Bishop Rachel (Anglican Bishop for HM prisons) in conversation with Junior Smart. 

Junior Smart is a youth violence consultant, trainer, and someone with lived experience of the Criminal Justice System. He's the founder of SOS Project, which began in a prison cell and grew to become one the UK's most recognised interventions, tackling violence.

Bishop Rachel (Anglican Bishop for HM prisons) in conversation with Kate Fraser, (Head of Practice for Women in Prison). Kate says, "We know that all pregnancies in prison are high risk, three babies have died in a women's prison in the past five years, and it's absolutely outrageous that we're sending pregnant women to prison."

She goes on, "The idea that a teenager can give birth on the concrete floor of a cell with no support, no medical help, nobody with her in a women's prison ... I don't think most taxpayers expect anything like that to happen when a woman is sent to prison, I think it's absolutely shocking."

Bishop Rachel says, "Surely in the big picture we want to create stronger communities, and yet we still are obsessed with this idea of punishment."

Bishop Rachel talks to David Shipley about his experiences and specific suggestions for ways that the criminal justice system could be transformed.

David Shipley has worked as a consultant for HM Inspectorate of Prisons and Probation, and has lived experience of being in prison himself. He says, “While I was in prison, I became radicalised. I think by the state of the prison system, by the way that it wastes time and lives, and ruins and destroys instead of healing and building, and changing in a positive way. So I promised myself that after I was out, I would speak up, campaign, write about it.”

Bishop Rachel (Anglican Bishop for HM prisons) in conversation with Dilys Alam (Home Affairs policy advisor at the Archbishops’ Council) – Taking the politics out of sentencing.

In this eighth podcast in the series of 'Holding the Key: Unlocking the door to doing prison differently', Bishop Rachel finds herself in the interview seat as Dilys Alam asks a series of questions to find out more about Bishop Rachel's role with the Justice System.

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, in conversation with Vicky Fobel, Head of the Better Justice Partnership.

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, in conversation with Edwina Grosvenor, a philanthropist and criminologist who has worked in and around the prison system in England and Wales for 25 years.

In this sixth podcast in the series of 'Holding the Key: Unlocking the door to doing prison differently', Edwina tells us, "If we are looking to bring people out [of prison], let's look at the people who shouldn't be there in the first place. Lots of women who are in prison in the female estate; they really don't pose a risk to the public, most of them pose a risk to themselves."

Talking about the vision for Hope Street, a secure accommodation project for women leaving prison, she said "I sat down with a team of people to see if we could design the gold-standard, replicable, scalable-model, for women to be able to be sentenced to the community, that would work with probation, the police, the judiciary, children's services, drug and alcohol services. We thought if you really mapped all that - we should see if we could possibly create it. So we did."

"We designed the building, it's now operational with the staff in it. We have beds for 24 women and their children, but then crucially we have a housing pathway, so they have step-down accommodation so they can move on and start living more independently."

Bishop Rachel responds, "It's fantastic to see how you've inhabited that vision. It's also utterly fulfilling everything we've been saying. Not only do we think it's a good idea, but the evidence supports that. And you've made that happen -if you hadn't pushed for this and are now producing more evidence to show that it works, this would not have happened."

Bishop Rachel says, "There should be an equivalent for Hope Street in every county."

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, in conversation with John Podmore. In this fifth podcast in the series of 'Holding the Key: Unlocking the door to doing prison differently', John tells us, "We should be locking up people we’re scared of, not mad at."

John was a prison governor and inspector of prisons, and now acts as consultant with a particular interest in human rights and prison anti-corruption.

Bishop Rachel and John discuss potential ways to change the approach to using prisons and sentencing; "We don’t have prison problems, we have community problems."

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, in conversation with Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

In this fourth podcast in the series of 'Holding the Key: Unlocking the door to doing prison differently', Bishop Rachel and Charlie Taylor talk about the current overcrowding crisis in prisons. Charlie tells us, "We have more prisoners than we have capacity for. In many prisons we have enormous levels of overcrowding. Like Leeds, where something like 80% of prisoners are living in overcrowded accommodation. And what that means in reality; you've got two men sharing a single cell designed by the Victorians 150 years ago, to house one man, in conditions that are often squalid and enormously challenging."

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, in conversation with Marc Conway, CEO at Fair Justice, an organisation which aims to help get the voices of those who live and work within the criminal justice system, out and into the public.

In this third podcast in the series of 'Holding the Key: Unlocking the door to doing prison differently', Bishop Rachel and Marc Conway talk about Marc's lived experience of the criminal justice system, his work with offenders and ex-offenders, and specifically around the injustices and issues with historical IPP prison sentences. 

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, in conversation with Tom Wheatley and Mark Icke of the Prison Governors’ Association.

In this second podcast in the series of 'Holding the Key: Unlocking the door to doing prison differently', Bishop Rachel talks to Tom Wheatley, President of the Prison Governers' Association, and Mark Icke, Vice President of the Prison Governors' Association. Tom and Mark bring over 57 years combined experience working in Prison leadership roles, and they discuss their experience of the effectiveness of the justice system, as well as their hopes for what the future might hold.

The Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons, the Right Revd Rachel Treweek, led a visit to the Netherlands to discover more about their criminal justice system as she continues with her commitment to inspire alternatives to prison in England and Wales.

In this podcast Bishop Rachel, Pia Sinha (CEO of the Prison Reform Trust) and Andrea Coomber (Chief Executive for the Howard League for Penal Reform), reflect on what they learnt during the visit and their key takeaways from the meetings that took place and the visit of PI Alphen aan den Rijn prison.

This is the first of a series of Podcasts called -  'Holding the key: A series of conversations to unlock the door to doing prison differently’. Bishop Rachel will be joined by influencers and change-makers as they ask the questions – what is prison really for and more importantly what could the alternatives be? 

Bishop Rachel Treweek visits the Cotswold School to talk to two young people there; Sam (y13) and Maya (y11). They are joined by Helen Ford of NHS Gloucestershire, programme Director for the Development of Children's Mental in Gloucestershire, and Jodi Carter, Deputy Head for Cotswold School. 

Speaking with Bishop Rachel in this podcast, are three local Young Farmers: Marita from Brookthorpe, Charles from Winchcombe and Cam from Horton; and Jenni a farmer from Elmore. The group discuss current issues faced by farmers, and suggest practical ways for people to help their local farming community as well as care for the countryside.

Bishop Rachel speaks with a number of people about the Church of England's Living in Love and Faith resources. Involved in this second conversation are the Revd Tudor Griffiths, and the Revd Jo Pestell.

Bishop Rachel speaks with a number of people about the Church of England's Living in Love and Faith resources. Involved in this initial conversation are the Revd Bob Callaghan, trans activist Harry Williams, The Revd Ilsa and her partner Rachel.

Bishop Rachel enters into conversation with Nicole Jacobs, the Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, and six women in key roles who welcome the domestic abuse bill and yet also long for more as the Bill returns to the House of Lords for the second reading.

In conversation:

Nicole Jacobs, Designate Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales
Robyn Andréo-Boosey, Co-director, IC Change and Manager, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne’s Preventing Violence Against Women Program.
Niki Gould, Head of Women’s Community Services, Nelson Trust
Huda Jawad, Co-founder of Faith & VAWG Coalition
Pragna Patel, Director of Southall Black Sisters.
Andrea Simon, Head of Public Affairs at End Violence Against Women Coalition
Katy Swaine Williams, Senior programme manager, Prison Reform Trust
The Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Anglican Bishop for HM prisons

Part three of three. This episode brings together participants from the first two podcasts in the BLM series, to reflect and discuss the issues in one group. Bishop Rachel is in conversation with Ade, Juliet, Margaret and Simi; exploring issues of race, ethnicity and diversity, particularly within the Church. 

Part two of three. In this episode Bishop Rachel enters into conversation with three white Christians in the Diocese of Gloucester – Juliet, David and Margaret, to discuss responses to the BLM movement within various church communities.

Part one of three. In this episode Bishop Rachel enters into conversation with four black Christians in the Diocese of Gloucester – Rumbi, Ade, Simi and Suki – two adults and two young people, about the impact of Covid-19 on the BAME community, the murder of George Floyd and our failures as a Church regarding racial justice.

A trauma specialist, a cartographer and an expert in global disaster relief …

Exploring how we navigate through a landscape of trauma towards a place of hope, Bishop Rachel talks to The Revd Hilary Ison, a member of the Project Team exploring ‘Tragedy and Congregations’; Dr  Alexander Kent, Reader in Cartography and Geographical Information Science at Canterbury Christ Church University; and Ramani Leathard, Head of Asia, Christian Aid.

Bishop Rachel talks with the Reverend Canon Dr Sandra Millar about living life as a single person, particularly during lockdown.

Aaaaand ... rest. It's harder than it sounds, isn't it? In this episode, Bishop Robert talks with Archdeacon Hilary Dawson about rest, about letting go, and finding a rhythm of life which serves us, so that we may serve others.

How are young people dealing with change and uncertainty during lockdown? Bishop Rachel talks to five teenagers from our worshipping communities, along with Barrie Voyce (Leader of Illuminate Stroud and the key lead on future plans for youth ministry in the Diocese of Gloucester).

How are we doing?! No, really. How are we doing. In this episode, The Ven Hilary Dawson talks with The Ven Phil Andrew about managing, or failing to manage, the emotional rollercoasters of life and leadership during lockdown.

In this episode Bishop Rachel enters into conversation with four black Christians in the Diocese of Gloucester – Rumbi, Ade, Simi and Suki – two adults and two young people, about the impact of Covid-19 on the BAME community, the murder of George Floyd and our failures as a Church regarding racial justice