On 16 October 2025, Catch22 welcomed HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of Catch22, to HMP Wandsworth to mark the first anniversary of the Prison Violence Reduction Service.
The visit marked a significant milestone for the service, which has now been operating for one year across HMP Wandsworth, HMP Pentonville, and HMP Feltham. Commissioned by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), the service aims to reduce violence, support rehabilitation, and reduce reoffending through a holistic, trauma-informed approach.
During the visit, Her Royal Highness heard directly from frontline staff, including Catch22 practitioners, prison officers, and delivery partners Intuitive Thinking Skills, InHouse Records UK and EY Studio+, about the challenges and successes of the work.
She was introduced to the four specialist workstreams that underpin the service: Exploitation, Gangs and Debt; Mediation and Conflict Resolution; Purposeful Activity; and Peer Mentoring. These workstreams use creative activities, one-to-one support, and emotional resilience-building to foster safer environments within custody.
Her Royal Highness also met with individuals in custody who have engaged with the programme. They expressed how pleased they were to be involved in the day and have a chance to share how the programme had impacted their lives. One participant shared how the programme had allowed him to make relationships within the prison and help with not just his own mental health, but that of others too. One said he couldn’t wait to tell his mum, who he knew would be so proud of him. Another shared a poem written by one of his peers, reflecting on their journey with Catch22, and later presented it as a gift to HRH, demonstrating the powerful impact of the service and providing a lifeline to those in custody.
Catch22’s Director of Justice, Matt Randle, spoke about the first year of delivery and the importance of the visit:
“It was a real honour to welcome our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, to HMP Wandsworth to showcase the hard work that our teams and partners have been doing to reduce violence and support rehabilitation. In just one year, we’ve seen how a trauma-informed, partnership-led approach can make a meaningful difference to the lives of those in custody. This visit is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved with this mission.”
HRH wrapped up the day by sharing how important she felt services like this were and how moved she had been from speaking with the individuals within custody and highlighted the importance of being reminded of who they truly were – something the service gave them back.
Photography by Fergus Burnett
‘fergusburnett.com’