The Prison Phoenix Trust

© illustrations Korky Paul

The Prison Phoenix Trust encourages prisoners in the development of their spiritual welfare, through the practices of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath.

We offer personal support to prisoners around the UK and Eire through teaching, workshops, correspondence, books and newsletters - and to prison staff too. We work with people of any faith, or of none, and honour all religions. We are a registered UK charity.

"Since an early age, I never knew how to deal with all my trapped emotions or how to recognise them. Just sitting still and looking inside has transformed my whole Being. Once I gained some freedom with meditation, I was able to write to my wife, the first contact I had had in more than a year"

... a prisoner in Wormwood Scrubs

Research...

The PPT organised a clinical trial recently to discover the effects of yoga and meditation on Young Offenders. The early results indicate that these disciplines are effective in reducing aggression and criminal propensity, while enhancing health and spiritual well-being. At the moment we’re in the planning stages to expand this research into other prisons.

Up-coming training

20th September 2008; ‘The Relevance of Yoga for Healing Old Hurts’ A Saturday workshop in Oxford for yoga teachers who are interested in working behind bars. Cost: £10. Please email us for further information.

Prison Officers Association Conference

Sandy and Jo gave lunchtime yoga and meditation classes during the week (5-9 May) of the Prison Officers' Association Meeting in Portsmouth. They met General Secretary, Colin Moses, and the Editor of the monthly POA magazine Gatelodge, who has now agreed to feature a regular PPT yoga column.

They appreciated the opportunity to meet and talk to countless prison officers and to learn about the responsibilities and difficulties of their challenging work. It was impossible not to feel impressed at their level of commitment.

You can still sponsor Alex Percival for the Barcelona Marathon

Congratulations to Alex Percival, who raised over £1000 for the Trust by running the Barcelona Marathon on Sunday, 2 March. A fantastic effort, Alex! and our grateful thanks to all who contributed.

You can still sponsor Alex on this page - and the Trust gets the bonus of any tax you've paid on the amount you donate.

A mention for the PPT in a letter to the Times

The PPT gets a mention in a letter to the Times about prisoners coping with weekend lockups.

Irish trip

In mid-May, Sandy (Director) and Sam (Yoga Co-ordinator) are visiting Irish prisons to give workshops and meet Irish yoga teachers. There are workshops in the Mountjoy Training Unit in Dublin, and Hydebank Wood in Belfast.

The annual Irish Link Day takes place on May 17, giving a chance for yoga teachers working (or thinking of working) in prisons the chance for training and discussion. It takes place in the Curragh.

Sir Mark Tully meets PPT staff

Jason (Deputy Director) and Jo (Report Writer) met Mark Tully, Religous Affairs correspondent for the BBC, after his sellout lecture at the Oxford Literary Festival. Sir Mark was a childhood friend of PPT founder Ann Wetherall and her sister, Tigger, who recently visited Sir Mark in India.
Mark Tully has given a Radio Appeal on behalf of the PPT and continues to support our efforts with his friendship.

Wormwood Scrubs prison workshops

On May 25, we're visiting Wormwood Scrubs to give two yoga classes for prisoners.

Conscious TV

We are on TV – watch us online!

PPT director Sandy Chubb and Yoga Coordinator Sam Settle joined with two ex-prisoners, Ron and John, and Kate, who teaches yoga in HMYOI Feltham, to discuss yoga, meditation and their application in prison.

Follow these links on the new internet TV channel Conscious TV:
Sandy talks about her life and work in the PPT - click here , then click 'Life Changes – Sandy Chubb'.
Sam and Kate discuss meditation and yoga in Prison - follow this link and choose Part 1 or Part 2 of 'Meditation in Prison'.

Prison Officers Association conference

We're taking an exhibition stand and doing some workshops at the POA conference, which is in Portsmouth from May 6 to 9.

Canterbury Prison visit

In March, we gave a two meditation and yoga workshops, first to prison officers and staff, and second to inmates in this foreign national prison. Local yoga teacher Christine hopes to start a class soon.