Samira, our Training and Development Manager shares her journey of strength and resilience in the face of multiple challenges.

In 2018, after a mental health crisis and some poor decisions, I found myself on remand in prison for six months. I had no understanding of the justice system and believed telling the truth would protect me—but it didn’t. I ended up in the highest-security women’s prison in Europe.

With little support, I was persuaded to plead guilty. I left court with nothing but a plastic bag. That was my rock bottom—homeless, jobless, and alone.

I’d grown up in London, seemingly successful, but struggling inside. My dad was an alcoholic, and I had a difficult relationship with my mum. In my 20s, I turned to drugs to cope. A breakdown at 30 led me to a 12-step programme and a move to the Midlands. But unresolved issues brought another breakdown later.

Back in London, I was working as a supply teacher and reconnecting with my dad, on a journey of forgiveness from the past. Then came prison. I witnessed trauma and violence but also found purpose—working as a teaching assistant in the prison Education Department, helping women to write letters to their families on the wings, and reconnecting with my faith.

After release, a fantastic organisation called Teaching Staff Trust, a Teachers Benevolent Fund helped me get back on my feet—paying rent, clearing debts, and even helping me buy a car. I found work with the Probation Service and St Giles Trust, supporting others leaving prison. That led to a role as a Programmes Facilitator, for the National Probation Service and I also became involved in the Lived Experience group within Probation.

In March 2021, I joined User Voice as a Lived Experience Consultant. This work involved running focus groups and completed surveys with people in prison, facilitating meetings with commissioners, and I also managed a team of volunteers. I have now been promoted to Training and Development Manager for the organisation. This new role involves leading on the training and development of both our staff and volunteers. I have recently written a Training and Development strategy to support User Voice’s overall new Strategic Plan and have developed a comprehensive Induction package for new staff and volunteers coming into the organisation. Another part of my role has been looking at how we can better support our staff and volunteers, including the introduction of well-being plans and reflective practice. My journey through User Voice has meant so much to me as they have supported my overall growth, including both my confidence and my skillset, whilst never judging me for my past,

The justice system is broken—so many people in prison need support, not punishment, and in my work, I have been so inspired by how lived experience can drive real change. My advice to others: Believe in yourself and find the right people for you. are many career pathways where society will put up barriers to employ people with convictions, but the way forward is to never give up. Just because society readily gives people labels, we do not need to accept these labels as truth. Life is messy and imperfect, people make mistakes, but those mistakes should never define a person. The right people will give you a chance. I have turned a negative experience into a positive and I truly believe that with the right support and encouragement, anyone can do the same.