Making a Difference at HMP Styal

KW sat the Intuitive Thinking skills course Skills-Tu Life in HMP Styal. She is currently on her 19th year in prison and has 5 years left of her sentence.

KW sat the course to gain an insight into her thinking and wellbeing, she had been told about the course from other residents in Styal.

KW explained that her mental health had previously been a problem in the community as she had been working with a community psychiatric nurse (CPN). When she came to prison KW didn’t engage with the mental health team as she was worried of the impact this would have on her and her sentence.

“When I first arrived in prison, I spoke to another in mate who mentioned not to mention my mental health as I would be placed on anti-psychotic medication. I thought they would turn me into a zombie, and I didn’t want that.”

This led to KW hiding her feelings and thoughts for the 1st two years of her sentence, KW recognised her feeling and through her previous experience she started to implement routines and started to look after herself, as well as starting to educate herself.

“I started to recognise where my mental health was going, I started to implement things such as going the gym, this became a daily thing.”

KW really enjoyed going to the gym and started to pursue this as a career. Whilst in prison KW started to educate herself and completed several courses to become a physical trainer and masseuse.

KW returned to HM Styal in 2009 after completing two years in a different prison and started to engage with the mental health team. KW was in much better place with her mental health and started to help in the prison with other inmates.

KW set up groups to help people in a similar position to her, KW organised fundraising events, knitting and crochet groups. These groups have made a few things to help raise money for charities.

KW was placed on the S2L course by her offender manager, KW sat the course to address her thinking as she would often overthink about problems outside of her control.

“I have realised things out of my control, I can’t do anything about. But the course taught me to challenge my thinking and help challenge the negative thoughts and showed I have control over these thoughts.”

KW is looking forward to getting her parole in 2026, and the end of her sentence in 2029. Upon release KW is planning to take the skills she has learnt in prison to rebuild her life on the outside for herself and her family.