Feeding Justice: The Role of Food in Women's Prisons

Food plays a critical role in prisons – shaping prisoners’ identities, experiences, and relationships. Harnessed correctly, it has the potential to be a driving force for more rehabilitative, safe, and healthy prison environments. 

However, women in prison often experience difficult relationships with the food available to them there, leading to exacerbation of mental health issues and weight fluctuation.  In this webinar we explore the different meanings food has for women within prisons and are joined by speakers representing varying perspectives: a catering manager, researchers, and a third-sector organisation working within prisons.  

We’ll be joined by Maria Adams (The University of Surrey) and Erin Power (Liverpool John Moores University), Jamie Dabbs (HMP Drake Hall) and Freya Harrap + Helen Sandwell (Food Matters Inside & Out), and will be covering:   

• The Doing Porridge Project, which involved researchers interviewing 80 women from 4 different prisons, using food diaries, conducting observations, focus groups, and art workshops to understand how food impacts their lives. 

• Behind the kitchen doors at HMP Drake Hall, where the catering manager explains the operational management of women's prison kitchen, and the particular considerations when working with a population of women. 

• Supporting women’s physical and mental health in prison. Reflections from two prison nutritionists using food-based activities and materials.

Whether you're a policymaker, advocate, practitioner, or simply passionate about food and criminal justice reform, this webinar offers valuable insights into the criminal justice system, and strategies for creating a more humane and effective prison system using food.    

This webinar will take place on Microsoft Teams, and you will be emailed a registration link once you have signed up.