September 9, 2025
Behind Holloway’s Silence Lies a Thousand Untold Lives
What do women’s stories of incarceration reveal about our justice system — and what must change to ensure they are truly heard, supported, and empowered to rebuild their lives?
Bounce Back Project and DIVERT London proudly hosted the premiere of Holloway at The Garden Cinema — a deeply moving documentary that gives voice to the lived experiences of women once imprisoned in one of the UK’s most iconic institutions.
Through raw storytelling and powerful memories, Holloway uncovers more than just the history of a prison. It brings to light the humanity, trauma, resilience, and hope of women too often overlooked by a system that was never designed with them in mind.
The event brought together people with lived experience, criminal justice professionals, policy advocates, and members of the wider community — all united in the belief that we must do better. Better at listening. Better at understanding. Better at offering meaningful alternatives to custody. Better at recognising that rehabilitation starts with empathy and opportunity, not punishment.
Thank you to those who made the evening unforgettable:
To Chair Kate Ruby, thank you for leading the post-screening conversation with empathy and insight. And to our powerful panellists:
Sarah Cassidy
Helen Bentley
Karen Baker
Tracy Ryan
Caroline Dart
Your voices reminded us that Holloway’s legacy is not just one of bricks and bars, but of transformation, solidarity, and the urgent need for change.
*”A real privilege to be a part of this event representing London’s Violence Reduction Unit — thank you Bounce Back Project, DIVERT London and Kate Ruby.
We saw so powerfully in the film how criminalisation can be a response to trauma and coercion.
I spoke to the importance of early intervention in our communities, the power of trusted adult relationships, safe spaces, and a system that better understands the link between domestic abuse, exploitation, and offending.”*
– Caroline Dart, Senior Manager, Violence Reduction Unit
We extend our deepest thanks to Polly Creed, the visionary producer behind Holloway, for involving us in such an important and timely project.
“There are few UK prisons for girls and women, and little provision to support them or meet their needs.
It’s easy to judge those who end up in prison — but we often do so without knowing the trauma and circumstances that brought them there.”
– Millicent Grant KC (Hon), former High Sheriff of Greater London
Millicent captured the spirit of the evening perfectly. The stories shared in Holloway weren’t just about the past — they were a call to action for a more trauma-informed, rehabilitative, and preventative justice system.
We were especially moved to welcome Jon Watts, who served a prison sentence at 18 and went on to become a bestselling author and TV chef. Jon’s journey — from incarceration to cooking for Jamie Oliver and publishing a Sunday Times Bestseller — is a testament to what’s possible when people are given the tools to thrive.
For one participant, an aspiring chef herself, meeting Jon was a powerful moment of connection, showing what’s achievable with the right support and inspiration.
“Holloway is powerful and eye-opening. Hearing these women revisit their stories in such raw detail brings a depth and humanity to prison life that you rarely get to see.”
– Jon Watts
“It was incredibly moving and allowed the women’s stories to unfold at their own pace. The sisterhood shone through as they shared their memories — each one unique, each one reminding us that no one ends up in prison without a story.”
– Kat Jones, Employment & Support Coach
What Happens Next?
We continue to advocate for a justice system that:
- Listens to lived experience
- Prioritises rehabilitation over punishment
- Invests in women-specific services and support
- Creates real opportunities for change
Holloway’s walls may have been torn down — but the stories that lived within them still teach us how to build something better.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this powerful and important moment. Let’s keep the conversation going.
