Sing a song of hope

Locked up

It’s common for someone to often feel guilty, lonely and scared in prison. Not only do these feelings make their prison sentence even more of a challenge. They can last longer than the actual jail term, further complicating their eventual return to society.

Liberation?

And what happens after people are released from incarceration, a time that (in part) is supposed to prepare them for an offence-free future?

Looking at reoffending rates for July to September in England & Wales for the last five years, there’s an obvious trend: 26% in 2019, 24.4% in 2020 (pandemic blip), 25.2% in 2021, 26.5% in 2022 and 28% in 2023. Figures for 2024 and 2025 are not yet available but the verdict is clear.

If rehabilitation is a prime purpose of imprisonment, the system (certainly in the UK but doubtless across much of the rest of the world) is not just broken but smashed to smithereens.

Liberty

Set up in 2014, the Liberty Choir helps people both inside and later outside of prison:

The overall aim of Liberty Choirs is to provide for excluded and isolated people (for example, those in secure psychiatric settings or people who are serving custodial sentences) a ‘through the gate’ programme of high-quality singing and social development.

It is designed to help develop skills and self-confidence, open up the world of arts through singing and provide access to new social networks as the participants re-enter the wider community.

More than ten years after starting out, choirs are now visiting eleven UK prisons on a regular basis. This inspirational initiative provides detained people with a sense of purpose, access to a supportive social network whilst incarcerated, and - if they choose to join a community choir upon release) a long-term support option. 

It remains to be seen whether or not this tuneful initiative will help to influence reoffending statistics for the better. But a quick glance at the testimonials shows that it has been a lifeline to many people, and that it is about so much more than just singing:

I haven’t felt loved and part of something so special for a very long time now. I have been singing in my head to get to sleep sometimes which really does work. 

Your choir has brought me joy and a peace of humanity in a place that lacks it and urgently needs it. I felt the room was full of kindness and love and as Robert Browning said, “Take away love and our earth is a tomb.”

“Singing has given me confidence. I am on a high after choir. I feel better able to cope with other guys etc. It is helping me to meet a new circle of people and make friends.’ ‘I really enjoyed the songs, really liked Broadway Blast. I’d never sung before and now I sing with confidence.”

The choir coninues to expand its work in the hope of benefiting as many detained people as possible. Do visit its website. If you’re based in the UK, why not consider joining this life-affirming venture? And if you’re based elsewhere in the world, maybe there’s a similar initiative local to you. If not, why not be inspired to start one up?

First published in 2021, the original version of this article was written by one of our fellows. In October 2025, prison GP Dr Rachael Pickering gave it a refresh - updating statistics & other time-sensitive information, and inserting additional commentary and opinion.

Is anyone happy? Let them sing…
James 5:13