Vicki Sampey

Meet Vicki Sampey, Head of safety, Equalities and Decency at HMP Styal

"I wanted a career that would be different every day and a rewarding job where I could help others. I have worked in the prison service for 14 years and have been at Styal for 3 years.

My job is to ensure that Styal is a safe place to live and work.

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It was my colleagues who had been on One Small Thing’s training for trainers course and told me how fantastic it was. I knew it could make a massive difference to the way in which we work with our women. Having done the OST training it has made me look at everything we do at Styal with fresh eyes. I am now very mindful about what processes and procedures could be re-traumatising women in our care.

The most challenging aspect of my work is dealing with women that hurt themselves.

The most rewarding aspect of my work is witnessing a woman’s confidence and self-esteem grow and when they start looking forward to a different future.

If I could do one small thing to improve the system for prison residents, it would be to allow video calls so that mothers could say goodnight to their children properly."

Photograph by Roo Kendall

One Small Chat
Edwina Grosvenor
Edwina Grosvenor

Twenty years of hard graft working in prisons and a never abating feeling of rage at our current system is what has brought me here today. 

Leoni Mitchell
Leoni Mitchell

“A large proportion of the women I currently work with and our inpatients at the hospital have an extensive history of trauma.”

Paul Cooper
Paul Cooper

“My role is to carry out the sentence of the courts, treat service users with decency, dignity and compassion and prepare them to lead a law-abiding life.”

Vicki Sampey
Vicki Sampey

“I am now very mindful about what processes and procedures could be re-traumatising women in our care.”

Lakhbir Kaur
Lakhbir Kaur

“If there was one small thing I could do to improve for prison residents, it would first of all be to review whether they should be sent to prison in the first place.”

Julie Weston
Julie Weston

“I think these two courses have changed me as a person and, the way I interact with people.  My relationships feel more meaningful and genuine.  I believe I’m a better person.”

Claire Hubberstey
Claire Hubberstey

My motto for life is to be courageous and kind. Why? You’ll never regret being either and it helps to remind yourself of what you aspire to when faced with a tricky situation.

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