Author: PeN Project

The Photographic electronic Narrative (PeN) project shares photographs taken by trainees at LandWorks: an independent charity that provides a supported route back into the community for people in prison or at risk of going to prison.

Jarvis says: “…when it’s a two-way thing you connect, yeah. That’s it, it’s the connection, it’s to realise for these people that they’re not outcasts …”

July 23, 2026

This is an extract from an interview with a LandWorks graduate. Jarvis had a Release on Temporary Licence placement at LandWorks in 2016 – https://penprojectlandworks.org/?s=jarvis “So I’m Jarvis, I’m employed by the NHS Reconnect and I’m what they call a ‘peer support worker’. I’ve been doing it for five years and basically what it is, … More Jarvis says: “…when it’s a two-way thing you connect, yeah. That’s it, it’s the connection, it’s to realise for these people that they’re not outcasts …”

Stef says: “LandWorks works because it doesn’t give up on people. It believes in people and it helps people to believe in themselves.”

June 25, 2026

This latest PeN project blog is from an interview with a LandWorks graduate carried out recently as part of the Reimagining Rehabilitation and Resettlement research currently being undertaken at LandWorks. “I was a trainee at LandWorks about five years ago and since leaving I became a Peer Support worker for the NHS, and then I … More Stef says: “LandWorks works because it doesn’t give up on people. It believes in people and it helps people to believe in themselves.”

Tazzy says: “Life don’t work, you know, with drugs and alcohol. I kind of see it that way…”

June 11, 2026

“I came to LandWorks because I can’t find work could I. So like I applied for loads of work, and I couldn’t find any work so … like I went to one job interview and like I didn’t get that. When I went to the licence review they said because it’s a life-time licence, right, … More Tazzy says: “Life don’t work, you know, with drugs and alcohol. I kind of see it that way…”

Kara says: “At LandWorks I feel I’m understood. I keep going back to the word ‘acceptance’, so I’ve accepted who I am, and I feel I’ve just been so lucky to be part of it all”

May 29, 2026

“One of the highlights at LandWorks is eating together, everybody sitting at the table eating together. I never had that as a child and when I went to school in *, in primary school, we used to have these big, long tables and we’d all sit opposite each other and be servers and that was … More Kara says: “At LandWorks I feel I’m understood. I keep going back to the word ‘acceptance’, so I’ve accepted who I am, and I feel I’ve just been so lucky to be part of it all”

Judah says: “…coming to LandWorks helps coz it keeps me busy, and then by the time I get home I’m too tired to even think about doing anything else”

May 15, 2026

“So I’ve been in and out of prison for the last year, just over a year. I ended up with a restraining order for my mum’s house but she had cancer so I had to keep going back to look after her, which kept getting me re-called to prison. So I ended up with a … More Judah says: “…coming to LandWorks helps coz it keeps me busy, and then by the time I get home I’m too tired to even think about doing anything else”

Jax says: “I don’t wanna leave LandWorks, which I actually don’t, but at the same time I’m glad I’m leaving because now I’ve got a life that I can work towards…”

April 28, 2026

“So yeah, LandWorks was the kick-start that I needed. I’ll always be grateful to LandWorks because LandWorks brought me into recovery. I’ve stated even in the meetings I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t come up here with Darryl and see Chris because I’d probably be back in jail right this second. … More Jax says: “I don’t wanna leave LandWorks, which I actually don’t, but at the same time I’m glad I’m leaving because now I’ve got a life that I can work towards…”

Nanda says: “LandWorks… I tend to always mention the unconditional positive regard because I think that’s like a unique and special part of it”

April 16, 2026

“Julie – So when someone asks what LandWorks does, what do you tell them? John – We are a supported route back into the community for people that are either currently in prison, at risk of going to prison, or some way involved within the Criminal Justice System. Rose – I think this question is … More Nanda says: “LandWorks… I tend to always mention the unconditional positive regard because I think that’s like a unique and special part of it”

Bobby says: ‘Being at LandWorks… it’s a social one innit […] when you’re trying to change your life around, you’ve fucked off all your mates so you can’t pick up the phone…”

April 2, 2026

“I done most of my time in the local prison. I see the LandWorks signs everywhere in there, but they stopped doing the ROTL then, so when I come out on licence my probation officer told me about LandWorks, so I kind of knew what it was about. He reckoned I’d like it, so he … More Bobby says: ‘Being at LandWorks… it’s a social one innit […] when you’re trying to change your life around, you’ve fucked off all your mates so you can’t pick up the phone…”

Doris says: “It’s like a unit. It’s not a family unit because it’s not like that at all. It’s like everyone’s linked together.”

March 19, 2026

My dad was in the military. I was born in Cornwall and then we moved all over the place. We went to Germany. We’ve lived in Scotland. We’ve lived everywhere in the UK. Then dad came out of the Air Force. I went into care. So, I’ve moved around with care, locked up in secure … More Doris says: “It’s like a unit. It’s not a family unit because it’s not like that at all. It’s like everyone’s linked together.”

Graham says: “LandWorks works because of trust going both ways. It works because if we say we’re gonna do something we will do it…”

February 19, 2026

“I am the workshop manager, which involves the daily running of the workshop, making sure there are jobs for all the guys and girls to do each day and to bring an income in of roughly a £1000 a week if possible or hit a target of £4000 a month, whether that be for stuff … More Graham says: “LandWorks works because of trust going both ways. It works because if we say we’re gonna do something we will do it…”