SixtyOne Bristol: "We want to change the narrative people have about people with a criminal record"

The Bristol-based charity helps people who have a criminal record made positive changes to their lives to live a different way free from crime through three main projects: Hub, Mentoring and Gift Projects.

The charity offers mentoring support to those with a criminal record.

They also have partnerships with churches and organisations to provide welcoming spaces for those with criminal records.

During Christmas, SixtyOne team up with churches to fund and pack gift bags to deliver to over 1,4000 prisoners in three local men prisons. A similar scheme is in place during Easter when Easter gift bags are delivered to the local women’s prison.

The charity is one of the main partnerships at this year’s Treefest (December 5 to 8), where SixtyOne has a tree decorated by the men and women they support.

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Esther Champion, SixtyOne’s Hub lead and External Training Coordination, commented: “I feel like my heart is really passionate about people who have been in prison and trying for society to see people differently. I would just encourage you, if you're watching this or reading this, to just try and see people that have been in prison, as people.

“And try not to focus on what they've done and try and understand that all of us have had different lives and we don't all deal with things in the same way and people that have ended up in prison are still people.

“They are still loved.

“And I firmly believe that they have got so much value to bring to society and so much worth.”

Check out the video above to learn more about SixtyOne and the meaning behind their Christmas tree at Treefest 2024.

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