Introduction from Matt
We’re delighted to let you know that Change Grow Live has now launched a brand new national Criminal Justice directorate.
This will give us in South West prisons some great opportunities to collaborate with other similar services across the country and brings fresh focus and resources to our work within prisons. We would also like to give a very warm welcome to our new Director – Tracey Kemp – who will be leading this organisation-wide development.
Within South West prisons we also have much to celebrate, and there are always innovative and creative projects underway.
One recent highlight has been working in partnership with Integrated Offender Management at HMP Bristol to pilot some enhanced therapeutic activities – which we’d like to see a lot more of across the prison estate.
In response to the increased risks of overdose due to nitazenes and other new synthetic opioids, we’ve been updating our harm minimisation messages and also supporting wider provision of naloxone. This has included training up prison staff to use naloxone and also making it widely available on release for everyone.
We have also seen some significant progress on continuity of care rates for people continuing their treatment after release – with the HMP Guys Marsh service now reaching 75.5% and others not far behind. This can only be achieved through a huge amount of collaboration with other stakeholders, for which we are very grateful.
It has also been great to see new volunteers join our team, who provide a huge amount of added value. We also currently have 4 university students on placement years with us which has been hugely beneficial. If you want to find out more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].
A ‘day in the life’ of a Through The Gate worker
What does it take to help someone rebuild their life after prison? We offer a glimpse into the critical role of supporting individuals as they enter back into the community.
“HMP Exeter offers a unique working environment, particularly in my Through the Gate Worker role. As a local remand prison, we engage with individuals directly from the community, supporting them in their next steps—whether transferring elsewhere or returning to the community.
In my role, my primary focus is to support those being released back to the community. Often, I’ll have less than a month to do this.
On a typical day, I get on the landings as soon as possible to make the most of the available time we have with people. Otherwise, if I am on reception duty, I head there to support clients as they leave the main gate. This allows us to respond to any last-minute changes to their release plans.
We understand release is a stressful and high-risk time for the people we support so being present in reception allows us to support our nursing colleagues in addressing any issues. This all helps to ensure a seamless release.
I serve as the single point of contact for community services in Plymouth and Cornwall, while my colleagues cover other key areas. This structure builds strong working relationships with community services.
Beyond release planning, the role offers creative opportunities - I have developed a ‘Through the Gate’ group and release leaflets which are a useful tool in signposting clients to services they may benefit from accessing in the community.
I believe this role at HMP Exeter is starting to reach its full potential and I am excited about its growing impact on our clients’ futures.”
A story of hope, from a service user in HMP The Verne
This story contains discussion of substance dependency, overdose and hospitalisation.
If you would prefer not to read about these topics, please feel free to skip ahead to the next section.
“I thought I would write a little bit about myself and my recent journey and progress with addiction and hope it may help someone, somewhere.
Throughout my life I have always suffered with addiction, through learnt behaviours and poor coping skills. Alcohol and drugs became my best friend, and I was addicted to escaping the reality and pressures of my life and the pain that comes with it all. Life at times was unbearable.
Being in and out of prisons since my teens, I didn’t have the mental maturity to take responsibility and ask for help. I was weighed down by a difficult upbringing, poor coping mechanisms, and overwhelming regret, hate and shame. I wanted to change but remained in denial.
Nine years ago, I decided to enter a therapeutic community, confronted my demons, and took full accountability for my past. I forgave people, let go of the weight of emotions. Through honesty and acceptance, I have gained the strength to navigate negative emotions. Though I’ve had lapses, I’ve never relapsed—each lapse is a reminder to ask for help.
In the community I was struggling with the direction of probation, resulting in an attempted overdose. Not long after this I was recalled. At another prison, I spiralled and was transferred to HMP The Verne, far from loved ones. With no visits, my relationship faded, and so did I. Seeking escape, I turned to codeine and dihydrocodeine, becoming physically addicted for the first time.
Desperate, I looked for work, avoided triggers, and even requested a keyboard for distraction, but hit walls at every turn. Eventually, I overdosed and ended up in hospital. Looking back, my tolerance had built up so much that the amount I was taking makes it surprising that I'm still here to share this.
Change Grow Live supported me, setting up a care plan and the doctor prescribing buprenorphine, seeing how motivated I was. With regular keyworker meetings and a dedicated team, I’ve remained stable, without lapses or relapse. I continue to see Change Grow Live and am incredibly grateful for their support and dedication.
Rejection and setbacks will come, but never stop trying to let go of the things that bring you pain. Help exists - you just have to keep reaching for it.”
“On arrival, he was really struggling and asked for help. With the right support, along with hard work and sheer determination, he is now stable in his recovery. He has produced some amazing and reflective mapping work and should be very proud of what he has achieved on his journey.” (Hannah, Recovery Coordinator)
You said – We did
We highly value and welcome opportunities for feedback from the people who use our service. It helps to shape what we do and keeps our initiatives fresh and meaningful.
Feedback is gathered through various channels, so that everyone has the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences in a way that suits them best.
Some feedback called for more opportunities to be creative, so we’ve introduced additional art competitions, to encourage participation and give everyone a chance to express themselves.
Mindfulness and well-being were also highlighted as areas of interest. To support this, we’ve added activities such as sound baths, prayer, meditation and yoga sessions.
We also revamped a garden patch, creating a space where people can enjoy being surrounded by nature and even grow their own vegetables.
These examples show how we actively listen to our clients, gaining a deeper understanding of their needs and continuously enhancing the services we provide.
Addicted to Addiction’, by a service user in HMP Bristol
This poem below was a winning entry in a recent art competition. The winner was someone who didn’t typically engage in creative pursuits, yet seeing how much joy and pride this has brought them is wonderful to witness and share.
Addicted to addiction my lifelong affliction,
Nothing but pain, torment and loss.
Of daily lies and contradictions,
We selfishly get our prize no matter the cost.
We numb our pain with personalised prescriptions,
At once we felt but now there's only frost.
Losing our minds building paranoid restrictions,
Kidding ourselves all along like “This is boss”.
Somewhere along the way we ceased to dream,
Turned our backs on love compassion and joy,
Ended up surrounded by prison officers and psychiatric teams
Still discovering emotional damage from when we were boys.
Now accompanied by night terrors awoken by screams,
In our heads all day long just constant noise.
Our families have wept tears of despair like streams
Long ago we lost the opportunities to see our kids play with these toys.
But in this recovery are glimmers of hope,
Stories to which we relate, somehow in powerlessness we regain power
Our journey must begin at the bottom of this steep slope,
Try to keep your worries just to today, if not hour by hour.
In sobriety we get to know ourselves and learn how to cope
We can build a new life and nurture its growth as if we are a flower
Cleanse our souls with the 12 steps as our spiritual soap
And once again stand proud over this life like a tower.
“S has been stable and living in a dry house since he was last released in July, and he's the house rep now! He's maintaining abstinence and enjoying life alcohol-free. He comes in every week for Breakfast Club and the art drop in.
He looks THE BEST I've ever seen him. He's so positive and got such a great attitude towards life and his recovery."
Molly, Senior Criminal Justice Worker, DHI Bath.