As a Kent Ambassador I felt privileged to be invited to tour East Sutton Park, a women’s prison.

I have to admit, never having been to a prison before, I was a little unsure of what it would be like.

My judgement was clouded by watching programmes like Bad Girls and Prisoner Cell Block H – now I’m really showing my age.

I couldn’t have been further away with my perception. After four hours there, I left thinking it was an inspirational place and more like a first-rate educational facility rather than a prison.

Having learnt more, I now know East Sutton Park is an open prison for female offenders. It works with the women to reduce reoffending by encouraging them to build skills to enable them to better support themselves and their families once they are released.

They were studying for meaningful qualifications in subjects that would make them attractive to future employers and give them a chance when competing against other applicants.

Having spent time with the ladies, the desire to achieve and build a better life was evident in each and every one of them.

Yes, they admitted they had done wrong, but they wanted to turn the experience into a positive one.

I had a preconception that the place would have women sitting around, just passing time. How wrong I was.

It is a working prison. If the women weren’t working, then they were learning. Those with experience mentored others.

I met one lady who worked with women coming into the prison and built a study programme for them, assessing their experience and helping them build a future.

Although serving a sentence herself, she was giving back by helping and encouraging others to develop, building confidence and showing them a new future path.

I would be happy to employ her.

The prisoners get the chance to work in the community and already work with many larger employers. They need more businesses to give them the opportunity to gain work experience.

If you would like to know more about the prison or would like to look at what’s involved in offering work experience, drop me an email and I will be more than happy to pass on your details and share my experience with you.

East Sutton Park is regarded as an outstanding facility and, having met the staff and women,
I can see why.