Hope Street August 2023 Update

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Hope Street Officially Opens!

On 27th June we welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales to officially open Hope Street. During the visit, Her Royal Highness received a tour of the new buildings, met the team, supporters and partners who have driven the programme from design to build over the past six years and learned about the unique support residents will receive. She also visited the onsite creche and heard how Hope Street is working to prevent the trauma of mothers being separated from their children in the justice system, before meeting women who have lived experience of the system to hear about the transformational impact an environment like Hope Street can have on women and their families.

Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing, met Her Royal Highness and shared her experience of being separated from her children through imprisonment, and how she hopes Hope Street would create better outcomes for women involved in the justice system.

“I felt extremely proud watching the media coverage. Being sent to prison and losing my children to the care system, I felt a lot of pain and also shame for not being a better mum. It would be much easier to try to forget or even hide this period of my life, but I felt empowered to talk authentically about my experiences and how I felt I had failed my children. I hope that by sharing my experiences it may change the perception of women in prison and give a glimmer of hope for other women going through similar situations.”

- Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing

Lilly has written a blog reflecting on her experience of attending the opening of Hope Street. Read it here.

At the opening, we asked guests to write their hopes for Hope Street on a tag that we would then hang on the Hope Tree in the garden. We were delighted that Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales shared a message of hope for the women.

“I see you and I am with you. Good luck in all that lies ahead. Catherine”

Hope Street going forward

Since opening our doors, we have been receiving referrals and women have started moving into Hope Street. Our new staff team are helping women to settle in and access support.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported the build of Hope Street, and are looking forward to this next phase where we bring the vision of Hope Street to life.