We were greatly inspired by our recent visit to Hope Street in Hampshire, a trailblazing new service that will prevent women from receiving short prison sentences for non-violent crimes that can result in separation from children.

Hope Street is a pioneering residential community in Southampton which can house up to 124 women and children and provides support so they can rebuild their lives. Southampton was carefully selected as a location. Why? Because not only are there no prisons for women in Hampshire, but Southampton is also where a third of offences occur.

The project has been funded through trust and foundations, social investment and by Lady Edwina Grosvenor (centre in photo), who has devoted her 23-year career to prison reform and is the founding member of Global Philanthropic’s Advisory Board. Lady Edwina has worked in and visited prisons in the UK and overseas, spent time with prison residents and seen the need for prison reform close up.

Hope Street aims to be a centre of excellence in support for women and their children affected by the justice system, and we were enormously grateful to the Hope Street team for making time to see us amongst all their other priorities.

Discover more here.