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National Prison Radio’s new show Health Unlocked encourages people in prison across England and Wales to look after their wellbeing, stay active, and take small steps for themselves – even on the days that feel the hardest. Presented by National Prison Radio’s Faye, Health Unlocked is our health and fitness show made with support from the Peter Harrison Foundation.
Maintaining health and fitness in prison can be a significant challenge. While the minimum requirement for physical activity in prison is one hour per week for those over 21 and an average of two hours per week for those under 21, many prisoners spend up to 22 hours a day confined to their cells. This lack of movement takes a serious toll on both physical and mental wellbeing, leaving opportunities for exercise and proper support severely limited.
Prison diets are often regarded as lacking whole foods and portions sizes and their calorific
and nutritional content remain a contentious subject amongst those serving custodial sentences. There is a crucial link between good nutrition and physical and mental health which has long been recognised in international public health advice.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated in 2015 that: “Food is a central component of life in correctional institutions and plays a critical role in the physical and mental health of incarcerated people and the construction of prisoners’ identities and relationships.”
Health Unlocked is a health and fitness feature on National Prison Radio aimed at encouraging people living in prison to lead healthier lives, through exercise and well being initiatives.
The programme was inspired by Faye, who, during her time at HMP Styal, recognised the need for better opportunities to stay active and healthy. Having experienced firsthand the positive impact that leading a healthier lifestyle had on her own sentence, she became determined to help others access the same benefits.
Faye now produces the Health Unlocked features each week, looking at different ways people living in prison can get involved in exercise, providing nutrition tips, along with general well being advice, as well as sharing success stories and features from prisons and events around the country.
Health Unlocked aims to close the gap in health and wellbeing support within prisons by reaching people through the airwaves of National Prison Radio.
Faye visits HMP New Hall to facilitate a fitness training session for the women inside.
This training session will broadcast on National Prison Radio.
On a recent episode of Health Unlocked Faye covered the story of Frank Stedman who walked 200 miles from our HMP Styal HQ in Cheshire, to our HMP Brixton HQ in South London to raise funds for our charity and awareness of how National Prison Radio supports prisoners across England and Wales.
You can hear Frank on Health Unlocked and his reasonings for taking part in this fundraiser below:
And you can see how Frank got on here.
Health Unlocked features in a variety of National Prison Radio’s shows throughout the week, sharing tips and tricks to keep everyone healthy in prison.
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