Imago Dei Prison Ministry are a Christian charity that work with women in prison and with women in the community once they leave prison.

We believe that all lives are important and that no one should be defined by their past or even their current circumstances. If we want to see a reduction in the re-offending rate which is currently around 60% on average for women, then someone has to deal with the underlying issues in offending behaviours. By providing the women tools and skill to enable them to work through their pain in healthy ways, we are helping them to reduce harmful copying mechanisms such as drugs and alcohol. Enabling them to make different life choices and change the trajectory of their lives.

We show practical care by running courses in women's prisons, meeting women at their point of need, helping to equip them to lead different lives on release. We want to see the women we work with become valuable members of society, living crime free lives which benefit themselves, their families and society as a whole. We aim to see them parent well and help their children grow to be successful in their lives, supported by healthy parental support, and to end generational criminality.

Reintegrating back into the community after spending time in prison can be a difficult transition to make. The challenge is heightened if a person feels alone in this struggle, without positive people around them to support them and offer encouragement and help. Any skills learned and progress made in prison can seem a million miles away and no longer relevant. We are able to offer Through-the-Gate support to women we work with. In this role we are able to provide practical support and assistance in tasks, alongside vital emotional and mentoring support. Practical support could include anything from form-filling, accompanying them to meetings and appointments, helping to access educational courses and signposting to relevant community agencies and employment and training opportunities.

Each year around 9000 women go to prison.

Of these 9000 women around 31% have spent time in care, 53% having suffered emotional, physical, or sexual abuse during childhood, 46% having suffered domestic violence. Meaning they are not only disadvantaged by their current circumstances of being in prison but by historic ones. Low self-worth means that women can be manipulated into criminal activity and stops them believing that they can be any better than they feel right now. We can all help to change this!

By becoming a Dragon Boat racer you are helping to improve the lives of women both in prison and once they leave.

See you on the water!