The unit where I work in Wandsworth is a VPU (Vulnerable Prisoners Unit). The ideals of this unit are to encourage men to address their offending behaviour. Many of the men I work with have deep personality problems and have low self-esteem and self-worth. Fine Cell Work gives these men dignity in work and through this dignity in life. A man can hold his head up before his family.

When a man gains self-respect he may see his way to addressing his offending behaviour through other prison courses, such as ETS (enhanced thinking skills), SOTP (sex offenders treatment programme) and RAPT (rehabilitation of addicted prisoners trust). I have seen this happen through Fine Cell Work.

I think Fine Cell Work played a part in the rehabilitation of one young man, who had been a thorough nuisance to prison staff and was having difficulty coming to terms with his crime and his sentence. Along with Fine Cell Work he did SOTP and RAPT and became a real contributor. He is still in touch with Fine Cell Work at the drugs rehab hostel he chose to enter when he was released. Another inmate, who had also been very difficult, did Fine Cell Work and went on to volunteer for HMP Grendon, a prison for therapy: the governor gave him a special dispensation to carry on quilting while he was there and this was unusual as the prison is supposed to concentrate only on offending behaviour.

There is also a prisoner who used to have to go to hospital for month-long stints and was on very heavy medication, has been kept on an even keel by Fine Cell Work. I once went to see him in Healthcare and he said "I don't want to lose Fine Cell Work." It seems to keep him sane.

There have been so many inmates through. Another, who was our number one cleaner on the wing, could not even sew a button on his shirt. But we decided to give him a go. We dragged him into the office and showed him how to sew on a button. He took off from there and became one of the best of all the quilters.

All these men gained a sense of pride through Fine Cell Work. It has also given me as an officer a new perspective. When I was first asked by our then governor, "Do you really think we should do Fine Cell Work?" and I said I would try to take an interest, I was surprised. We had so many applications to come to the first meeting that there was standing-room only. One prisoner sat spellbound. He was someone who had terribly low concentration. I suspect he had paranoid schizophrenia. He was shown an Amesh quilt that evening. The next day he had copied the whole thing onto toilet paper, almost perfectly. He showed this to me in the exercise yard. We decided that it was unsafe for him to use needles (he was likely to swallow them) but Caroline, the Fine Cell Work volunteer, had him doing designs.

My particular job with Fine Cell Work is as the co-ordinator and liaison officer for the charity in the prison. I select the prisoners for FCW. Inmates may apply to me for the work or I may approach an inmate who I believe to be suitable or who has been referred to me by other staff. I also assist in the technicalities of running the class, ie security issues, tool facilities, advice on prison issues and the idiosyncracies of prison life. At the moment we have a waiting list of men who want to start FCW but quite a few of these are in my opinion not suitable.

As an officer you have to wear two hats. It's a bit of a split personality. I have always cared because I was in the police in Scotland and I saw the terrible poverty and falling through the net. With Fine Cell Work you suddenly realise you're a human being and not just a uniform. Prisoners come and talk to you and realise you're a human being too. I am doing something for a worthwhile charity and possibly giving inmates who have an entrenched view of "The System" a different angle to consider.

Fine Cell Work complements the Prison Service regimes for education and rehabilitation. The prison is also using an untapped prisoner resource; men who would otherwise would be unemployed but who as a result have a raised profile on the wing and possibly a better public image. Many of these men find the ethics of work difficult through personality or medical problems but FCW gives them pay and a sense of real worth. For myself, I enjoy the public relations side of Fine Cell Work and the job satisfaction it gives me.

Officer Iain Robertson MBE, HMP Wandsworth Previous Letter Next Letter