Reflecting on a Year of Change and Growth
Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor, One Small Thing
In the next in her series of blogs Lilly Lewis, our Women’s Involvement Advisor, reflects on 2023 - exploring milestones in her professional and personal life, and the huge achievements she has made supporting and advocating for women and children affected by the justice system. Lilly shares her hopes for 2024 and how she will continue driving change for women.
When I look back at 2023, wow what a year! I got to visit Hope Street and was totally amazed by how much thought had gone into building this trauma informed healing space. I really enjoyed meeting Kate Middleton the Princess of Wales and talking about my experiences of the Criminal Justice System and how going into prison had affected both me and my children.
I also got to advocate for women affected by the justice system and tell my story of how I lost everything due to unhealthy relationships, poor mental health and lack of support at a Parliamentary event, and with journalist Cathy Newman for Channel 4 News. It was great to have a national platform to share how we need more spaces like Hope Street and to send less women to prison on short sentences.
A career milestone for me was getting accepted on We Lead for Legacy programme, a civic leadership programme for Black and minoritised people, through which I have met Andy Burnham and Arooj Shah, councillor for Oldham.
On a personal level I had to have surgery in March which knocked me back a lot and recovery was really difficult for me. One thing I took from that is how grateful I am for good health.
I was able to mend my relationship with my eldest daughter who I had not spoken to for 10 years. I was able to hold my fourth grandchild just hours after she had been born. I got to learn about the likes and dislikes of my other 3 grandchildren and build really strong relationships with all my children, and book my wedding. This was an amazing year for developing my family relationships.
The work I am proud of this year was being able to write a blog celebrating Black History Month, to be able to write about an old friend Natasha Jonas who is the first female Black boxing Manager, alongside Olivia Morris a young black women who in the 1970s was campaigning for the rights of Black people and was a strong feminist.
When I look back at 2023 I am proud of all the media opportunities where I got to change the perception of women in prison, which is what I vowed to do when I was in custody in 2019. I made a promise to myself to continue to strive for better outcomes for women and children affected by the Criminal Justice System.
I also feel very proud that I am now on the Board of Trustees for Agenda Alliance and involved with Working Chance’s Advisory Panel. I’m now working with so many others whose goal is also to support and uplift women.
My hopes for 2024 are that I would like to see more positive changes for women affected by the justice system. I would like to see Hope Street supporting more women and the opportunity to visit Hope Street more, and work alongside the women who are staying there. I want to concentrate on the barriers that women and children face once in the justice system, how this affects housing and routes into employment and to speak with more women on probation and how this is for them. I would like to tackle issues such as the way women have child removals due to the Justice System how this has affected them.
I want to continue campaigning for women with multiple unmet needs and highlight the changes we need to see to better support women and children.
I want to continue to support women on a daily basis in my role of Changing Futures Women Worker in Rochdale and champion better outcomes for all women and children who are disadvantaged.
I will continue to work within my important personal qualities such as equality, equity and integrity. Always looking for opportunities to become involved in the change for women in 2024.
Written by: Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing
