Starting Afresh - Part Two

​Earlier this month, Anita Frost (founder of Curricula & Co) and Rebekah Billingham (blogger) took a trip to Askham Grange, a low-security women’s prison in Yorkshire to speak to some of the residents about life goals and aspirations. In this second installment of the series about the trip, we share some of the ways we were inspired by such a strong and resilient group of women.

Starting Afresh
​Anita and Rebekah’s trip to HMP Askham Grange

After our tour, a number of ladies joined us in one of the classrooms. We introduced ourselves, and Anita asked everyone to take it in turns telling everyone their name, and what their life goals were. For me, this was the most fascinating part of the trip. It amazed me how determined and resilient these people still were after having been through so many challenges. 

​So many of them had decided to use their time inside to better themselves and work on leaving stronger than they were when they came in. One lady used the phrase ‘gap year’ to describe her time at Askham Grange...an opportunity instead of a punishment. A chance to really focus on growing herself. So many of their dreams were very big, but they seemed to be taking their first small steps very seriously.

I noticed that there was a real strength in their togetherness as a supportive community. I noticed that they had developed tight knit friendships with each other that sustained morale in a beautiful way. 

When Anita spoke, she shared her own story of how.....

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