Adjusting After Prison

Hello We were running. Running fast (I thought) to the market stall at the entrance gate. Frank’s haunting words in my head, “That honesty box is a mistake Chris, there’s f#cking criminals out there” (he should…

Hello It’s April 1963, one crowded room in Hackney and Johnny has just been born. Two elder sisters, their father (his part time abuser), Johnny’s Mother (who he would die for) all squeezed in. On his…

Hello …Continued from previous blog (click here to read)… Thursday Traditionally our busiest day, but unhelpfully today it’s wet, very wet. So, indoor jobs are at a premium. The polytunnels offer a horticultural shelter from the…

Chris’ blog – Monday Gives Way to a Midweek Mystery Hello Monday Mondays occasionally can be a little impaired by the residues of the weekend! But this Monday we rattled along. The 8am team meeting identified…

Hello Hammers! Now here is a thing to be writing about. Such a simple tool, used for millions of years and so easy to misplace (a personal note). “Phwoooaarr this hammer is a bit tasty.” Vince…

Hello ‘Twas the day before, the day before Christmas, an early frost upon the ground. The phone rings… “All right pal, it’s Dean. Yeah, Chris I’m lost, I don’t know where the f#@k I am!” ….Phone…

Hello Not quite sure why but I’ve been having a few weird dreams… “Well Kirsty, in this song The Clash suggest ‘phoning up Robin Hood and asking for some wealth distribution’… There are moments when a…

Chris’ fortnightly blog on LandWorks, life after prison, and the launch of the new PeN (Photographic electronic Narrative) Project.

Dear Mum I am so glad you are coming to the Supporters’ Day today. There is a lot to show you; it’s been a busy year and the lads are rightly proud of their achievements. We’ve…

Hello “I’m getting the hang of this. It’s a bit of a head f@#k… like my life”. Nicholls is dry stone walling. It’s his first time, he’s good and I’m just a touch jealous. We’re chatting…

Hello “Could I have a word, I’m feeling a bit paranoid, you know, not sure if I’m gonna do it, do you think I can this time?” You can imagine the Daily Newspaper headline… ‘Old lag…

Hello “He’s gone, he’s f**king run off!” His face screws up all contorted, squeezing out an accusation: “I f**king told you this would happen…” I am trying to avoid his eyes while I think. This looks…

A different perspective from LandWorks, as trainee Grayson reflects on his time spent in prison and at Quarry Field.

On a rare hot day in April, new trainee Luke arrived at LandWorks following his very first stint in prison at twenty years old. Four months into his placement, Sarah asked Luke about his experiences so far.

Some days are better than others – and working with men who are often ex-addicts brings its own peculiar difficulties.