Inside Voices: The Power of Independent Prison Councils

In many prisons, the idea of a council—where prisoners can raise concerns and suggest improvements—has traditionally been an internal affair. Run by the prison, for the prison. But what happens when that process is facilitated by an independent body? What changes when someone from the outside is listening?

From my experience, the difference is night and day. I’ve been in prisons where the council was taken seriously by senior management—where engagement was genuine and change was possible. But I’ve also been in places where it was nothing more than a tick-box exercise. A formality. A performance.

That’s where an outside agency like User Voice makes a real difference. When someone independent is in the room, it adds a layer of accountability. If management isn’t listening, if the council is being ignored, someone else knows. Someone can report it. It’s no longer just our word against theirs. It becomes a form of independent monitoring—and that changes the dynamic.

I’ve had the privilege of building strong relationships with prison management through the council. And yes, I enjoyed that. Not because it gave me status, but because it meant I was being treated with respect. Like a person. Not just a prisoner behind a door. But I never did it for myself. I always put the needs of others first. I’ve even lost privileges—like items I used to buy from the canteen—because I pushed for lower-cost options to help those with less money. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

One of my proudest achievements was at Forest Bank. We managed to get a full menu change. At first, the kitchen manager wasn’t interested—he’d had bad experiences with councils before. But I broke through that resistance. We didn’t ask for steak or tuna. We just rebalanced the menu—moved things around, changed the days. The result? Food complaints dropped to the lowest in the prison. Waste food went down by 70%. Small changes, big impact.

Another success was the Early Days programme—an initiative I developed that’s now being rolled out in other prisons. That’s something I’ll always be proud of.

Since my release, I’ve stayed involved. I’ve sat on probation councils, met with senior managers, and shared lived experience to help shape better policies. It’s motivating. It’s meaningful. And it’s proof that the skills and confidence I gained inside still matter on the outside.

If someone asked me whether they should join the council, I’d say—it depends. If you’re in it for yourself, don’t bother. But if you care about others, if you want to make a difference, then yes. It’s worth it.

It’s about change. Real change.