Nine out of ten prisoners have at least one mental health or substance misuse problem. Listening to somebody could save their life. This July, Samaritans are raising awareness that they are here to listen to anyone who’s struggling to cope, at any time of the day or night.

The Prison Radio Association’s flagship series is back with three more in-depth interviews from people who have been to prison.

Our award-winning podcast Life After Prison with Zak and Jules is back for its sixth series, packed with fascinating interviews, loads of information to help support people on their journey after release and a brand-new strand of the podcast, ‘The Spark‘.

Reoffending costs the government approximately £18 billion per year; the UKRI found 75% of ex-prisoners reoffend within nine years of release, and 39.3% within the first twelve months in the UK. Furthermore, it has recently been announced that prisons are at ‘operational capacity breaking point‘. But what are the Prison Radio Association and National Prison Radio doing to alleviate this?

We’re the charity that developed and runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people in prison.

Our wonderful colleague James, ARIAS Gold Award-winner, passed away in May. Listen to a very special edition of The Secret Life of Prisons to find out what made him a unique broadcasting talent.

Community activist Angela Patton and co-director Natalie Rae recently visited HMP Brixton to be interviewed by former prisoner and National Prison Radio presenter, Hilary Ineomo-Marcus for their new feature documentary, that follows a group of inmates in a US prison and their daughters who prepare for a special Daddy Daughter Dance as part of a unique fatherhood programme.

Around one in twenty (5%) men and more than one in five (22%) women identify as either homosexual or bisexual in prison – higher than the general population.

The beloved award-winning actress and comedian Kathy Burke recently took a visit to HMP Brixton to be interviewed by our team at National Prison Radio.

We support people in prison and after release through the power of radio. We also encourage the development of prison radio initiatives globally, through Prison Radio International.

We are the Prison Radio Association. We work with prisoners and ex-prisoners to create award-winning radio and podcasts that help people to cope with life inside and on release from prison.

The Secret Life of Prisons is the smash-hit podcast from the charity the Prison Radio Association. Hosted by Phil Maguire OBE (Chief Executive of the Prison Radio Association) and Paula Harriott (Head of Prisoner Engagement at the Prison Reform Trust), The Secret Life of Prisons was devised as a way of allowing listeners to understand the reality of life in the UK’s prison systems. It’s recently launched weekly and we’re taking a look back at the most recent episodes.

Prison Radio International supports radio projects around the world that work with people who are, or have been, in prison.

The inspirational television presenter, writer, activist and survivor of a shocking acid attack in 2008, Katie Piper OBE, has been interviewed by the National Prison Radio team at HMP Styal about why she supports people in prison.

Anna Owen, a BBC producer on secondment to HMPPS, recently interviewed Ali on his journey to becoming National Prison Radio’s award-winning daily breakfast show host and in turn, how this has transformed his life for the better.

In Behind the Crime, forensic psychologists Sally Tilt and Dr Kerensa Hocken interview people who have been to prison about the lives that led up to their crimes.

This year, our charity the Prison Radio Association was nominated for a record eleven awards across nine categories at the UK ARIAS (Audio and Radio Industry Awards).

At last night’s ceremony we found out we won six awards, including Gold for our show Free Flow sponsored by Shannon Trust and hosted by the incredibly inspiring poet, radio presenter, and Prison Radio Association staff member Lady Unchained.

The award-winning documentary producer and presenter Louis Theroux recently visited National Prison Radio and we had the rare opportunity, to interview him.

World Book Night took place on 23 April 2024. National Prison Radio’s daily breakfast show host Ali, had the pleasure of interviewing inspirational author Kit De Waal about her book that features on the Quick Reads series for the World Book Night booklist.

Last week, the National Prison Radio team were delighted to welcome journalist, broadcaster and author Sonali Shah to HMP Brixton for a special workshop focused on improving the team’s presenting and interviewing skills.

Darren recently left prison after serving a 12 month sentence. A huge fan of National Prison Radio, our award-winning show Free Flow inspired him to write 130 poems that helped him cope with prison life.

Scout recently left prison. She is a journalist and a published poet who worked for National Prison Radio while serving a prison sentence at HMP Styal. Here she gives her experience of working for National Prison Radio during her time behind bars.

One in four adults in prison have been in the care system. Nearly half of all under-21s in contact with the criminal justice system have spent time in care.

The Radio Academy has announced its nominees for the 2024 ARIAS – the ‘Oscars’ of the radio industry – and we have received eleven nominations across nine categories.

Cases of Tuberculosis are rising in the UK, especially among those in prison. National Prison Radio is broadcasting crucial information in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency to help protect people in prison.

A rare opportunity has arisen to join our prison radio project at HMP Brixton, the beating heart of National Prison Radio.

The Secret Life of Prisons, the smash-hit podcast from the Prison Radio Association charity, is relaunching as a weekly show.

Our award-winning podcast Life After Prison with Zak and Jules is back for its fifth series, packed with fascinating interviews and loads of information to help support people on their journey after release.

Around 25 percent of women are reported to have experienced domestic violence. For women in prison, that number is far higher. Around 60 percent report having experienced abuse in the home.

Groundbreaking radio drama originally broadcast on National Prison Radio gets broadcast slot on the UK’s most popular speech network.

Prison Radio Association’s flagship BBC Radio 4 series Behind the Crime has been shortlisted in two categories at the True Crime Awards.

Dr. Ruth Armstrong represented the Prison Radio Association on a visit Japan to help grow prison radio’s global impact.

Throughout February, National Prison Radio will be broadcasting special shows to celebrate Valentine’s Day and to help prisoners keep in touch with their loved ones.

More than 1 in 30 people in prison say they have previously been in the armed forces. The true number is likely to be far higher.

27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day and ahead of this day of remembrance, National Prison Radio welcomed several special guests to our studios in HMP Brixton.

National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on in-cell TV. But what’s it like to work for NPR?

The Prison Radio Association has collaborated with Clean Break, a theatre company that works in prisons, to produce a brand new original audio drama.

January can be a tough month for many, and an even tougher month for those in prison. With this in mind, NPR have lined up inspiring stories from people who have found success after time behind bars to encourage listeners to keep their spirits up and to help keep their new year’s resolutions burning bright.  

Two of the Prison Radio Association’s key staff have made it onto The Radio Academy’s class of 2023 – a prized industry accolade for young radio professionals.

The crew from Kurupt FM will be taking over the National Prison Radio airwaves this Christmas.

Award-winning Ali presents National Prison Radio’s daily breakfast show Porridge, but life was not always this way.

The reality of spending Christmas inside can be tough, but National Prison Radio are helping people stay connected to their loved ones in jail.

An extremely rare opportunity to become the first Production and Social Media Assistant on National Prison Radio’s award-winning podcast, Life After Prison.

The Prison Radio Association produces this returning series in partnership with BBC Long Form Audio. And it’s back for a third series.

We were honoured to win a silver award in the Audio Production Awards coveted Production Company of the Year last month. To celebrate, we’ve put together an Advent Calendar featuring some of our audio highlights from 2023.

The former Prisons Minister turned podcast star delivered a barnstorming lecture to an audience in Westminster, with National Prison Radio listeners tuning in from their cells.

Books Unlocked has broadcast every evening on National Prison Radio for over a decade. It’s a partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

The programme features Booker Prize nominated titles and is funded by the Booker Prize Foundation.

Tuesdays on National Prison Radio are Takeover Tuesdays. Every week we visit a different prison and record a day of shows, starting with our breakfast show Porridge.

Hold or Fold is the first show of its kind – a deep dive into the potential harm that can come from problem gambling, aiming to support people in prison. 

Cases of Measles are rising. National Prison Radio is broadcasting crucial information in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency to help protect people in prison.

We want to learn how to improve our support of prisoners and their families. Complete our survey!

Life After Prison is our award-winning podcast. We were welcomed by the University of Greenwich to record a very special live show.

In October 2023, the PRA visited Latin America to help grow prison radio’s global impact.

Our award-winning podcast Life After Prison returns for its fourth series. We take a look back and reflect on series 1-3.

It’s natural to have concerns about money when you’re in prison. National Prison Radio helps those who have been through the criminal justice system to fix up their finances.

This year, National Prison Radio is celebrating, honouring and ‘Saluting Our Sisters‘ by highlighting the crucial role black women have played in social justice movements.

We took home an incredible four awards, including a Gold award for Life After Prison podcast presenters Zak and Jules.

In Behind the Crime, forensic psychologists Sally Tilt and Dr Kerensa Hocken interview people who have been to prison about the lives that led up to their crimes.

Series 1 is still available to listen to on BBC Sounds, featuring interviews with Chris (whose drug-induced psychosis led him to a conviction for reckless arson), Khamran (who was imprisoned after a random, violent attack on a man on a railway station platform), and Ian (who was so desperate to control his compulsive behaviour that he deliberately walked into a police sting operation).

As the interviews unfold, it becomes clear that the root causes of all these offences were far from simple. All the participants make their remorse clear, and do not seek excuses for their behaviour. But in order to help people avoid causing harm in the future, forensic psychologists in prison seek to understand the underlying motivations behind criminal acts.

Starting on Sunday 2 April at 13.30 on BBC Radio 4, series 2 kicks off with a remarkable interview with Sinem.

While working as a prison officer, Sinem was caught trafficking multiple packages of cannabis into a young offender institution. But as the interview develops, it becomes clear that the circumstances which led to her crime were far from straightforward.

On Sunday 9 April, we meet Duewaine, who spent the best part of two decades in and out of prison, as a drug habit combined with patterns of behaviour that took root at an early age to spiral harmfully out of control.

And on Sunday 16 April, we meet David, who was convicted of fraud committed while working in the recruitment sector after sliding into immoral, and then criminal behaviour, almost without realising.

As a society, we send increasing numbers of people to prison each year. Criminal behaviour costs the country billions every year. 

Is it possible to prevent crime by understanding the root causes of offending behaviour?

Sally and Kerensa’s role in prisons is to help people look at the harm they’ve caused to other people, understand why it happened and work out how to make changes to prevent further harm after they’ve been released.

In Behind the Crime, they take the time to understand the life of someone whose crimes have led to harm and, in some cases, imprisonment.

Behind the Crime is a co-production with BBC Long Form Audio.

Producer: Andrew Wilkie
Editor: Clare Fordham

Our hit podcast is back for a brand new series, featuring remarkable interviews with three people who have experienced homelessness.

This year sees the inaugural Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness, and the team are looking for entries from people who write about this subject that is deeply intertwined with crime and justice.

Phil and Paula set the scene, and then hand over to host Sangita Myska, who is one of the judges for this year’s prize.

Across three episodes of the series, entitled Down, Not Out, she talks to a variety of people with specialist knowledge and first-hand experience of homelessness, asking:

What is the daily reality of homelessness?
Do you have to be homeless to be homeless?
What are the solutions to homelessness?

Our particular thanks must go to Nic Woods, Charlston Aslet and Chris Lynam, who have all generously shared their experiences of homelessness for this series.

The series has been produced in partnership with the Orwell Foundation and the Centre for Homelessness Impact.

For the Orwell Foundation:
Host: Sangita Myska
Reader: Malorie Blackman OBE
Producer: Alex Grundon
Executive Producer: Liz Wallace

For the Prison Radio Association:
Hosts: Paula Harriott and Phil Maguire
Producer: Andrew Wilkie

Contributors: 
Charlston Aslet
Nic Woods
Chris Lynam
Professor Jean Seaton (Director, The Orwell Foundation)
Leanna Fairfax (Centre for Homelessness Impact)
Stephen Armstrong (Journalist and author of The Road to Wigan Pier Revisited; Trustee, The Orwell Foundation)
Christina Lamb (Journalist and author of The Prince Rupert Hotel for the Homeless)

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The Orwell Prize for Reporting Homelessness 2023 is open for entries until 17 April 2023. Entry details are available here. You can also enter by post. The address is The Orwell Foundation, IAS, University College London, WC1E 6BT. Please include a contact number or email address for someone who can reach you, if you can.

James first got involved with National Prison Radio whilst he was serving time in HMP Coldingley.

An extremely rare opportunity to become Managing Editor of National Prison Radio, the multi award-winning radio station for people in prison. 

We’re the charity that developed and runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people in prison.

Last year we picked up a Gold Award at the radio industry’s prestigious ARIAS. In recent years we’ve been crowned Independent Production Company of the Year (Audio Production Awards) and Charity of the Year (Third Sector Awards). We’ve also been nominated for a string of British Podcast Awards.

We operate out of two prison bases, HMP Brixton and HMP Styal.

National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It aims to support people through their prison sentences, and prepare them for life after release. 

According to our latest research, 84% of people in prison listen to National Prison Radio, and they listen for an average 11.1 hours per week.

We’re looking for a Managing Editor, National Prison Radio to lead us into the future. A key member of the team, this person will manage the direction and quality of programming on the radio station, and also oversee our team of producers across both production sites.

The charity is at a moment of renewal, with several transformative projects in development. National Prison Radio sits at the heart of these initiatives. The person who fills this role will lead the National Prison Radio production team, have creative responsibility for the direction of National Prison Radio and oversee everything that comes out of the speaker.

We’re obsessed with high-quality production, and we aim to inspire our audience to take positive action as a result of listening to our programmes. We therefore focus on ensuring our content is as engaging and tightly-produced as possible. Candidates will need to demonstrate a solid background in management, with high-level format development and production skills.

Ours is an organisation unlike any other, and we’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates who, along with the required professional experience, have direct experience of the criminal justice system. 

We’re a driven, tight-knit team working in what can be a challenging, exhilarating world, and you will be motivated by the knowledge that your work has the potential to make a real difference.

How to apply: Please download the job description. Then download our Job Application Pack and email copies of your completed Application Form, Diversity Monitoring Form and References Form to recruitment@prison.radio. 

Application deadline: Sunday 23 April 2023

In line with our company Data Retention Schedule, we keep application forms up to one year after notifying candidates of the outcome of the recruitment exercise after which time they will be securely destroyed. If your application is successful, data regarding your references will be kept on file for up to seven years after your employment ends in line with other HR documentation. If your application is unsuccessful, data regarding your references will be securely destroyed. Data from diversity monitoring forms is recorded anonymously for recruitment KPIs and monitoring workforce equality and forms are securely destroyed. If for any reason we need to keep your recruitment data on record for longer than specified, you will be notified. For more information, please see our Recruitment Privacy Notice here.

National Prison Radio is celebrating International Women’s Day on the 8th March 2023 and beyond!

We are looking for a brilliant presenter to host our new series Hold or Fold!

Love is on the air this Valentine’s!

A rare opportunity has arisen to join our prison radio project at HMP Brixton, the beating heart of National Prison Radio.

What a year for the PRA!

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National Prison Radio is important to those in prison at Christmas time; for some it’s a lifeline.

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A rare opportunity has arisen to join our prison radio project at HMP Styal, a women’s prison in Cheshire.

Life After Prison is our brand-new podcast for people who have been to prison. Hosts Zak and Jules both know first-hand all about life behind bars.

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We’re looking for someone to help us grow our fundraising income!

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We’re the charity that developed and runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people in prison.

We’re also on the cusp of launching a major Lottery-funded podcast channel, Life After Prison, and we’re leading the way in the global development of prison radio.

This year we picked up a Gold Award at the radio industry’s prestigious ARIAS. In recent years we’ve been crowned Independent Production Company of the Year (Audio Production Awards) and Charity of the Year (Third Sector Awards). We’ve also been nominated for a string of British Podcast Awards.

We’re looking for a Fundraising Manager to deliver on our trusts and grants fundraising priorities and secure income to support our work. This is a remote role with some occasional travel required.

You will work strategically with the senior management team to deliver the right funding for the right projects.

Reporting to the Director of Development, you will be responsible for investigating, researching and making approaches for new funding as well as maintaining and developing existing relationships to ensure future support.

Ours is an organisation unlike any other, and we’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates from under-represented backgrounds and from people who have lived experience of the criminal justice system. 

Candidates will need experience of delivering £300,000+ p.a. in grant funding and will have excellent relationship management skills, both in-person and online, and with a portfolio of existing partners.

We’re a driven, tight-knit team working in what can be a challenging, exhilarating world, and you will be motivated by the knowledge that your work has the potential to make a real difference.

How to apply: Please download the relevant job description. Then download our Job Application Pack and email copies of your completed Application Form, Diversity Monitoring Form and References Form to recruitment@prison.radio. Please make clear on your application which role you are applying for.

As part of our commitment to hiring a diverse workforce, all application forms will be anonymised before being passed to the relevant hiring manager.

Deadline for applications: Friday 26th August 2022.

In line with our company Data Retention Schedule, we keep application forms up to one year after notifying candidates of the outcome of the recruitment exercise after which time they will be securely destroyed. If your application is successful, data regarding your references will be kept on file for up to seven years after your employment ends in line with other HR documentation. If your application is unsuccessful, data regarding your references will be securely destroyed. Data from diversity monitoring forms is recorded anonymously for recruitment KPIs and monitoring workforce equality and forms are securely destroyed. If for any reason we need to keep your recruitment data on record for longer than specified, you will be notified. For more information, please see our Recruitment Privacy Notice here.

We’re looking for someone to help us demonstrate our impact in prisons across England and Wales!

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We’re the charity that developed and runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people in prison.

We’re also on the cusp of launching a major Lottery-funded podcast channel, Life After Prison, and we’re leading the way in the global development of prison radio.

This year we picked up a Gold Award at the radio industry’s prestigious ARIAS. In recent years we’ve been crowned Independent Production Company of the Year (Audio Production Awards) and Charity of the Year (Third Sector Awards). We’ve also been nominated for a string of British Podcast Awards.

We’re looking for a Research and Evaluation Manager to oversee the day-to-day evaluation of the charity’s impact. This is a maternity cover role, based in HMP Brixton in London.

You’ll be speaking to people in prison about the role National Prison Radio plays in daily prison life, and you’ll track the progress made by people who work in our studios in prison.

In the coming year, the role will also include the development of a new evaluation model for our groundbreaking podcast work. And you’ll be working with a team of external academics to understand the long-term impact of our work, as we aim to create a sector-leading framework for prison evaluation.

Ours is an organisation unlike any other, and we’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates from under-represented backgrounds and from people who have lived experience of the criminal justice system. 

Candidates will need to show their experience of managing an organisation’s evaluation processes, with experience of carrying out surveys and focus groups. You’ll need to be able to articulate the charity’s work and understand the needs of our listeners.

We’re a driven, tight-knit team working in what can be a challenging, exhilarating world, and you will be motivated by the knowledge that your work has the potential to make a real difference.

How to apply: Please download the relevant job description. Then download our Job ApplicationPack and email copies of your completed Application Form, Diversity Monitoring Form and References Form to recruitment@prison.radio. Please make clear on your application which role you are applying for.

As part of our commitment to hiring a diverse workforce, all application forms will be anonymised before being passed to the relevant hiring manager.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Sunday 7th August 2022.

In line with our company Data Retention Schedule, we keep application forms up to one year after notifying candidates of the outcome of the recruitment exercise after which time they will be securely destroyed. If your application is successful, data regarding your references will be kept on file for up to seven years after your employment ends in line with other HR documentation. If your application is unsuccessful, data regarding your references will be securely destroyed. Data from diversity monitoring forms is recorded anonymously for recruitment KPIs and monitoring workforce equality and forms are securely destroyed. If for any reason we need to keep your recruitment data on record for longer than specified, you will be notified. For more information, please see our Recruitment Privacy Notice here.

An extremely rare opportunity to become Head of National Prison Radio, the multi award-winning radio station for people in prison.

We’re the charity that developed and runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for people in prison.

This year we picked up a Gold Award at the radio industry’s prestigious ARIAS. In recent years we’ve been crowned Independent Production Company of the Year (Audio Production Awards) and Charity of the Year (Third Sector Awards). We’ve also been nominated for a string of British Podcast Awards.

We operate out of two prison bases, HMP Brixton and HMP Styal.

National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It aims to support people through their prison sentences, and prepare them for life after release.

According to our latest data, 74% of people in prison listen to National Prison Radio, and they listen for an average 10.6 hours per week.

We’re looking for a Head of National Prison Radio to lead us into the future. A key member of the team, this person will manage the direction and quality of programming on the radio station, and also oversee our team of producers across both production sites.

The charity is at a moment of renewal, with several transformative projects in development. National Prison Radio sits at the heart of these initiatives, and the person who fills this role will lead a team

We’re obsessed with high-quality production, and we aim to inspire our audience to take positive action as a result of listening to our programmes. We therefore focus on ensuring our content is as engaging and tightly-produced as possible. Candidates will need to demonstrate a solid background in management, with high-level format development and production skills.

Ours is an organisation unlike any other, and we’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates who have lived experience of the criminal justice system. 

We’re a driven, tight-knit team working in what can be a challenging, exhilarating world, and you will be motivated by the knowledge that your work has the potential to make a real difference.

How to apply: Please download the job description. Then download our Job ApplicationPack and email copies of your completed Application Form, Diversity Monitoring Form and References Form to recruitment@prison.radio. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be required to submit an example of your audio work ahead of the interview.

Application deadline: Sunday 26 June 2022

In line with our company Data Retention Schedule, we keep application forms up to one year after notifying candidates of the outcome of the recruitment exercise after which time they will be securely destroyed. If your application is successful, data regarding your references will be kept on file for up to seven years after your employment ends in line with other HR documentation. If your application is unsuccessful, data regarding your references will be securely destroyed. Data from diversity monitoring forms is recorded anonymously for recruitment KPIs and monitoring workforce equality and forms are securely destroyed. If for any reason we need to keep your recruitment data on record for longer than specified, you will be notified. For more information, please see our Recruitment Privacy Notice here.

A number of rare opportunities have arisen to join the multi-award winning Prison Radio Association charity!

We’re excited to announce that Snoochie Shy (@snoochieshy) will be appearing on BBC Celebrity Mastermind this weekend.

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Presenter DJ Flight talks to members of the so-called ‘Windrush Generation’ and their descendants about life in the UK.

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New Chapters is a weekly show on National Prison Radio, where writers present their books and talk about their work. This month we’re listening to Unspoken by author and rapper Guvna B.

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Run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and the Booker Prize Foundation, Books Unlocked broadcasts every evening on National Prison Radio.

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Jerelle first got involved with National Prison Radio when he was serving time in HMP Brixton.

He now presents the Street Heat show which airs every week on National Prison Radio.

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National Prison Radio’s health and fitness show The Warm Up brings guided workouts into the cells of people in prison.

It’s helping people to keep active during lockdown.

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This week we’ve launched a series of six podcasts about the power of kindness in prison

The series, made with the charity Khulisa, is simple – six people tell their stories of how acts of kindness changed their lives.

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Two opportunities have come up to join the Prison Radio Association’s award-winning production team.

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Two extremely rare opportunities have come up to join the Prison Radio Association’s award-winning team behind the walls of HMP Styal, just south of Manchester. That means YOU could be working for the most exciting and innovative broadcaster in the UK!

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What happens to people when they go to prison?

The Forensic Psychology Podcast is our brand new series, produced with HMPPS Psychology Services and presented by Sally Tilt and Dr Kerensa Hocken, who work with people in prison who have committed very serious crimes.

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In April 1990, Strangeways prison in Manchester was subject to a major disturbance that lasted weeks.

30 years later we’ve done a deep-dive, two-part documentary series about the events of those 25 Days In April, as part of our Secret Life of Prisons podcast.

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On Friday 28 August at 2:15pm, we are delighted to be taking over BBC Radio 4 with our brand new drama, The Other Tchaikovsky – the untold story of self-confessed outlaw, villain, activist, fraudster, lesbian club owner and visionary, Chris Tchaikovsky.

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33% of people in prison tune in to National Prison Radio every day, and they listen for an average of 10.6 hours per week.

These are the headline figures from our Impact Snapshot 2020, detailing the charity’s work.

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The Prison Radio Association his releasing a series of podcasts called Future Prison, bringing people who have been to prison face-to-face with senior figures from the Ministry of Justice to talk about their experience.

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National Prison Radio has reached out to people from across the radio and music industries and beyond to ask for words of support for people serving prison sentences during lockdown … and received an amazing response.

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On Windrush Day 2020, we are proud to release our latest podcast series, Windrush Stories.

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BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Marc Riley has volunteered his time and skills to create a pair of very special lockdown programmes for National Prison Radio.

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Check out National Prison Radio’s brand-new visualised drama Echoes, produced in collaboration with Crowded Room.

National Prison Radio has put prisoners’ questions to Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Robert Buckland QC in an exclusive interview.

National Prison Radio’s broadcast schedule for May is the strongest ever, as PRA staff work in difficult conditions to support our audience behind bars.

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On Thursday 23 April 2020 at 11.30am, BBC Radio 4 will broadcast a documentary produced by the Prison Radio Association entitled Unchained.

It marks the network radio presenting debut of poet and long-time National Prison Radio presenter Brenda Birungi, aka Lady Unchained.

She’s written a guest article for us about making the programme.

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The COVID-19 outbreak presents significant challenges in keeping a 24-hour radio station on-air, at a time when clear information and support for people in prisons is more important than ever.

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To start 2020, we’re hiring THREE new people to join our award-winning team! Could you be one of them?

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A message from the Chair of our Board of Trustees: Roma Hooper OBE.

The Prison Radio Association is seeking new Trustees to join our board. We are committed to building a diverse Board of Trustees.

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We’ve been working with Clinks, the charity that supports the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system, to create. brand new podcast series called Crime and Consequence.

It asks tough questions about how we deal with crime.

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National Prison Radio is working in partnership with the Shannon Trust as we approach Christmas, by asking listeners to send in 100 words on the theme of ‘success’.

The entries will be judged by an expert panel including Kate Tempest (pictured).

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Prisoners are deeply concerned about the lack of balanced and accurate representation in the media about the reality of prison life.

We’ve teamed up with the Prison Reform Trust to produce a podcast that aims to correct that.

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The Prison Radio Association is pleased to announce that its Chief Executive, Phil Maguire, has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for ‘Services to Radio Production and Prison Radio’.

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We’re looking for a Multimedia Producer to work with our digital production team, based at HMP Styal, a women’s prison near Manchester.

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An extremely rare opportunity has come up to join the Prison Radio Association’s award-winning production team behind the walls of HMP Brixton.

That means YOU could be working for the most exciting and innovative broadcaster in the UK!

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We’re the Prison Radio Association – the multi award-winning charity that developed and runs National Prison Radio, the world’s first national radio station for prisoners.

We’re on the lookout for new production talent to work with our team of prisoners in HMP Brixton, creating content that will inspire change and offer much-needed support at a very difficult time.

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Each month a member of the PRA team recommends their current must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

This month Jo Meek, the PRA’s Digital Director, brings us her selection.

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The brief history of the Prison Radio Association has been turned into a book by Dr Charlotte Bedford – and you can buy a copy just in time for Christmas.

Making Waves Behind Bars is out now, published by Bristol University Press.

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What should prisons look like? Can good prison design help the people held within them to avoid reoffending in the future?

Architecture of Incarceration is the latest BBC Radio 4 documentary from PRA Productions. The programme’s presenter, architect Danna Walker, asks precisely these questions.

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When  you spend time in prison, one thing is for certain – you will be entangled in often incomprehensible legal processes that can be incredibly stressful and seemingly interminable.

Thanks to funding from the Law Society Charity, National Prison Radio is bringing people in prison a regular legal slot that aims to demystify the law.

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Each month we bring you recommendations for must-listen radio programmes and podcasts.

Alex Bishop is the PRA’s Production Manager. His job is to ensure our productions run smoothly, and to create award-winning on-air campaigns alongside our partners in the criminal justice sector and beyond.

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86% of people in prison listen to National Prison Radio, and they listen for an average of 9.6 hours each week.

These are among the key findings from the Prison Radio Association’s 2018 Impact Snapshot.

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An extremely rare opportunity has come up to take charge of the most exciting and innovative radio station in the world! (At least, we like to think so…)

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Each month we bring you recommendations for must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

Chris Impey is the Managing Editor of National Prison Radio. He’s the person who makes sure the quality remains high, and the programmes hit the right notes, supporting people behind bars to move forward positively with their lives after prison.

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend time in prison? Our unique documentary allows you to experience 24 hours behind bars, through the power of audio.

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Steph was in a bank when a robber burst in, held her hostage and threatened her with a meat cleaver. Traumatised, she decided to meet her attacked face to face. Watch her story in our new BBC film. (more…)

Michael O’Brien was wrongly convicted of murder and served 11 years in prison before being released. We’ve made a film of his incredible story.

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An extremely rare opportunity has come up to join the Prison Radio Association’s award-winning production team behind the walls of HMP Brixton. That means YOU could be working for the current Independent Production Company of the Year!  (more…)

Joe and Dave, living at HMP Leicester, have been part of the team putting together a brand new show for National Prison Radio all about space.

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We’ve teamed up with Stop Loan Sharks to produce an innovative, five-part micro-drama called DOUBLE BUBBLE. It’s written by, and also stars, Carl Cattermole, who himself spent time behind bars.

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Each month we bring you recommendations for must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

Katie Bilboa, producer of our forthcoming drama podcast Double Bubble, is just about to leave the Prison Radio Association for an exciting new job helping Penguin Books develop their podcasts. Her final task is to give us her selection of listening treats.

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The PRA has published its first podcast series, and it promises to probe some intimate subjects.

Sex Talk is presented by Adele Roberts and Hilary Ineomo-Marcus, and it contains some remarkable stories and honest chat about sex.

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Ear Hustle, the podcasting phenomenon from San Quentin State Prison in California, is coming to the National Prison Radio airwaves.

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Each month we bring you recommendations for must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

James Batchelor was behind bars in HMP Brixton, where he presented on National Prison Radio. Having served his sentence, he’s now the radio tutor at HMP Swinfen Hall.

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to spend time in prison? Our unique documentary allows you to experience 24 hours behind bars, through the power of audio.

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Each month a member of the PRA team recommends their current must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

The US is currently the podcasting Mecca, but this month, Andrew Wilkie, the PRA’s Director of Radio, brings us some programmes from closer to home – and one from Down Under.

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James Batchelor has just been appointed the new tutor on the radio production course at HMP Swinfen Hall. It’s a complete role reversal for someone who not so long ago was himself behind bars and learning about radio.

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Since Gareth was released from prison last year, he’s flourished. But, he says, without National Prison Radio – and one programme in particular – it would have been very different. “I’ve no doubt The Rock Show saved my life,” he says.

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Man Booker-shortlisted author Jim Crace has been telling National Prison Radio about how his book Harvest is about how we can grow to resent people who are different.

It’s being featured on January’s edition of Books Unlocked – a unique partnership which brings great literature into prison.

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Each month a member of the PRA team recommends their current must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

This month, Perri Hurley, one of the PRA’s incredible production team, takes us Stateside for three examples of storytelling at its finest.

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The Prison Radio Association has produced a hard-hitting new film in partnership with the Stop Loan Sharks initiative.

It’s a true story about Matthew*, who borrowed from a loan shark when he got out of prison, a situation which quickly spiralled out of control. (more…)

An extremely rare opportunity has come up to become our new Director of Development, right at the heart of the Prison Radio Association’s Senior Management Team. Exciting? Just a bit!

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Each month a member of the PRA team recommends their current must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

This month, Phil Maguire, the PRA’s Chief Executive, brings us the finest storytelling on Earth – from inside prison and out.

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National Prison Radio has broadcast the annual Longford Lecture LIVE into prison cells across the UK for the first time. Hosted by Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow, the speaker was the film maker and activist Ken Loach.

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National Prison Radio’s prisoner-presenters are putting some tough questions to the Chief Executive of the Parole Board, as part of a special campaign to inform prisoners about the parole process.

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The PRA has won two Golds at the 2017 Audio Production Awards, including being named Indie of the Year.

We were also incredibly proud to win Gold in the Grassroots Production category for National Prison Radio. (more…)

Expert Citizens are the heart and soul of National Prison Radio. You can hear from some of our most talented Expert Citizens at Inside Prison Radio 2018, our annual Development Day, at the Southbank Centre in London on Thursday 18 January 2018.

EARLY BIRD tickets at a reduced rate are on sale now!

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Man Booker Prize shortlisted author David Mitchell has broadcast on National Prison Radio this week as part of our Books Unlocked programme, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. The project is funded by the Booker Prize Foundation.

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In a brand new series, each month a member of the PRA team will be recommending their current must-listen podcasts and radio programmes.

This month, Muna Ahmed, the PRA’s Station Sound Producer and BBC Radio 4 documentary maker, takes us through what’s on her headphones at the moment.

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We’re looking for an exceptional Employment and Training Manager to be based in our brand new production facility outside the gates of HMP Styal, near Manchester.

It’s a crucial new part-time role as we develop the support we offer to prisoners to include routes into education, training and employment after release. (more…)

The PRA, in partnership with design agency Supple Studio, has pulled off an astonishing win in the D&AD Impact Awards, which celebrates creative ideas that have world-changing potential, for its embryonic Straightline project.

The Awards are part of New York Advertising Week and exist to celebrate ideas that can bring real change.

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Check out this interview with Prison Radio Association founder and Chair, Roma Hooper OBE, on radio 2GB in Sydney.

Here, she tells the story of the PRA and how fellow Trustee Mark Robinson got her involved in prison radio.

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Andrew Wilkie, the PRA’s Director of Radio and Operations, has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Radio Independents Group (RIG – the body that represents the interests and needs of the UK’s independent radio production industry).

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Prince Nico Mbarga wrote one of the biggest-selling singles in world music history, but you’ve probably never heard of him.

PRA Productions’ latest documentary for the BBC World Service tells the beautiful, tragic story of Sweet Mother, with DJ Edu.

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We are proud to announce that we have won two silver awards for our BBC Radio 4 productions at the 2017 New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards.

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How would you like to work for the reigning Charity of the Year?

We’re looking for someone to fill an exciting new position in the heart of our Senior Management Team, based in our brand new premises at HMP Styal, near Manchester.

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National Prison Radio is teaming up with the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to help people in prison understand their rights if they feel they are the victim of a miscarriage of justice.

Our unique new series of programmes, On The Case, tells stories from people who have successfully appealed and aims to ensure everyone in prison knows what the CCRC does.

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National Prison Radio broadcasts to over 81,000 people in prison across England, Wales and Scotland, and 72% listen regularly. The average listener tunes in for 11.4 hours every week.

These are the main findings from the Prison Radio Association’s annual Impact Snapshot.

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Our brand new weekly Straightline Request Show is broadcast on National Prison Radio and also online at mixcloud.com/straightline.

It features requests across the prison walls, between prisoners and their loved-ones. We do it because keeping family bonds healthy helps reduce crime.

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Having a solid network of family and friends to return to after release from prison is the single most important factor in reducing a person’s likelihood of returning to jail.

National Prison Radio has partnered with the Shannon Trust to bring a unique programme to the airwaves which supports family bonds.

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Our developing multimedia platform, Straightline, has walked off with one of the most coveted awards in the design world – a D&AD Pencil, at the 2017 D&AD Professional Awards.

The team behind the design is Supple Studios.

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We are looking for an exceptional Research Assistant to help move the PRA to the next level.

Read on to find out how you might be able to join the Charity of the Year.

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Are you a fantastic charity fundraiser? Do you want a flexible, part-time job that allows you to work from home, working for the Charity of the Year?

Click here to find out more.

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National Prison Radio’s first ever radio drama, Bound, will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 5 January 2017.

Bound features performances from serving prisoners and professional actors, including John Henshaw (Early Doors), Sally Carman (Shameless) and Matthew McNulty (The Musketeers).

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Meet the group of university dropouts who are using social media to influence young people on an industrial scale.

The PRA’s Chris Impey has produced a fascinating documentary for BBC Radio 4 about the new frontier in marketing – social media, and you can download it as the latest episode of the Seriously podcast.

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Roma Hooper, the pioneer of prison radio in the UK and across the world, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year 2017 Honours List.

Roma is the Chair of the Prison Radio Association’s Board of Trustees, and co-founded Europe’s very first prison radio station at HMYOI Feltham.

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The Prison Radio Association has teamed up with Letters Live to put on an emotional live show in the chapel inside HM Prison Brixton.

A short film of the event gives a taste of this exclusive performance.

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The Prison Radio Association is teaming up with Letters Live for a unique fundraising event inside HMP Brixton.

Only around 100 tickets are available to this exclusive show and can be booked here.

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We Shall Fly is the latest PRA Production to appear on the BBC, looking at the surprising history of African space exploration.

Presented by space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the two-part series on the BBC World Service asks why African nations are so keen to journey into the future as a space-going continent. (more…)

The Prison Radio Association’s annual Development Day is coming soon, and EARLY BIRD tickets at a reduced rate are on sale now!

Inside Prison Radio 2016 takes place at the Southbank Centre in London on Wednesday 16 November, 2016.

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We’re looking for someone brilliant to help us get prisoners into training and employment after they’ve worked with us on National Prison Radio.

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The Prison Radio Association has won the biggest prize in the charitable sector, after it was named Charity of the Year at the 2016 Third Sector Awards.

The judges said we were “hands down winners”.

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A landmark documentary produced by PRA Productions for BBC Radio 4 has been awarded a Gold Award at the prestigious New York Festival.

The Abuse Trial told a very personal story from inside Greater Manchester Police’s biggest ever historical sex abuse investigation.

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Do you want to make radio that changes lives?

We’re looking for exceptional freelance producers to work with us producing radio that has a real social impact.

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National Prison Radio will make a rare extended appearance on BBC Radio 4 on Saturday 19 March 2016.

The special edition of Archive on 4 focuses on National Prison Radio’s monthly programme, Outside In, which is recorded in the BBC’s New Broadcasting House by former prisoners. The programme is produced in a unique partnership between the Prison Radio Association and BBC Outreach.

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The Prison Radio Association has partnered with the National Careers Service to launch a six-month on-air campaign dedicated to helping prisoners find employment after release.

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76% of prisoners are National Prison Radio listeners. They listen for an average 10.4 hours per week.

These are the headline findings from the Prison Radio Association’s annual Impact Snapshot, which has just been published.

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We’re at the cusp of something really exciting. Do you want to be at the heart of it?

Part-time Fundraising Coordinator (2 days per week), £30,000 p.a. pro rata

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Lynn Hill writes poetry. She was a drone operative in the Iraq and Afghan wars after 9/11, from a base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

PRA Productions was commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to produce a documentary about her poetry and her experiences, and it’s available to listen to here.

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The PRA’s eighth annual development day takes place on Tuesday 24th November. Tickets, which include lunch, are available now at £75 (inc VAT).

And if you are a former prisoner, or you have former prisoners in your team who would like to come, we still have a limited number of FREE tickets to give away. Contact us for more info.

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Are you a skilled, creative, experienced audio producer? Do you want to make radio that changes lives?

We are looking of someone to produce content for a range of partner organisations, and to look after crucial relationships.

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The Prison Radio Association is looking for a super-organised, bright, enthusiastic, intelligent Broadcast Assistant to work with prisoners in creating ground-breaking programmes for National Prison Radio.

This is a paid internship lasting six months.

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The vast majority of prisoners listen to National Prison Radio – 84% tune in by the latest count, with more than a third tuning in every single day.

National Prison Radio provides vital information and discussion in a uniquely-accessible format, helping prisoners understand the impact of crime on themselves, their families, victims, and society as a whole. It provides a platform for those prisoners who can act as a positive influence on their peers, encouraging engagement with interventions that can help to reduce reoffending.

You can read our latest Impact Snapshot here, which details National Prison Radio’s impact, including listening figures and examples of the impact the service is having on the lives of prisoners 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

National Prison Radio puts inspirational voices into prison cells across England and Wales – including some big-name authors.

Alan Bennett, Russell Brand, Attica Locke, John Hegley, Miranda Dickinson, Roddy Doyle are some of the writers who have featured on National Prison Radio in recent months, and we’ve made them available for you to hear.

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Our friends at Adj Hangot, a ground-breaking prison radio station in Hungary have been nominated for the prestigious Sozial Marie Prize for Social Innovation.

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PRA Productions, the Prison Radio Association’s audio production arm, has been nominated for the prestigious Indie of the Year award at the Radio Academy’s annual Radio Production Awards – for the SECOND year running.

The awards are contested every year amongst the best radio producers in the country, and competition is always extremely fierce.

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The Prison Radio Association is looking for a super-organised, bright, enthusiastic, intelligent Broadcast Assistant to work with prisoners in creating ground-breaking programmes for National Prison Radio.

This is a paid internship lasting six months.

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PRA Productions, the audio production arm of the Prison Radio Association, has won the Enterprise category at the 2014 Third Sector Awards.

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Want to work for a cutting-edge, multi award-winning radio charity – the Prison Radio Association?

We’re looking for a bright, intelligent individual who is eager to learn about how media is changing lives as part of the charitable and voluntary sector.

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The Prison Radio Association is looking for a part-time, home-based Finance Director to help us build for the future.

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PRA Productions, the audio production arm of the Prison Radio Association, is delighted to have been shortlisted in the Enterprise category of the 2014 Third Sector Awards.

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Support the work of the Prison Radio Association by listening to BBC Radio 4.

The BBC Radio 4 Appeal is a weekly radio programme which features the work of UK charities. And on Sunday 27 April 2014 the programme will feature the work of the Prison Radio Association.

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