PRISONERS ON CREATE PROJECTS WIN 14 PRESTIGIOUS KOESTLER AWARDS 2025

We’re thrilled to share the exciting news that participants on our prison projects have been recognised with 14 Koestler Awards – a huge achievement that celebrates the extraordinary creative talent and courage of those we work with.

These awards are presented by Koestler Arts, a charity that shines a light on the creative work of people in the criminal justice system. Each year, thousands of entries across artforms are judged by industry professionals, with the very best receiving Bronze, Silver, Gold and even Platinum Awards.

This year, we’re incredibly proud that participants across our Inside Change and Free Inside projects have been honoured with awards in categories ranging from radio drama and hip hop to poetry.

Platinum & Gold Awards for Powerful Radio Plays

Our highest accolade this year – a Platinum Award – was awarded to Soul Mates, a radio play created by women at HMP & YOI Low Newton during Inside Change. This thought-provoking piece showcases the exceptional writing, collaboration and performance skills developed by participants across four days of intensive workshops.

The radio play Selling Sally from Inside Change at HMP & YOI Low Newton earned a Gold Award, further highlighting the rich storytelling and bold creative voices nurtured during this programme.

[Projects like Inside Change] are very important because people can come into custody and feel like they have nothing. So, when these opportunities come, it’s nice for us to try something new and learn along the way.

– Participant, Inside Change 

Poetry and Performance Earning Bronze

A collection of poetry entitled I Need, I Want, I Am, created during Free Inside at HMP & YOI Low Newton, was recognised with a Bronze Award in the Poetry Collection category.

Another Bronze Award went to End of Time, a piece of original music in the Hip Hop, Rap and Grime category, created at HMP Cardiff during our Inside Change project. This track reflects not only musical skill but emotional depth and self-expression.

Highly Commended and Commended Success

Four radio dramas developed through our Inside Change programme were recognised in the Radio Play category. Big Boots to Fill, created at HMP Cardiff, and Not Quite Right, written at HMP & YOI Styal, both received Highly Commended Awards. Meanwhile, Ice Diamonds, also from HMP & YOI Styal, and Happy Hour, created at HMP Bronzefield, received Commended Awards.

Each of these productions showcase the powerful storytelling, collaboration and emotional insight nurtured through Inside Change, a project that uses radio drama to develop financial literacy, communication and creative skills within prison communities.

Six untitled photography works from HMP & YOI Low Newton also received Commended and Highly Commended Awards.

[Inside Change] is something different and you learn something new. I really enjoyed it. I liked writing the scripts and talking on the microphone. It’s built up my confidence a lot.

Participant, Inside Change

At Create, we believe that creativity is a human right. These awards demonstrate the power of the arts to break down barriers, build confidence and allow people to tell their stories in their own words. For people in prison, this opportunity can be life-changing – helping to develop skills and support rehabilitation.

We’re incredibly proud of all of our participants, and extend our thanks to the talented professional artists who led these projects with such care and commitment.

We’d also like to thank Koestler Arts for continuing to recognise the creativity within prisons, and the many funders and prisons who help make this work possible.

And finally – a huge congratulations to this year’s Koestler Award winners. Your voices matter, and we’re honoured to help share them with the world.

Nicky Goulder MBE, Founding Chief Executive

Thank you to Santander Foundation for funding Inside Change.