The User Voice Council

User Voice has developed its innovative council model in prisons, although it can equally be applied in a community context.

Within prisons, our councils are designed to provide prisoners with an opportunity to get involved with improving services and work constructively with staff.

The User Voice council is developed through an democratic process. Prisoners are asked to form and run particular ‘parties’, each representing common challenges faced by prisoners and the prison system.

User Voice works closely with prisoners and staff exploring what each party may concern itself with, such as:

• Housing and Employment,
• Training and Education,
• Community and Environment or
• Resettlement.

For more information, read The Power Inside – The Role of Prison Councils

User Voice also has set up councils in Probation Trusts. These work slightly differently to the prison councils. Members are selected after a process involving questionnaires and focus groups. They are peer selected through a democratic process.

> HMP Isle Of Wight

> HMP Maidstone

> London Probation Trust

> HMPs Rye Hill & Wolds

> Northumbria Probation Trust

> HMP Birmingham

> HMYOI Aylesbury

> Kent Probation

> HMP Buckley Hall