Education in prison has traditionally focused on basic literacy and numeracy. Often overlooking the broader potential to equip inmates with the practical skills and career pathways that can support successful reintegration into society is often overlooked. Without opportunities to develop vocational competencies, prisoners often struggle to find employment when they are released, one of the key factors linked to reoffending.
Recognising this gap, an Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Impact Accelerator Accounts (IAA) funded project amplifies the voices of marginalised individuals who are often overlooked. The project helps participants tell their own stories and challenge mainstream ideas about crime and rehabilitation. Through hands-on training in scriptwriting, filming, editing, and directing, participants gain not only creative confidence, but experience aligned with roles in the creative industries, digital media, production, communications and the wider cultural sector.
The University of Hertfordshire’s filmmaking-based learning programme enabled prisoners to develop transferable life skills alongside creative capabilities, resulting in practical experience in areas such as;
- Technical film production
- Project management
- Communication and interviewing
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem solving and decision making under pressure
- Critical reflection and self-assessment
These key competencies, combined with increased confidence, self-esteem and a growing sense of agency, provide strong foundations for improved employment prospects, independence and a clearer sense of future potential beyond prison. For many participants, the programme prompted a shift in how they viewed their own capabilities, encouraging them to rethink what might be possible on release. Together, these outcomes help create the conditions for a successful transition to life after prison and contribute to breaking cycles of reoffending.
A transformative learning experience
The project was delivered across two prisons HMP Isis (a young offenders’ institution) and HMP Downview (a women’s prison) in the Southeast of England. It engaged 30 participants in a potentially life-changing programme of learning built around filmmaking offering both creative training and the development of impactful practical life skills.
At HMP Isis, the participants created a documentary film about the prison’s education department. They were responsible for planning, filming and editing, and conducted interviews with staff, including the prison governor, and fellow inmates. This required them to demonstrate:
- Professional communication and interviewing skills
- Research and preparation for documentary story telling
- Technical proficiency with filming equipment
- Professionalism and initiative
- Collaboration towards a shared goal
Women at HMP Downview, produced six films developing skills in scriptwriting, acting, directing and editing. The collaborative process strengthened their ability to work productively with others, manage creative disagreements and refine work through feedback and reflection. Screenings of the films were held in the educational department for other prisoners and staff. This further developeds presentation skills, confidence in public facing roles and pride in delivering completed work to an audience, all behaviours valued by future employers.
Participants engaged in the project described feeling more capable of taking on responsibility, expressing themselves creatively. They also envisioned new future pathways on release, positive outcomes that extended well beyond the duration of the project itself.
Sharing stories, building futures
At an event organised by the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies (CCJS) the films were screened at a local bookshop and theatre. The project also engaged organisations work with prisoners and the prison system, including the Prison Education Trust and the Howard League for Penal Reform. The Institute of Crime and Justice Studies praised the impact of the project, highlighting its “commitment to using the films to draw in a range of academics, policy makers, criminal justice officials and those engaged in prison education… creating a transformative potential.”
The CCJS received feedback after the event
…projects like this encourage creative expression, independence, confidence and a sense of worth that hugely benefits women while they are in prison and can improve their long-term outcomes too.
A main achievement of the project was establishing a permanent film studio at HMP Downview. This creates a sustainable legacy, enabling continued access to:
- Technical training in film and media
- Structured creative education
- Vocational experience similar to production environments
Between 2024 and 2025, the films received five awards from Koestle Arts , the UK’s leading prison arts charity. With coverage in Culture Matters and Inside Time, the national newspaper for prisoners and detainees extended the project’s reach across public, professional and prisoner communities.
The project’s success has led to new partnerships with prison education providers and charities. Building on this progress, the team has been invited to run the project at HMP Maidstone, further expanding its impact and the number of people able to benefit from future facing creative skills development.