Building Futures showcase: voices of leadership and hope from inside
Last week, we were proud to host the Building Futures showcase at the University of Manchester — a powerful celebration of the achievements, learning, and impact of the Building Futures programme. The event brought together participants, partners, researchers, and policymakers to reflect on how the programme has helped to create new pathways for people serving the longest prison sentences to contribute to meaningful policy reform.
The day, titled “Thinking Long-Term: Insights on Collaborating with Those Impacted by Long-Term Imprisonment to Shape Policies That Affect Them”, was part of the Prison Reform Trust’s six-year Building Futures programme, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The programme explores how long sentences impact prisoners, their families, and communities, promoting leadership, self-advocacy, and hope among those serving long-term sentences.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Professor Gadd from the University of Manchester for his invaluable support in facilitating and hosting this important event. His guidance and commitment helped ensure that the day was both engaging and impactful.
The day featured a series of panel discussions exploring key themes relating to the long-term prison population — including the importance of family relationships, the challenges of the post-release period, progression for long-term prisoners, and the need to move towards a coherent long-term prisoner strategy.
Each panel encouraged collaborative discussion between people with direct experience of long-term imprisonment, practitioners working in the sector, and academics, creating space for honest and insightful dialogue.
The event also included a screening of the Rye Hill Parole Film trailer, produced by the Building Futures Working Group in HMP Rye Hill. The film powerfully portrays the experiences and emotions of those navigating progression and the parole process, offering a deeply human insight into a system that can so often feel impersonal.
Throughout the day, reflections from Building Futures network members in prisons were shared through written words and recorded messages. These voices grounded the event in the real, lived experiences at the heart of the programme:
“Building Futures gives us voice, availability to engage with something I really believe. Rehabilitation does NOT exist in English prisons (in my humble opinion), and only chance to change this is engagement with PRT’s Building Futures group. Here we have a chance to influence some positive changes, give feedback on any possible actions, projects, reports, engagements, consultations, surveys, etc. But what is more important, every two weeks when we are supposed to have our meeting I feel motivated and excited. It is nice to feel wanted, respected, heard, accepted, understood… simply being human.”
Building Futures Working Group Member, Long-term high security estate
These reflections served as a powerfuln important reminder that Building Futures is about listening, collaboration, and the belief that lasting policy change can only happen when shaped by those who have lived it.
The Building Futures showcase was a moment to celebrate the achievements of the programme, reflect on its lasting legacy, and ensure that meaningful, collaborative advocacy opportunities remain central to reform efforts.
Speakers and guests from across the criminal justice sector contributed to rich conversations about lived experience leadership, system reform, and trauma-informed practice. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the speakers who made the day so impactful.
As the day concluded, one message stood out clearly: lasting reform begins with listening — and with hope.
