Support for criminalised women

Elizabeth Fry charity

Through an Approved Premises, we house up to 24 women prison leavers at a time, on average placements are 3-6 months. Whilst women come to Elizabeth Fry House due to their significant offending, we recognise their complex life histories; they have themselves experienced injustice, often on multiple occasions. We empower women who pose a significant risk to others, but are themselves also highly disadvantaged and vulnerable. A range of purposeful activities help to address factors in all aspects of their lives linked to offending and develop skills to lead a safe, crime-free life in future. This daunting period of transition is challenging and unsettling. In- house, specialist, trauma-informed, wrap around practical and emotional support helps women to begin to tackle the issues they face, to improve their lives. Residents access daily constructive group work with weekly creative sessions, equipping them to make changes to their lives and resettle successfully. Resident Representatives are engaged as critical friends, feeding back from lived experience how to improve the environment and involve residents in Open Days with partner agencies. Holistic, positive, bespoke activities, whether yoga, art, gardening or music provide chances to connect, and healthy coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety and other varied needs.