Ingeus has brought together professionals, partner organisations and people with lived experience across six regions of England through a series of events inspired by the documentary Holloway.
Held in local venues across Greater Manchester, North East, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands and the South of England, the events created a shared opportunity to reflect on the experiences of women in contact with the justice system and strengthen collaboration between the organisations supporting them.
Each event centred around a screening of Holloway, the powerful documentary following six women as they return to the now-abandoned Holloway Prison to reflect on their experiences of trauma, resilience, recovery and healing.
While deeply personal, the stories explored in the film also highlight wider challenges affecting many women in contact with the justice system. Their experiences often span health, housing, employment, family relationships, substance misuse, wellbeing and community support, reinforcing the need for joined-up, trauma-informed services.
Drawing on its experience delivering justice services across England for more than 25 years, Ingeus used the events to bring together partners from probation, health services, housing providers, local authorities, community organisations, employment support services and the voluntary sector.
The screenings were followed by discussions focused on lived experience, trauma-informed practice and how organisations can work together more effectively to support women and their families.
Across all six regions, a common theme emerged: no single organisation can address these challenges alone. Creating positive outcomes for women often requires collaboration between multiple services, ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.
Carrie Peters, Director of Justice Services at Ingeus, said:
"The stories shared through Holloway highlight just how complex and interconnected many women's experiences can be. Through our work at Ingeus, we see every day the impact that trauma, poor health, housing difficulties, family relationships and other challenges can have on people's lives. We also see the difference that the right support, delivered at the right time, can make. If we want to improve outcomes for women, we need to continue listening to lived experience and building support around the whole person. These conversations cannot sit within one organisation or one sector. They need to happen across services, communities and partnerships. That is where meaningful change begins."
Alongside providing opportunities for learning and reflection, the events also celebrated the positive impact of lived experience within services. Several regions used the events to recognise women who had successfully completed Ingeus' Peer Mentor Training Programme and were preparing to begin volunteering in support roles.
By creating space for honest conversations, shared learning and partnership building, the Holloway events strengthened relationships between organisations and reinforced a collective commitment to improving outcomes for women in contact with the justice system.
