TRANSFORMATIVE  GROUP  SESSIONS

“I like coming down here because I can talk to people and get help being more open.”

  • A diverse group of eight people seated around a round table, engaged in discussion and reviewing documents, with a small potted plant in the center.

    TRANSFORMATIVE GROUP SESSIONS

    Through the SYCAMORE TREE PROJECT, we teach on the principles of Restorative Justice and through group work we build positive and sustainable support.

    Whilst serving a prison sentence I agreed to attend an Alpha meeting, run by Release, only because I was asked to by a fellow inmate who had become a good friend and support to me. I wouldn’t even say I attended that first meeting with an open mind, but something happened to me in there – something I cannot explain. I spent the next two or three meetings trying to find arguments against everything that was been said, every piece of scripture that was read – unbeknown to myself, I was proving myself wrong to myself. I then dropped the barriers and literally and physically welcomed Christ into my life. I had without realising it at first encountered Jesus Christ, through these wonderful people from Release. If I can quote Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun”. I felt filled with the Holy Spirit.

    All who partake in the course are impacted by the transforming course contents.

    Like to be a Facilitator

In prison, despite being surrounded by hundreds of other people, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, life is very lonely. Finding Christ and inviting and welcoming Him into my life, meant I was no longer alone, I no longer felt alone. Everywhere I would go, I would invite Christ to come with me. Prayer suddenly had a purpose for me – it was my personal time with Christ. The volunteers from Release had a genuineness about them, a genuine care, love and concern for us – loneliness became a distant memory. I am now free from Prison and I myself have become a volunteer with Release. And thanks to Release I am truly free.

One thing I truly believe in is that if one is waiting to be freed from prison to become free, then one will never be free.

However if one can be free in their heart and soul whilst in prison, then one will always be free.