The charity work with prisons on the subject of food to improve the lives of those eating it and to support the people making it. Food Beyond bars aims to positively impact the health and wellbeing of prisoners by delivering practical food-based education sessions that promote healthy eating.
Food Behind Bars are working across the grounds and kitchens of HMP Swinfen Hall, a Category C men’s and young offender’s prison in Staffordshire. The aim of the project is to provide meaningful opportunities around food, cooking and growing.
The 12-month programme involves ‘transforming’ an existing greenhouse on the prison grounds into a working Kitchen Garden, with a programme of outdoor education delivered by the Kitchen Garden Educator to a group of prisoners.
A Food Behind Bars spokesperson said: “Spring has sprung and so have our bees at HMP & YOI Swinfen Hall. There’s been plenty of activity over the colder season, but next month we should get our first honey from the hives which we installed last summer.
“The prisoners have been taking care of the bees and learning the art of beekeeping. Everyone is excited for the first pot of gold. We’ll be using the honey in our cooking sessions at the prison, in prison meals and hopefully we’ll be selling a few jars too.”
As well as growing fresh food and introducing beekeeping, the charity are also delivering a culinary education course in the prison’s Staff Bistro, training a group of learners in a variety of cooking skills which will support future employment.