Tuned In

Helix Arts and Music in Prisons have developed a resource that uses creative approaches within community criminal justice settings to support women offenders to address their offending behaviours.

Women from HMP Low Newton have been working with creative writers, musicians and designers to create and record songs and prose on a range of issues, chosen by them, and these are being brought together as a resource to help others.

Tuned In is aimed at women:

• In custody, serving long-term sentences, to provide greater engagement with rehabilitation; or
• Due for release, to give them confidence to make the transition back into the community; or
• On community resettlement programmes, to boost resilience.

Most offence-focussed interventions are made by professionals for offenders.Tuned In seeks to provide an alternative, an intervention by women for women, using their authentic stories.

Women offenders re-offend for different reasons than men. They have different issues and triggers, yet exist in a system designed for men. Tuned In provides specifically for the needs of women.

The programme was supported by the Northern Rock Foundation Fresh Ideas Fund and its impact was evaluated by Middlesex University.