Change is possible
Those who know me personally can confirm I usually have around 20 projects on the go at any one time in what may be considered a pretty hectic life. However it may look, I do in fact, have quite a lot of structure built in. Organised chaos as the saying goes. Living with complex mental … Continue reading Facts, fears and fables: Silent Battles: Reform!
I've always believed in the proverb 'actions speak louder than words', be them for negative narcissistic reasons or in search of a better life for others and oneself. As we, appear to, head into a season of meetings, seminars and conferences around justice and prison reform , my mind is drawn once again to the … Continue reading Change the record to challenge the perception!!
As you can see by the image I have included below, I am still, eagerly I must say, awaiting delivery of my copy of this excellent collection of poems and drawings by parents and children affected by imprisonment in the UK and abroad which has been edited by Lucy Baldwin & Ben Raikes. I'm fortunate, … Continue reading SEEN & HEARD
Allow your mind to visualise prison, if you can - even if for only the briefest of moments - as a chess board. You have two opposing sides, made up of many: labels? titles? names and so on, or even pieces? Within one arena, all going in different directions. Some more restricted than others, confined … Continue reading Gary Kasparov the learner driver!
The process begins. The laws of this upside-down kingdom reveal the arena. Predator? Prey? Violence rules! Okay?
On March 31st this year (sounds better than a few days ago) I made my debut as a writer/contributor to an excellent website, owned and managed by someone that has become a close friend, Jim. Jim, is bringing together, in one place, definitive information from the city of London which has some incredible crime history. … Continue reading Welcome to Londoncrime.co.uk
‘Bird’ just went plural with Kendra Houseman and Dave Breakspear. Dave appeared on our very first episode of Bird ‘Mental Health Behind Bars | Can Lessons be learnt?’ and Kendra came into our lives at episode 3 ‘UK Street Gangs | A Look Inside’. The links to both these podcasts are available at the end … Continue reading 3 Little birds!
Michael Spurr, announced last year that there will be no more public bidding on contracts to build new prisons. Therefore, with an extensive building programme planned, any new prison will be maintained and managed by the private sector. As well as any existing public prison, that may be put out to tender. It has always … Continue reading Facts, fears and fables…part 5
One to one... They meet, maybe across a table. A soulless room, wet with tears, thick with pain. STOP!!! Please!.... Just listen, before you fail me. For a poem is not just sound it is silence as well. We fail to listen to understand whilst providing rapid response. The empathetic listening ear, changes ways of … Continue reading Listen!
Self-inflicted deaths are over five times more likely in prison than in the general population. Ministry of Justice (2018) Another statistic I would like you to take on board is that out of the 325 deaths in prison, in the year up to September 2018, 87 were self-inflicted, over a quarter. However, let's look at … Continue reading Lend an ear?
Journey of a reformed man 