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.

Chantal says: “It’s really like what you call therapeutic. When you’re making stuff you’re not thinking about stuff.”

July 25, 2025

“I was having a panic attack when I got here the first time ‘coz I’m anaemic and stuff […] My probation officer brought me here. I thought it was a bit of a weird setting. I think everyone was in yoga, so it was nice that everyone wasn’t about. I think it would’ve been way … More Chantal says: “It’s really like what you call therapeutic. When you’re making stuff you’re not thinking about stuff.”

Stan says: “I tend to sit and listen to see if I can trust ‘em. I don’t wanna hang onto people that would be annoying, but lucky enough here, nobody’s annoying. Now I’m on the right path.”

July 10, 2025

“I came to LandWorks so I could get out a bit more. To learn new stuff. Probation brought me to visit. It was good. Felt like it was a good atmosphere. I was nervous meeting new people. Yeah, I was nervous about meeting new people, but once I met them, I’m ok. I get the … More Stan says: “I tend to sit and listen to see if I can trust ‘em. I don’t wanna hang onto people that would be annoying, but lucky enough here, nobody’s annoying. Now I’m on the right path.”

Ray says: “Being here…it’s a non-custodial sentence … you’ve gotta give back, you’ve gotta have my time and my labour as opposed to me losing my liberty…”

June 26, 2025

… I’ll get somewhere to put a few possessions so I can lock a door behind me and put my head down on a pillow. That’s a good thing to do, find somewhere to live, which I’m sure I’ll be able to do soon. Yeah, and get some work. I ain’t fussed. I’ll probably just … More Ray says: “Being here…it’s a non-custodial sentence … you’ve gotta give back, you’ve gotta have my time and my labour as opposed to me losing my liberty…”

T-bunny says: “We all get hiccups and glitches don’t we, like you know, but it’ll be alright.”

June 12, 2025

“It’s been great being here. It’s ticked so many more … not ticked boxes, that’s the wrong thing to say there, it’s been educational for me and enriching for me to be here with you guys. It’s really filled parts of me that I didn’t, you know, that I didn’t even know. It’s just the … More T-bunny says: “We all get hiccups and glitches don’t we, like you know, but it’ll be alright.”

Jimbob says: “LandWorks makes you feel more like you’re part of the community and it makes me want to be able to do something with my life…”

May 15, 2025

“I’ve done quite a lot of stuff here like. It made me feel a lot more like … it changed my way of life … there’s more to life and that. It makes you feel more like part of the community and makes me want to be able to do something with my life. Before … More Jimbob says: “LandWorks makes you feel more like you’re part of the community and it makes me want to be able to do something with my life…”

George says: “When you’re in a rut and you’re taking drugs you don’t do things like that, you don’t hardly eat anyway, so doing this is like getting back to normal…”

May 2, 2025

“I’ve still been coming here twice a week, which I love coming. Yeah, I do like coming here because it’s something … what am I trying to say? It’s something positive in my life coz where I come from. I’ve gotta try and do more positive things, plus I’ve been doing a lot on my … More George says: “When you’re in a rut and you’re taking drugs you don’t do things like that, you don’t hardly eat anyway, so doing this is like getting back to normal…”

Bruce says: “It’s just a nice environment innit. It’s a nice place, nice environment, nice food, nice people, nice little dog. Yeah.”

April 17, 2025

“I’m a brick-layer by trade, but I worked on the boats quite a lot. [Good work?] It is if you don’t like people. [Don’t like people?] Not particularly. Most of ‘em are very dishonest. I’m almost 60 and I’ve met many dishonest people in my life. [Met some good people?] Yeah, maybe on one hand, … More Bruce says: “It’s just a nice environment innit. It’s a nice place, nice environment, nice food, nice people, nice little dog. Yeah.”

Deer says: “a lot of people say to me that I’m a creative person and recognise the effort I put into my work, and it makes me wanna do stuff outside of LandWorks and be creative…”

March 19, 2025

“I still go back and forward. I still have days where I completely shut down, but I’m much more withheld now, like drawn back if I get into those episodes. I don’t talk to anyone, and I don’t … whereas before it was more like a cry out for help, whereas now it’s not, now … More Deer says: “a lot of people say to me that I’m a creative person and recognise the effort I put into my work, and it makes me wanna do stuff outside of LandWorks and be creative…”

Dave says: “…it has actually helped to change my mindset because before this I never worked”

March 7, 2025

“I left in 2023. I think I left a week before I joined my work… almost two years, yeah. It was two years; I think it was. I think it was after Covid. I didn’t do many days here to start with. Obviously after a couple of weeks here I did five days a week. … More Dave says: “…it has actually helped to change my mindset because before this I never worked”

Clarke says: “having somewhere you can come, not get judged … I think that’s just what everyone needs when you have been in that shitty situation…”

February 21, 2025

“I was on bail for like a year-and-a-half, so by the time it actually come to going to court, going through it all, it was just … the whole situation … I couldn’t explain what had happened, especially from me abusing the drugs and everything like years afterwards, how long it took to have an … More Clarke says: “having somewhere you can come, not get judged … I think that’s just what everyone needs when you have been in that shitty situation…”