Another post, another reason to be grateful…

As some of you may know I have spent some time in the last few years working across classrooms in Scottish Prisons.
As part of my work in Scottish prison classrooms I have had the privilege to work with some truly inspiring, hard working and great individuals.
I know that sentence may not be the one you expected or find it easy to agree with but it is vital for me, my personal politics and my work for the understanding to be that human beings are complex and have many different parts that make up their personalities and how they navigate the  world and communities we live in.

When I was lucky enough to study at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on Contemporary Performance Practice, I took on an Arts in Criminal Justice Settings module - led by the wonderful and amazing Jess Thrope.
Jess described being able to work in a prison as being able to hold the two truths in each hand.

I am definitely paraphrasing and wish I had the exact wording on this but essentially:
On one hand these people have committed crimes and have lost their liberty as a result - you don’t need to condone, agree or even empathise with the crime and on the other hand you have to believe they are worthy of someones time, patience and care. They are more than an act of criminality.

Anyway, before I ramble on because I will literally talk the hind legs off a donkey getting to talk about the importance of prison work and education given half the chance. So if you’d enjoy that chat, lets go get a cuppa.

I have worked in prisons for about 4 years now, what started as a temporary contract has led to a huge part of my career and practice as an artist.
I currently run a creative writing class, drama class, recovery cafe & women wellbeing education class and a multi-projects class as well as running a prison radio channel in collaboration with SPS. I am fortunate enough to really see the progress in my students week to week and over the years and work alongside some brilliant educators to achieve this.

As part of my work, I have been privileged enough to be nominated for the prestigious The Butler Trust awards - awards for people working across prisons who are making a difference.

“Awards and Commendations are given to people for outstanding work which “goes above and beyond” what might normally be expected of them. They are for people not projects, and may be given to someone for doing something new or innovative, or ‘just’ for doing their ordinary job extraordinarily well”  - Butler Trust

Part of my nomination is in collaboration with one of the most hardworking, passionate and caring individuals I have ever met in an educational context. Lesley - who I am lucky enough to work with every week is an amazing, stand out educator, team player and friend.
The students and staff I work with across the college, SPS and further afield are truly lucky to have her. I know, without a doubt, my work and level of passion for my job is largely due to getting to work with her. There is no one else I’d rather stand beside in the face of a prison context - where there are so many institutional problems, where the people are handwork and where so much trauma lives. There is also many positives to a prison context - but that’s another blog post and one that would be way too long to cover in one.

I am incredibly humbled, grateful and overwhelmed to be nominated for such a prestigious award and I will continue to do what I do, the work, the care and the staunch belief that education can change lives.

Some comments from my team, the Governor and the students

“Rachel has made a significant impact, since she started working here…Rachel is an integral part, key member of the Learning centre…She is passionate about all aspects of her work and focussed all her energy in encouraging learners to better themselves and achieve…The change in confidence in the learners Rachel works with is not to be underestimated. Some of them did not have the confidence to leave the hall at one point and now they attend the learning centre, thanks to Rachel’s can do attitude and encouraging practice”

“It is always great when a resident decides they want to nominate a member of staff for recognition. Rachel is a great asset to Fife College and the prison. I attended a session she did on International Women’s Day called ‘Break the Bias” and it was phenomenal. The way she had worked with the women to create an amazing performance was fantastic. She had clearly invested a lot of herself into the project and the way she had the women, some of them usually much more timid and withdrawn , to be performers and look so assertive and confident was amazing. Rachel is an enthusiastic and committed person who will be doing great work for years to come. For her to get some recognition like a Butler Trust so early in her career I hope will only encourage her to have more daring and imaginative ideas”

I am making this nomination because throughout my time in prison, Lesley & Rachel has gone above and beyond the line of duty to ensure my education needs have been met and challenged necessarily no matter my circumstances. They have been supportive and willing to help, even if that’s just a chat. They are consistent in an upsetting and ever changing environment. I thought coming into prison, in my situation, my life was over. I was suicidal. Thanks to Rachel & Lesley, these amazing inspirational women, I can see its only just begun. Through their support and belief in me, we have started to build a stable, positive foundation for my new life…

^ paraphrased from original entry to protect GDPR