JUSTICE with prison philanthropist Edwina Grosvenor

In this episode Lilly Lewis, Women’s Involvement Advisor at One Small Thing speaks to Stephanie Bechelet and Thea Arch from Brainkind. Last month Brainkind released a report which found that 80% of women in the criminal justice system in Wales may be living with a brain injury. Alongside this they found the women in the study had complex health needs, frequently reporting histories of domestic abuse, substance misuse, and mental and physical health issues. Lilly speaks to Stephanie and Thea about this important research, as well as their wider work on brain injury for women who have experienced domestic abuse. Please note this episode contains description of abuse and violence and its impact on women’s lives. To read the full report visit: https://brainkind.org/complex-lives/ Find out more about the work of Brainkind: https://brainkind.org/Twitter - @OSTCharityThis podcast is created and produced by The London Podcast Company

Despite the fact that 51% of the population will experience menopause, and the estimated 13 million people who are currently peri or menopausal in the UK, the topic of menopause has remained taboo. In 2022 I was delighted to speak to two advocates driving change in the national conversation around menopause on their experience of this transition, and what needs to change to ensure more women have access to the support they need – including those in the justice system. I spoke with Davina McCall, renowned TV presenter and household name who has presented documentaries about the menopause and is author of Menopausing, The Positive Roadmap to Your Second Spring which seeks to debunk myths, and break the shameful silence over the menopause. I was also joined by Carolyn Harris, MP for Swansea East who established the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on menopause and has played a pivotal role in putting menopause on the national agenda. More information:Read the APPG on Menopause Inquiry to assess the impacts of menopause and the case for policy reform: https://menopause-appg.co.uk/inquiry/Read Menopausing, The Positive Roadmap to Your Second Spring, by Davina McCall and Dr. Naomi Potter: https://www.waterstones.com/book/menopausing/davina-mccall/dr-naomi-potter/9780008517786Twitter - @OSTCharityThis podcast is created and produced by The London Podcast Company

In this episode Edwina looks back to 2021 and 2022 when she interviewed representatives from two women’s organisation who provide specific tailored substance use support to women. She spoke with Hannah Shead, CEO of Trevi, the only UK residential rehabilitation centre exclusively for mothers and their children, and Jo-Anne Welsh, former CEO of The Oasis Project which provides women-specific services and a trauma-informed approach to substance misuse treatment. Discussions include the barriers women face accessing appropriate treatment within prison and the community and why services like Trevi and The Oasis Project are so important. To learn more about the work of Trevi visit:https://www.trevi.org.uk Learn more about The Oasis Project: https://www.oasisproject.org.uk/Twitter - @OSTCharityThis podcast is created and produced by The London Podcast Company

In this episode we explore diversion schemes for women, and what role they play in preventing women from being unnecessarily drawn further into the criminal justice system. Edwina speaks to Pamela Price South London Women's Hubs Manager, and Miranda Dobson Head of Communications from Women in Prison (WIP) to learn more about the diversion scheme they run in South London, linked to their women’s centres. The programme aims to provide early intervention and support for women who have been taken into police custody, addressing underlying issues such as housing, poverty, and substance use. This episode highlights the challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system, including the stigma and shame associated with criminalisation, particularly for mothers, and explores the positive outcomes diversion schemes can have – such as improvements in mental health, relationships, and well-being.  Learn more about the work of Women in Prison here: www.womeninprison.org.ukFollow them on X @WIP_live, on Instagram @womeninprisonuk, and on LinkedIn @Women in Prison.Twitter - @OSTCharityThis podcast is created and produced by The London Podcast Company

In this episode our Women’s Involvement Advisor Lilly Lewis explores Problem Solving Courts for women with Dr Alexandria Bradley Senior Lecturer in Criminology, and Dr Sarah Waite Senior Lecturer in Law and Criminology from Leeds Beckett University. Alexandria and Sarah are currently evaluating Greater Manchester’s Problem Solving Court for Women, a community justice initiative Lilly also knows well from her work supporting women in the Manchester area. The Problem Solving Court in Greater Manchester is a process in which the woman, the courts, probation services and women’s centres work together to support the woman to adhere to her court order and to achieve positive outcomes for herself.  The episode looks at how the approach works and what the evaluation will explore, as well as broader discussions on what a trauma informed community justice system could look like and what support services are needed. Learn more about Greater Manchester’s Problem Solving court in a blog by Fiona Deacon, Strategic Lead for Women for Greater Manchester Probation: https://www.russellwebster.com/the-greater-manchester-problem-solving-court/ Learn more about the work of Dr Alexandria Bradley here: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/staff/dr-alexandria-bradley/ and find them on X: @DrAlexandriaB Learn more about the work of Dr Sarah Waite here: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/staff/sarah-waite/ and find them on X: @DrSWaite1Twitter - @OSTCharityThis podcast is created and produced by The London Podcast Company

In this episode we look at what’s needed to prevent young women getting caught up in the justice system and what community-based solutions are needed. Lilly is joined by Indy Cross, CEO of Agenda Alliance, who shares learning from their Young Women’s Justice Project. In partnership with the Alliance for Youth Justice, the project engages with young women, front-line practitioners and other experts, with the aim to build a strong evidence base and influence practice and policy to better meet the needs of young women in contact with, or at risk of being in contact with the justice system. We also speak with a young woman Caiyan from Daddyless Daughters, a key partner in the Young Women’s Justice Project, who shares her insights into what support should be provided. Daddyless Daughters supports girls and young women who have been affected by family breakdown, abuse and adversity across London between the age of 11 – 25 years old. Aliyah Ali, Founder of the organisation, also joins us to share more about their mission. Learn more:Agenda Alliance work to promote understanding of, and encourage systems and services to respond better to, the experiences of women and girls with multiple or complex unmet needs. Learn more about Agenda Alliance https://www.agendaalliance.org/ and on X: @Agenda_alliance ,Instagram: @agenda_alliance Read the Young Women’s Justice project reports and find out more about the project: https://www.agendaalliance.org/our-work/projects-and-campaigns/young-womens-justice-project/ Learn more about Daddyless Daughters https://www.daddylessdaughters.co.uk/ X: @theddproject_ , Instagram: @daddyless_daughtersTwitter - @OSTCharityThis podcast is created and produced by The London Podcast Company