlayson, Chief Executive of Working Chance. Working Chance is the UK's only employment charity solely for women with convictions. In this episode Natasha explains the support they provide to women and the impressive outcomes they achieve, including 90% of women using their employment service securing a job.   Natasha also outlines recent research by Workin...

This week Edwina speaks to Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons. Independent from Government, the role of Chief Inspector of Prisons reports directly to the Secretary of State for Justice on the conditions in prisons and detention centres, and the treatment of those inside them.    In this episode Charlie explains more about what his role entails, and why independence from Governme...

Please note this episode contains discussion of traumatic births and infant mortality that some listeners may find upsetting. In this week’s episode, Edwina speaks to Naomi Delap, Director of Birth Companions, and Sam who is part of their Lived Experience Team. Birth Companions is a women’s charity dedicated to tackling inequalities and disadvantage during pregnancy, birth and early motherhood. Fo...

In this week’s episode, Edwina speaks to Sofia Buncy MBE, the pioneering Founder and Director of the multi-award-winning Muslim Women in Prison Project. Established in 2013 to document and research the experiences of Muslim women in criminal justice system, the project delivers a community-based culturally appropriate service for Muslim women returning to communities.   In this episode, Sofia...

In this week’s episode, Edwina speaks to Sarah Beresford, Prison Reform Trust Associate and Churchill Fellow. Sarah is also the author of ‘What about me?’ , a report which explores how children’s lives are impacted when their mothers are involved in the criminal justice system.   In this episode Sarah describes how children are so often invisible to decisionmakers, and explains how her r...

In this week’s Justice episode, Edwina speaks to Professor Taj Nathan, a consultant forensic psychiatrist for the NHS. He holds honorary academic posts at the University of Liverpool, University of Chester and Liverpool John Moores University, and provides independent expert opinion to courts in England and Wales.   Taj is also the author of Dangerous Minds: A Forensic Psychiatrist's Quest to...

In this episode Edwina speaks to Hannah Shead, the CEO of Trevi. Operating since 1993, Trevi is an award-winning women’s charity in Devon. Their mission is to provide safe and nurturing spaces where women in recovery can heal, grow and thrive.   Set up to support women experiencing alcohol and drug misuse issues and their children, Trevi runs the only UK residential rehabilitation centre excl...

In this episode I speak to Peter Sullivan from the organisation Chess in Schools and Communities who facilitates chess clubs in Wandsworth prison and has recently been expanding this to the women’s prison estate. Peter also trained and organised the England team that participated in the World Prison Chess Championship. 43 teams from 31 countries took part in the competition and England scored a hu...

Please note this episode contains discussion on domestic abuse, including fatal domestic abuse, that some listeners may find distressing. In this episode Edwina speaks to Nicole Jacobs, the first  Domestic Abuse Commissioner  for England and Wales. Nicole explains her statutory powers, as set out in the Domestic Abuse Bill, to raise public awareness and hold both agencies and government...