ABOUT | Chance to Change Foundation/ Friends of Pentonville

"I learned that one can always start again" and "I know prisons from the inside".

These two quotes by José Mujica perfectly encapsulate the Chance to Change Foundation's objectives as a charity to provide the chance for a new beginning for prisoners as learned first hand from experience of life on the inside.

The Chance to Change Foundation and it's subsidiary Friends of Pentonville hope to give prisoners opportunity.

Greater educational resources to increase literacy amongst prisoners and basic equipment such as computers enabling prisoners to become IT literate (CLAIT courses) could enable better prospects on release.

Projects include providing skills within the prison walls that could be transferred to gainful employment on release such as barista training, barber and haircutting courses, and working in the hospitality sector such as in restaurants, bars and catering industries.

Also within the prison walls Friends of Pentonville has helped to fund the hugely successful Music in the Ville. A series of musical workshops and concerts organised Emma Dogliani OPV, a therapist for prisoners with mental health problems in the newly established NDU Wing and most recently the Bicycle Repair Workshop Factory in conjunction with XO Bikes which officially opened on 15 July 2024 by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Our most recent projects included an eight week "Improve your Public Speaking" course for prisoners and prisoner officers with presentation skills and interview techniques with The Rt Hon John Bercow. To mark the end of the course a debate was held on Wednesday 23 October 2024 in front of live audience. We hope to do two more such courses in 2025.

Finally, a Murals project is underway to liven up the prison walls for prisoners and staff alike.

Equipping prisoners with skills that they could use after their release would help reduce reoffending which is currently at between 24.9% and 31.6% (2022). Of 43,000 prisoners sent to prison that year 6/10 had not committed a violent crime.