25 September 2025 –
When Hannah Stevens first set foot in LandWorks in early August, she was stepping into more than just a new volunteering opportunity ̶ she was stepping into a living embodiment of two of her greatest passions: criminal justice reform and gardening.
Hannah is the Communications and Policy Manager for StandOut, a London-based charity which empowers people to make positive change and rebuild their lives after prison. Her role combines storytelling, policy work, and amplifying the voices of those with lived experience to influence change. LandWorks shares a similar ethos: offering practical, emotional, and long-term support to people as they navigate life outside the criminal justice system.
“I have been following LandWorks for several years and just had to see it for myself,” said Hannah. “So, I dropped Chris a line and asked if I could volunteer for a few days. I suppose you could say I came for the market garden and stayed for the long-term, relational support!”
What she found at LandWorks was an approach steeped in humanity and connection. One of her highlights was the shared lunchtime ritual. Every day, staff, Trainees, and volunteers sit down together for a home-cooked meal ̶ an hour where conversation flows and genuine relationships form.
“In our sector, this is unheard of,” Hannah explained. “Often, you only get a brief window with someone ̶ certainly not enough time to understand their hopes, challenges, and aspirations. But at LandWorks, there’s space to truly connect. It reminded me of how powerful those moments are at StandOut, when you can sit with someone and really listen.”
Another highlight was working in the market garden. Between weeding rhubarb, harvesting tomatoes, and sowing spinach seeds for winter, Hannah experienced firsthand the restorative rhythm of outdoor work. “Gardening grounds you,” she said. “When life is chaotic and stressful, it brings you back to the here and now. And with your hands busy, the conversations you have somehow become deeper and more honest. I wish more people knew about the mental health benefits of gardening and had the chance to get mud under their fingernails like everyone at LandWorks does.”
Weeks later, the experience is still settling in her mind. “There is so much I took away from my visit but perhaps the thing that stands out most is the deep sense of safety LandWorks creates,” she reflected. “It’s both practical ̶ helping people find housing, navigate probation, and access resources ̶ and emotional, rooted in acceptance, trust, and the opportunity to try new things and develop your self-esteem. The criminal justice sector has so much to learn from LandWorks; I’d urge everyone to visit, understand, and take back the lessons to inform your own practice, and that of your organisations’. I certainly can’t wait to come back!
You can read more about Hannah’s time at LandWorks in her own words here.