The transformations at last week's graduation were extraordinary. Men who once struggled to speak in a group stood before a room of strangers, sharing what they’d gained over the course - confidence, belonging, feeling better in themselves. Create time and space for people to grow, and they thrive.

In a place where people are defined by their past, the StandOut course creates space for something different: a future built on strengths, not shame. Hannah reflects on how a mock interview workshop in prison revealed the power of a strengths-based approach to build confidence, self-worth & hope.

We welcome the inspection of Approved Premises. Participants tell us of bad experiences at APs, or of a reluctance to stay at one because of their reputation for drugs, antisocial behaviour, lack of safety or privacy & substandard conditions. Progress for transparency, quality & accountability.

Last week, we celebrated graduation at HMPs Wandsworth & Wormwood Scrubs with participants who had completed our three-week course. One of the most powerful moments is when participants are invited to the front to receive their certificate - alongside a list of personal affirmations and challenges.

StandOut received a mention in this week's HMIP report on HMP Wormwood Scrubs. We're pleased to see programmes like ours, which have a positive impact on the confidence, resilience, and mental wellbeing of men in prison, being highlighted. Read the report: bit.ly/4mdYLdM

A dig in the archives turned up this blog on resilience. "Coaching our participants has taught me a lot about resilience & it's an exciting part of the course when we get to name that quality & affirm their strength by doing so." Read about the power of coaching people in prison around resilience.

Our CEO and Founder, Penny Parker, in The Guardian today, writing about the vision and courage we need to transform our prison system. We know what works, we need the leadership and investment to put it in place. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Have you come across the victim vs power mentality? It's one of our most cited pieces of course content - something participants refer back to time and again. In this blog, Hannah reflects on what participants at a recent end of course graduation taught her about embracing her power mentality.

Looking for an autumn half marathon? We have a limited number of spaces available for the Royal Parks Half! Grab your running shoes and join StandOut for one of London’s most exhilarating sporting events – all while making a difference to those rebuilding their lives after prison. bit.ly/4jRH7Mk

Last week, we shared that our evidence had been cited in the House of Lords' report, Better Prisons: less crime. This blog captures one of the key conversations that informed our submission - what makes a good prison officer (according to people who have been in prison).

Looking for an autumn half marathon? We have a limited number of spaces available for the Royal Parks Half! Grab your running shoes and join StandOut for one of London’s most exhilarating sporting events – all while making a difference to those rebuilding their lives after prison. bit.ly/4jRH7Mk

Have you come across the victim vs power mentality? It's one of our most cited pieces of course content - something participants refer back to time and again. In this blog, Hannah reflects on what participants at a recent end of course graduation taught her about embracing her power mentality.

Great to see our evidence referenced in 'Better Prisons: less crime' - the report published by the House of Lords' Justice and Home Affairs Committee, following their inquiry into prison culture. committees.parliament.uk/committee/51...

Looking for an autumn half marathon? We have a limited number of spaces available for the Royal Parks Half! Grab your running shoes and join StandOut for one of London’s most exhilarating sporting events – all while making a difference to those rebuilding their lives after prison. bit.ly/4jRH7Mk

On Sunday - despite the heat - our team of staff members, supporters & participants came together to run the London 10k for StandOut. It was a special moment (& a first for us) as participants ran alongside the very people who have supported them. Have your donation doubled by our match funder 👇

Wishing Team StandOut good luck for this weekend's Saucony London 10k! We couldn't be prouder of the participants, staff members & supporters who have come together to run and raise funds. Each stride brings us closer to empowering someone to rebuild their life after prison. Please donate 👇

StandOut participants and staff members are taking on the Saucony London 10k to raise vital funds for our work supporting people leaving prison. It’s a powerful reflection of what StandOut is all about – connection, consistency & a true belief that we are stronger together. Donate 👉 bit.ly/3Glyonc

StandOut participants and staff members are taking on the Saucony London 10k to raise vital funds for our work supporting people leaving prison. It’s a powerful reflection of what StandOut is all about – connection, consistency & a true belief that we are stronger together. Donate 👉 bit.ly/3Glyonc

Last chance to apply! The application deadline for our coach role is Monday 7 July, 12pm. If you think you'd thrive on prison landings & in prison classrooms, connecting with people committed to transforming their lives after release, this could be the role for you. 👉 standout.org.uk/careers

Iona shares why she's running with Team StandOut - a group of participants and staff members who have come together to take on the Saucony London 10k to raise vital funds for our work. Donate to bring StandOut’s unique support to even more people. 👉 bit.ly/3Glyonc

Our coaches work in teams of two at our partner prisons to deliver our 12-day course and offer pre-release support. If you'd thrive on prison landings, connecting with people who are committed to transforming their lives, this role could be for you. Apply by 7 July, 12pm 👉 standout.org.uk/careers

StandOut participants – who faced serious challenges & are now thriving – are running the Saucony 10k with the very staff who supported them on that journey. A powerful reflection of what StandOut is about – connection, consistency & a belief that we're stronger together. Donate 👉 bit.ly/3Glyonc

We'd like to say a huge thank you to ‪@westonfdn.bsky.social‬ for generously committing to fund StandOut for a further two years. This grant will ensure that we are able to support more people to make positive change, realise their potential, and rebuild their lives after prison.

We're looking for a Coach to join our team! This role would be ideal for someone with an understanding of the challenges faced by those caught up in the criminal justice system, gained by working in prison or through a range of work outside prison. Apply by 7 July, 12pm 👉 standout.org.uk/careers

Ready for a challenge? Grab your running shoes and join the StandOut team for the Royal Parks Half‬. Every stride you take will help empower people to transform their lives, realise their potential, and leave the justice system behind—for good. Sign up 👉 bit.ly/4jRH7Mk @royalparkshalf.bsky.social

“There is a real power in being close to the system – without being a part of it.” We don't receive government funding for our work with people who are leaving, or have left, prison. That surprises a lot of people. Zoe, our Fundraising Officer, shares why we have opted to remain charitably funded👇

This #VolunteersWeek we'd like to say a huge "THANK YOU" to our volunteers. You support our participants to write their CVs, practice their interview skills & celebrate at graduation. But - most importantly - you show them there are people in the community who want them to succeed. Read more 👇

Yesterday saw the publication of David Gauke's Sentencing Review. StandOut welcomes the report's recommendations, which challenge current thinking on the purpose of prisons, shifting us towards a system that focuses on rehabilitation. Read our full statement below.

We'd love for you to run the Saucony London 10k for StandOut! - 13 July 2025 - London's most iconic landmarks - Live bands and DJs - Flat, fast course - £200 fundraising target Sign up while spaces last 👇 lnkd.in/ePB-GzND #Running #Run #RunningMotivation #RunnersWorld #RunSky

This quote from one of our participants at HMP Wandsworth speaks for itself. (Also, we need more education, training and work opportunities in our prisons).

We went to the experts (our participants) to find out what makes a "good" prison officer. This is what they told us. Read the full blog here: standout.org.uk/blog/good-prison-officer

Yesterday, Shabana Mahmood announced proposed changes to prison recall. We welcome this measure to tackle the prison population crisis, but it fails to address the root causes of recall & the damaging impact of even short periods of time in prison. Effective resettlement support is essential.

There's still time (but not much) to join our team for the Saucony London 10k on 13 July! Pound the pavements past the capital's most iconic landmarks, all while supporting people leaving London's prisons to rebuild their lives. We'll be there as you train, fundraise & run the race! Sign up now👇

We don't receive government funding for our work with people leaving prison. It surprises a lot of people, but it's a choice we've made. From staying true to our mission to building trust with our participants, Fundraising Officer, Zoe, shares the reasons we've opted to remain charitably funded.

All three of our partner prisons were built in Victorian times. What does this means for the 21st century people who live & work in them? From cell size to temperature, acoustics to sense of safety, this article gives you an idea of the day-to-day experiences of our participants & coaches.

We asked participants what they think makes a "good" prison officer. Their reflections? A good prison officer is consistent. A good prison officer is experienced. A good prison officer sees the individual. A good prison officer listens. A good prison officer builds trust.

Did you watch the TCS London Marathon last weekend and think, "I want a challenge!"? Well, you're in luck! We have spaces available for Saucony London 10k on 13 July & Royal Parks Half on 12 October. Run & raise funds to support our work to empower people leaving prison. Sign up links in comments👇

Rugby meets StandOut! 🏉 Ryan from Saracens Foundation recently joined us at HMP Pentonville to coach 13 participants. From learning passes to playing matches, it was all teamwork, resilience & joy. 🌟 Huge thanks to Ryan & Saracens for a memorable & impactful afternoon! @saracensrugby.bsky.social

Get ready to lace up your running shoes & hit the streets of the capital for the Saucony London 10K 2025. You'll pound the pavements past iconic landmarks like Big Ben & Piccadilly Circus to the sounds of DJs, live bands & cheering fans – all while raising funds for StandOut. Join our team 👇

Last week, we were at the prison gates to welcome one of our participants as they embarked on their first day back in the community. Release day can be a whirlwind. Having someone by your side to navigate it all can make a world of difference. We’re always grateful to provide that support.

Get ready to lace up your running shoes & hit the streets of the capital for the Saucony London 10K 2025. You'll pound the pavements past iconic landmarks like Big Ben & Piccadilly Circus to the sounds of DJs, live bands & cheering fans – all while raising funds for StandOut. Join our team 👇

Get ready to lace up your running shoes & hit the streets of the capital for the Saucony London 10K 2025. You'll pound the pavements past iconic landmarks like Big Ben & Piccadilly Circus to the sounds of DJs, live bands & cheering fans – all while raising funds for StandOut. Join our team 👇

Could you be our Volunteering Officer? You'll be the vital link between our volunteers in the community and the people we work with in prison. You'll get to brief volunteers on how prison works and escort them around our partner prisons - ensuring things runs smoothly. 👉 standout.org.uk/careers

We're recruiting for two roles; a Community Coach and a Volunteering Officer! Head to standout.org.uk/careers for more information and to apply.

We're pleased to be joined by so many of our partners and colleagues from across the sector for the Unlocked Conference marketplace this year, including Accenture, Zahid Mubarek Trust, @standoutprogrammes.bsky.social and @longfordtrust.bsky.social. #UnlockedConference

For us, inviting volunteers into prison is an opportunity to influence people's attitudes towards the justice system and the people caught up in it. To encourage them to see in our participants what we see; enormous potential that can be realised with the right support. #Volunteering #Prison

Volunteering in a prison is unique, and so worthwhile. Our Communications Lead, Hannah, writes about why we invite volunteers to join us inside – and the impact this has on our participants, volunteers, and society. #Volunteering #Prison #CriminalJustice

Latte, anyone? Last week, our community coaches visited Well Grounded - a social enterprise supporting people into careers in coffee. They sampled the goods & learnt about the training, work experience & networks the team provides to get unemployed people into the speciality coffee industry.

🧵1/3 StandOut welcomes the interim report from David Gauke’s Independent Sentencing Review. Setting out the facts behind the current crisis in criminal justice, it confirms what has been known for some time by those engaged with the system.