Creating Impact
“I’ve recently just come out of prison 8 months ago. I was a first-time offender and never expected to find myself in prison. It was a culture shock, learning how to manage everyday life in prison. I didn’t go to jail until I was 43, and before that I had worked since I was 15 and was a normal part of society. Run of the mill. I can’t explain how hard it was to go to prison for a seven-year sentence. When I came back out of prison it was an eye-opener. That’s really where Vox come in. I’d been part of the weekly sessions Vox ran at HMP Castle Huntly near the end of my sentence and I’d loved them. They made you feel comfortable, teaching us how to write and how to think about writing songs as an outlet. It was the best thing I’d experienced during my whole sentence. When you’re released though, it’s challenging, very challenging. Very alone. But having Unbound to come to at Vox, it’s my go to. It’s my reason to get up to be honest, and to get out. I come here and everyone is supportive and helpful. It’s really helped me get back into feeling like I’m in a community, especially one where you’re not judged which is how I can feel in lots of places right now. You get to do things you love, which for me is singing. I’ve learned creative things while also being supported in more personal ways, including with my mental health, social work meeting support, and also with making my flat feel like a home. I had nothing when I came back out and it’s hard to get help with what to most people would seem like simple things. Vox have done their best to remove as many barriers as possible, whether it’s paying for my bus ticket or just being flexible with other needs I’ve got. They’ve given me opportunity. It has been tremendous, it’s just so lifting. I wish I’d found this a long, long time ago. My next aim is to learn guitar so I can play my songs as well as sing them, and to give me another outlet while I’m at home to keep my mind of more difficult things – Vox have set up lessons in the near future so I can’t wait for that. I see what Vox has and is doing for me, and I see the same for other people. It’s crucial.”
Clicking below will let you hear ‘Riptide’, written by T and Louis Abbott in HMP Castle Huntly. This song has since been released as part of our Paper Planes series, and performed at Solas Festival amongst other venues.