Category: Art & Design

Max says: “That’s what you need stability, when you get out of prison… a little stability can create a big change”

August 11, 2021

“I didn’t have a criminal record until I was 40. I wasn’t a master criminal or nothing. It’s s*%t, isn’t it? [Lockdown in prison]… It was just s*%t, lying on a bed for six months. I don’t understand why they’re still doing it now. It’s still lockdown now in prison. F* knows what must be … More Max says: “That’s what you need stability, when you get out of prison… a little stability can create a big change”

Jake says: “It’s not like I come here, and I’m being punished. I’m coming out and I’m learning something new…”

October 30, 2019

  “Since I’ve been here, because I’m a qualified gardener, I’ve got a City & Guilds, I started off … I did a couple of days in the garden. Then because I was interested in art, Chris suggested I go and try some stuff with Sarah. I went in there and I did a little … More Jake says: “It’s not like I come here, and I’m being punished. I’m coming out and I’m learning something new…”

Helen says: “I want to move forward and being here makes me feel positive in moving forward all the time..”

May 24, 2018

“I was brave enough to get out of an abusive relationship and then just so fortunate to have been pointed towards this project. It’s just been miraculous. The support network and everything is so positive, instead of putting you down and being badged as this or that. It’s great I’m out and the fact I … More Helen says: “I want to move forward and being here makes me feel positive in moving forward all the time..”

Quentin says: “I’m very apprehensive about what happens when I get out, employment wise. I’m going to be restricted to what I can do…”

December 19, 2017

“I’ve been here four weeks. My views on this place and the ethos and what I’ll get out of it has certainly changed. It’s taken me four weeks to suss everyone out… I’ve been doing the pots for two weeks. I thought, the first two I did, when I did them I thought “they’re s@*#t”, … More Quentin says: “I’m very apprehensive about what happens when I get out, employment wise. I’m going to be restricted to what I can do…”

Joe says: “this is more about rehabilitation and getting your head sorted, than kind of digging away at a roadside…”

August 16, 2017

This is my first official day, because I’m in full time work, I’m sort of fitting it in as I can, ‘cos I’ve only got so many hours, so Chris and my probation officer said, you know just fill it in when you can… I’ve done some cooking, some weeding and some washing up, I’ve … More Joe says: “this is more about rehabilitation and getting your head sorted, than kind of digging away at a roadside…”

Brett says: “There’s always reasons behind everything…”

June 29, 2017

So Blaidh Nemorlith, Plymouth’s Poet Laureate did a poem about transformation man, which was really, really flattering yeah, it means a lot that anyone is inspired by my story, and for him to do that was really, really cool, really epic, so I thought it was only fitting really that we write the poem down, … More Brett says: “There’s always reasons behind everything…”

Simon says: “I’m just doing a bit of gardening”

May 3, 2017

“I’ve been toiling, just gardening,  I went to that other one as well, that other charity, there was only me there, well you look at it here and you think no, that’s two, three people surely doing all this work and it’s growing, growing by the minute, Also I can’t believe Sarah’s entering it, that … More Simon says: “I’m just doing a bit of gardening”

Brett says: “It’s just nice to get feedback off people…”

April 6, 2017

“It’s just nice to get feedback off people and you know, it’s cool, it was like it almost felt a bit emotional listening to you guys, yeah it’s like it’s just amazing really… what I’ve managed to achieve these past few months you know, and just to get feedback off everybody has been immense, and … More Brett says: “It’s just nice to get feedback off people…”

Simon says: “There’s good in everyone, it’s trying to get it out…”

March 29, 2017

“I’ve chucked a few posts up here and there, for Mon’s shed I think… I’m sure it’ll work very well, I’ve been doing stuff here but… I’ve done about four different [cartoons] it keeps growing, I’ve done four or five drawings, now I’ve got a table I can draw it on [at home]… you only … More Simon says: “There’s good in everyone, it’s trying to get it out…”