Kat

Unlocked Ambassador and MPO

Kat speaks openly about being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and the impact this has on her work in prisons:

“The LGBTQIA+ community is overrepresented within the prison population, particularly amongst women, and it is likely that the statistics are under-representative of the actual figure. Statistically those within the community have higher rates of mental health issues.

I took the opportunity to work as an LGBTQIA+ Rep on my wing. This gave me the opportunity to work alongside staff and prisoners to raise awareness, hold deep and meaningful discussions around what it means to be an ally, a member of the community and had several prisoners disclose their sexuality to me.

I am proud that as an MPO I am continuing that work towards a more inclusive culture in our prisons. Ensuring the visibility of allies and that support is in place for these individuals is pivotal.

There is a huge LGBTQIA+ support network within HMMPS, ‘Pride in Prison & Probation (PiPP)’. This is a member-led support network that provides, one-to-one support, provides informative materials and toolkits, shares best practise, and supports in delivering awareness training.”