Fine Cell Work's "Sponsor a Prisoner" scheme is intended to encourage stitchers in training. By choosing to sponsor a prisoner you will give them a first commission, increasing their confidence to learn new skills and eventually take on further professional work.

Knowing they have been specially selected, the prisoner will stitch a geometric cushion for you in specially chosen colours. The cushion will be completely original and there will be nothing else exactly like it in the world. It will have been created on your behalf.

Cost

The Sponsorship costs £60 and this will pay for a stitcher to make an 14" cushion geometric design cushion or £100 for an 18" cushion to be made.

Thanking prisoners for their work

Sponsorship is about fostering a feeling of connection and support between a prison inmate and someone in the outside world. We therefore ask customers who have sponsored a prisoner to write and thank the inmate who stitched their piece.

“The first thank-you I got... It was that I was in here and outside there’s someone with a smile on their face because of my work. That gave me a sense of purpose.”
Andy, HMP Wandsworth

“I have received some really moving letters of gratitude and praise for the work I have done for various clients and this is very encouraging when it happens. You could tell some of the letters were from really nice people. One woman wrote to me about her son in Afghanistan. It moved me to tears.”
Tony, HMP Shepton Mallett

If you want to sponsor a prisoner then please do contact us at - rebecca@finecellwork.co.uk or
telephone 0207 931 9974

Why sponsor a prisoner?

Here are some little-known facts: 52% of male and 72% of female adult prisoners have no qualifications. 40% of prisoners under twenty-one have been in the care of the local authority in their childhoods, where in the population as a whole the figure is only 2%. Half have serious problems with reading, two-thirds with numeracy and
four-fifths with writing.

This means that giving support and incentives for learning is critical to improving these lives.

This is what receiving his first "Needlemakers Livery Company Award" certificate meant to one prisoner:

“I am very grateful to have received a Needlemakers Livery Company “Gold” certificate and wish to thank those at both Fine Cell Work and the Needlemakers Company for this award. I look forward to continuing my training as I am sincerely desirous to gain additional knowledge in an art that is challenging, rewarding and traditional. Finally I would like to praise those who have been so influential and supportive in my training and development, my teachers. Thank you.”
Paul, HMP Long Lartin

A customer’s viewpoint

"Today I met a man who was released from prison last Friday, and is homeless as he has NOWHERE to sleep. He sleeps on benches. He signs on daily as he has no address. I was so cross, that I looked on the net for prison reform, prison support etc., and found your organisation.What touched me was that my mother used to do beautiful embroideries, patchwork, cushions etc., and somehow the two feelings combined to make me think "I must do something".”