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Our Work in Prisons

"We really value our strategic partnership with User Voice and admire the work that they, and our Prison Councils, do. Their independence, commitment and different perspective helps all parties to explore issues in a way which could be more difficult using traditional prison consultation methods. We welcome the challenges that come from hearing about the realities of prison life and we are committed to working on joint solutions to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in our prisons."
Tony SimpsonCEO - Justice Sodexo
“I know that I am worth something now and that I have skills and don't have to do what I was doing before to get people to like or care about me.”
Andrea
AndreaCouncil Member
“I've never felt more seen as a whole person in prison than being on the council, you get heard and respected and you're more than being in prison.”
Lee
LeeCouncil Member
“The way the Council engaged in a solution-based approach with the providers was excellent. They were pro social and open to exploring the options to improve the service. It was great that the Council itself picked up the same issues our own reviews had suggested which makes both sides feel that the feedback and issues are live and the area’s most in need of our attention.”
Prison Director
Prison Director
“Since hearing about the work User Voice do, I have been an advocate of having them in the establishment. I believe that the skill set and approach they take is a model that works and could be employed in areas other than just Health Council settings. They take a solution based, positive and pro social approach to making the prison a better place to be for prisoners, staff and contracted service providers. It has a 'We can do' approach rather than become a forum for people to just complain and this expectation that prisoners will invest in making the services better rather than just expect staff and service providers to resolve issues makes for better collaborative and effective solutions.”
Prison Director
Prison Director

We run Prison Councils, Consultations and Focus Groups in prisons across the country

We have designed and delivered a wide variety of consultations, projects and Councils for both HMPPS, private prison providers and NHS England. During this time User Voice has facilitated 58 Councils across England as well as 15 Prison Health Councils (focusing solely on health-related issues in prison), Community Councils (closely linked with probation regions) and bespoke Councils (including a substance misuse Council for Project ADDER).  

Our Prison Councils are about positive change. Change for the people who are a part of them and change for those who work in prisons.

Council members trust us, knowing that we will support the development of their skills and advocate for them. Equally prison staff understand from the experience of working with us that we have solid knowledge of the challenges prison staff face and the immense strains on the whole prison estate.

Our independence provides a mechanism to hold the often tricky and complex negotiations between Prison Council members and staff that lead to meaningful change in prisons. We don’t take sides.

Our bespoke prison consultations and Focus Groups offer Prison leadership teams the opportunity to explore/address emerging themes/issues, or to road test their own objectives. We work closely with each prison to co-design each consultation so that they fit the areas of focus, presenting the findings directly to the Prison Director. We have run consultations in prisons on a range of issues
including Debt, Incentives Earned Privileges, Early Days and Induction, Education and Cleanliness.

To find out more about our innovative work in prisons:

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our prison council in numbers

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“My sense of purpose and growth has changed a lot since joining. I love that [User Voice Reps] get to give a voice to the inmates to better our prison life. Seeing the changes implemented really gives me motivation to help more.”
Council Member
Council Member
"This is exactly what is needed in here. You guys are voicing what we, as staff need to hear from the guys in there."
Prison Staff Member
Prison Staff Member

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