In light of Mother’s Day just past, the Guardian recently published an article on the trauma experienced by female prisoners who have to go into labour handcuffed to prison officers whom on occasion were male. Read more at the following link 👉🏻 bit.ly/4ryDnCI

High jinks with Liberty Choir. All will be revealed soon…..! 📷: Mark Harrison 📍: Shoreditch Studios

Prison is a despairing environment devoid of hope. Many of the residents we work with cite the positivity of coming to Liberty Choir, allowing them to forget that they aren’t in prison for two hours.

A picture of our team following the successful launch of our newest choir programme at HMP Guy’s Marsh - our 12th prison. We are so grateful to all of our donors who continue to make our work possible!

We are so proud of our Graduate Ambassador Ross, who put on a fabulous performance with his band Rosko Piko at our partner The Bedford last week! Watch a snippet of their set 👇🏻

A record number of offenders are being recalled back to prison. This follows the implementation of the current early release scheme in which prisoners of less serious crimes are eligible for release after serving 40% of their sentence, down from 50%. Read more 👉🏻 bit.ly/3O1zms9

Interested in getting involved with Liberty Choir’s work? Learn more and apply for our current opportunities 👇🏻 🌟 Music Directors: bit.ly/3NLKyZU (CLOSING TOMORROW) 🌟 Accompanists: bit.ly/4q0pSL7 (CLOSING TOMORROW) 🌟 Volunteers: bit.ly/4pwSWd3

First team meeting of the year reflecting on another successful Big Give campaign, insights and goals as well as brainstorming for some exciting projects. More to come... Thank you to The Bedford Pub for hosting us, and our wonderful supporters donors who continue to make our work possible.

📣 We are recruiting! As we expand into Dorset, Somerset and Devon in 2026, we are looking for highly skilled Music Directors and Accompanists to join our team. Learn more and apply for both roles below: Music Director bit.ly/3LOIRds Accompanist bit.ly/4beJTKp

We are still recruiting new volunteers for our new programme at HMP Guys Marsh! Do you love singing and making a difference to your community? All experience levels of singing and volunteering are welcome! Register your interest 📧 [email protected] Learn more 🌐 bit.ly/4pwSWd3

Exciting news - on January 20th we will be launching a new programme at HMP Guys Marsh in Dorset! Interested in volunteering at our new programme? All experience levels of singing and volunteering are welcome! Email us at [email protected] or visit the link to learn more bit.ly/4pwSWd3

Happy New Year! Here are just a couple of our 2025 Milestones you’ve helped us achieve in the last year - and what a big year it has been for us ✨

Thank you for your support and care for the men and women in prisons, for their families, and the graduates when they come out. Without you, we wouldn't be able to continue our work. Watch this space - lots of exciting news to announce in 2026! From MJ, Ginny and the LC Team

This has been the biggest nail-biter of a @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge but through our 271 donors, we busted our target! Thank you so much! Your support will enable us to continue our life-changing work for prisoners and their families within and beyond the prison walls in 2026.

Our Big Give Christmas Challenge ends in under 2 hours and we are getting so close to our goal. Can you help us get there? Help us continue supporting prisoners and their families in the new year! Double your donation to our @biggive.bsky.social page now: bit.ly/3K7DhlP

Last weekend, our supporters rallied for a last minute push towards our @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge with some fantastic fundraisers! With less than 24 hours to go, we are making one FINAL BIG PUSH to reach our target. Will you join us too? Double your donation today: bit.ly/3K7DhlP

It’s the last day of our @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge, and we need your help. We have 29% left to raise - any small amount will help us support more prisoners and their families! All donations will be DOUBLED. Together we can be a force for prison reform! Donate today: bit.ly/3K7DhlP

Our MJ's Choirs friends have been tube station carolling…they’ve been fundraising…now they are calling YOU to help us continue our work within & beyond prison walls! Our Big Give Christmas Challenge ends in 4 DAYS! Double your donation to our @biggive.bsky.social page before Tuesday bit.ly/3K7DhlP

“The Liberty Choir doesn’t just give prisoners a voice, it offers them a community too” - David Gilmour, Liberty Choir Patron Help us continue our work within and beyond the prison walls by supporting our Big Give Christmas Challenge from December 2-9. All donations will be DOUBLED: bit.ly/3K7DhlP

✨ It’s time for our Big Give Christmas Challenge ✨ Help us raise 32000 to support prisoners and their families this Christmas! Support our BIGGEST fundraising campaign of the year - make your donation today at our @biggive.bsky.social page. One donation, TWICE the impact: bit.ly/3K7DhlP

A message from your favourite cat and mouse on our Big Give Christmas Challenge which starts in just TWO DAY’S TIME! Want to spread the word on our campaign but don’t know how to get started? Share this video and our @biggive.bsky.social page with your friends and family: bit.ly/3K7DhlP

The clocks are ticking…our @biggive.bsky.social Christmas Challenge starts next Tuesday! Help us continue our life-changing work by donating to our biggest fundraiser of the year from Dec 2nd - 10th 🌟 Each donation will be DOUBLED - one donation, TWICE the impact: bit.ly/3K7DhlP

We are truly honoured to have won the 2025 @longfordtrust.bsky.social Prize! Founded by MJ Paranzino & Ginny Dougary 11 years ago, we are filled with pride that our work in prisons has now been recognised with such a monumental accolade. Thanks to all who have supported us - this is for you.

We are incredibly proud of our Liberty Choir Graduate Thomas Cleeton who had his poem selected for our partner charity Koestler Arts’ latest volume of New Poetry from Prisons! Learn more and purchase the poetry collection at the following link 👉🏻 bit.ly/43TG88m

Nice to read about something positive in the prison system - the work of @libertychoiruk.bsky.social!

We are thrilled to have had our work in prisons featured on @observeruk.bsky.social! Written by Liberty Choir trustee Paul Webster, the article recounts his experiences within prison as a volunteer of our programmes. Read the full article at the following link 👉🏻 bit.ly/3JenO31

Prisons are cutting spending on education by up to 50%. This has concerning implications on reoffending, with the rate for prisoners who engaged in education being 34% versus 43% for those who weren't. Learn more at the following link: bit.ly/3W1zIQv

This #WorldMentalHealthDay we are raising awareness of the mental health crisis within prisons, which according to the @centreformh.bsky.social has become “the norm, not the exception”. Our choir attendees report improved happiness, self confidence and more. Learn more: bit.ly/4nLFqSN

In 2023-24, only 45% of released prisoners had settled accommodation. The proven reoffending rate of offenders released into homelessness is 56.5% Our work doesn’t stop on release, continuing by supporting our LC Graduates' accommodation needs, finding work through our employment scheme and more.

On Saturday, we had our first Strategic Day with our amazing Board towards our five-year business plan. It was hosted by our very generous supporter The Groucho Club, with more interesting possibilities to come there. It was great to have Audrey looking down on us from above!

The @prtuk.bsky.social's latest report address the challenges of reintegrating individuals back into society following lengthy imprisonment, many of whom citing the importance of organisations and charities’ support in the process. Read the full report 👉🏻 bit.ly/3K0Kaor

Our graduates, volunteers and choirs in the community had a fabulous time performing at the Circle of Liberty concert. We are very grateful to our Ambassadors Ross and Vicky Bell for organising yet another fantastic gala fundraiser concert in support of our work!

Less than a fifth of UK businesses are recruiting ex-offenders, leading to increased reoffending. Of those imprisoned for reoffending, 52% were unable to find a job after their first release. We have been working to continue expanding our Graduate Employment Scheme. Read more 👉🏻 bit.ly/45iwFJ4

Family is critical to prisoners’ rehabilitation; those who receive family visits are 39% less likely to reoffend compared to those who don’t. Our in-prison choir programmes help provide a vital sense of family to our attendees. Read more about the other work we do: libertychoir.org

“Most people are going to come out again, and you have to hope they don’t come out worse” Nick Hardwick's comments follows the Ministry of Justice's latest independent review revealing the prison system came close to total collapse on 3 separate occasions in a 12 month period. bit.ly/47jax2s

We are thrilled to have been featured on BBC Music Magazine's article on music programmes which introduce prisoners to the world of music, help them open up to others and supporting their rehabilitation back into society before and after their release. Read the article 👉🏻 bit.ly/3UgG4KR

We were privileged to share the joy of our first Friends & Family concert at a women’s prison with guests including reps of @artscouncilengland.bsky.social, Surrey PCC and Nick Hardwick, former Chief Inspector of Prisons. Thank you @theclinkcharity.bsky.social for the refreshments!

Our Co-founders MJ Paranzino and Ginny Dougary had a great day at our partner charity Koestler Arts as part of the judging panel for the 2025 Koestler Awards. There is so much talent in our prisons!

Having launched our 2025 Fundraising Drive just over a month ago, multiple supporters of ours have already started doing fundraisers of their own! Still thinking about fundraising for us? We would love to hear your ideas, big or small! Send us an email at [email protected] to learn more 🤩

Next Sunday July 20th, Ambassadors Vicky and Ross Bell are hosting their annual gala fundraiser concert in support of our choir programmes! Check out the performing choirs 👇🏻 Purchase your tickets today, or do consider paying-it-forward to our chosen charities if you can't make it: bit.ly/3RTh4rY

We are so grateful for @westonfdn.bsky.social's invaluable support to our choir programmes over the years 🙏🏻

We are thrilled that our choir programme at HMP Send was recognised in @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social's latest inspection report. It's a privilege to have been able to contribute to Send's range of purposeful activity, learning culture and community ethos. Read the full report 👉🏻 bit.ly/4nxdzWA

We are ecstatic to have launched our second Fundraising Drive at our longtime partner The Bedford Pub! Even if you weren't able attend our workshop, you can still do a fundraiser for us! Get in touch with any ideas you may have at [email protected]

Interested in volunteering with Liberty Choir? 🌟 We have vacancies available at our programmes in Surrey (HMP Coldingley) and Sutton (HMP High Down and Downview)! All experience levels of singing and volunteering are welcome! Learn more/ register your interest at [email protected]

This July, our Ambassadors Ross and Vicky Bell will be hosting their annual Gala Fundraiser concert in Ramsgate! Featuring four choirs in a powerful celebration of freedom, community, and connection, this will be an uplifting afternoon of song. Get your tickets today: bit.ly/3RTh4rY

We are very excited to be launching our second Fundraising Drive later today from 11 am - 4 pm at our always supportive partner @thebedfordpub.bsky.social! Yesterday evening, our team got together for dinner ahead of our Fundraising Workshop - who is looking forward to joining us later today?

🌟 We are still accepting sign ups for our Fundraising Day! Want to learn how you can put the FUN in FUNdraising? Haven't had the chance to register your interest yet? Get in touch at [email protected] to secure your place today! Lunch and refreshments will be available ☕️

Liberty Choir has an audience with the King! We were thrilled to have been invited to King Charles III’s special reception in April, honouring those involved in community music in what was an unforgettable event and a huge honour for our charity.

This week is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek. As much as 70% of prisoners are estimated to suffer from mental illness, of which over 50% had self harmed and 2 in 5 attempted suicide. Besides purpose, our choir programmes also provide prisoners with emotional and community support.

We are excited to be hosting our second Fundraising Day on June 7th! Join us for a fun day out at The Bedford for inspirational talks from our past fundraisers and interactive group brainstorming! Food and refreshments will be provided ☕️ RVSP: [email protected]