GWR’s £20,000 boost for prison needlework project affected by Covid pandemic

GWR’s funding will boost Fine Cell Work as it bids to get its unique programme back to pre-Covid levels. The pandemic has seen the number of the charity’s regular stitching workforce fall by almost 50%.

Fine Cell Work’s team of needlework instructors haven’t been able to access prisons since March last year, so the charity has had to rely on sending needlework kits by post.

This funding will enable volunteers to return to prisons once they finally reopen and FCW is confident of getting stitcher numbers back up to – or close to – pre-Covid levels by spring 2022.

As part of GWR’s franchise agreement with the Department for Transport, the train operator is committed to supporting community and not-for-profit organisations by aiding a number of initiatives.

FCW Executive Director Victoria Gillies said:

“This generous grant from GWR allows us to rebuild the rehabilitative projects we run in prisons to enable prisoners to reconnect with society.

“We are one of the few volunteer organisations that has been able to continue to work with prisoners in lockdown managing to engage with nearly 300 prisoners.

“We are very grateful for the visionary support of GWR which will help us to double the number of prisoners we work with by the end of 2022 to break the cycle of reoffending and empower prisoners to lead independent, crime-free lives.”

FCW operates in 30 prisons across England, including six within the GWR network.

GWR Community Manager Emma Morris said:

“We have a specific pot of money designed to support community and not-for-profit organisations. Fine Cell Work’s project to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem through needlework really appealed and we hope this funding helps to increase participant numbers once pandemic restrictions are eased.”

To find out more about Fine Cell Work please visit finecellwork.co.uk

Notes to editors

First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023 with an option to extend for a further year. 
Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us