The Anne Frank Prison Project

Anne Frank Exhibition at HMP Wormwood Scrubs

2011-12-22T12:10:00.002Z

The final prison event for 2011 was held at Wormwood Scrubs in West London from 29th November to 2nd December.

A fantastic return to a local prison. A great week there with a fantastic group of Prison Exhibition Guides. The exhibition was sited in the beautiful chapel of the St Francis inside the prison, which was built by prisoners in the late 19th century.
Eva Schloss, Posthumous Step Sister of Anne Frank and Survivor of Auschwitz, was our Guest Speaker and again gave a very moving account of her life during and after the Holocaust. There was a wonderful performance of poetry by the creative writers group.
A wonderful end to an excellent year for the Prison Project. Many thanks to Governors Carter Allen and Redhouse for all their support. Below is one of poems produced in the Creative Writing Workshop, and performed at the closing ceremony.

Train Tracks; a found poem from the Thesaurus

To blacken:
to befoul,
to defile,
to besmirch,
to revile

to detract,
to begrime,
to dishonour,
to malign

to soil,
to decry,
to slander,
to nigrify

to tarnish,
to defame,
to sully,
to stain

to smear,
to denigrate,
to cloud,
to taint

To darken......

Poem Courtesy of Brian & Leah

Fundraising Lunch at the Clink Restaurant in HMP Highdown

2011-12-15T15:53:00.001Z

Image: Courtesy of the Clink Restaurant

The first ever fundraising lunch for the AF Prison Project was hosted by Clinks restaurant in HMP High Down on the 19th October 2011.

The restaurant was filled to capacity with guests and sponsors and it was a great opportunity for supporters and Government Policy bodies to lean more about our work in prisons. The food was delicious and the staff and management of Clinks (all serving prisoners and ex-offenders) did a fantastic job in taking care of everyone that day. A special thanks to Chris Moore and Manager Dean for all their help in making it such a special day.

It was also such a joy to be able to invite the prison exhibition guides to join us for lunch, seated in each of the guest’s tables, they were able to talk to everyone about the exhibition at HMP High Down, and have the rare privilege of eating in the beautiful restaurant.
All in all, it was a great success and we would like to especially thanks Mr Kevin McGrath (Co-owner of Clink) who so generously sponsored the whole event and to Governor Peter Dawson for his continued unstinting support for the Anne Frank Trust UK.

Clink Restaurant: http://www.theclinkcharity.com/

Anne Frank Exhibition at HMP Highdown

2011-12-15T15:19:00.000Z

The Anne Frank exhibition was at HMP Highdown from the10-19th October. A very interesting and worthwhile event over 9 days. The exhibition was very well attended and the Guides remarked that it would have been good to have had the exhibition longer!

During this time there were a number of workshops. Eva Clarke was the guest speaker, and told her own story actually being born in Mauthausen Concentration camp. Both her and her mother miraculously survived these horrors, and rebuilt their lives in the UK. A remarkable story and very much appreciated by all prisoners and staff who attended.

Leah Thorn also did some outstanding work with her creative writing group and produced an anthology of work entitled ‘To Stem a Tide’ some of which was performed at the Clinks fundraising lunch on the last day of the event.

Anne Frank Exhibition at HMP Lowdham Grange

2011-12-12T17:49:00.000Z

The exhibition was at Lowgham Grange from the 5th – 16th September. We had a fantastic two weeks. Equality Manager Rachel Dutton did a fantastic job in organising the event. The prisoner exhibition guides were a terrific bunch of guys who put so much effort into the project. Steve Gadd, the Prison Project Manager was very proud to work alongside them and be able to get to know them. The guides did wonderful presentations to all visitors, prisoners and staff.
Simon Winston was the Guest Speaker and stirred a lot of interest from his audience. Leah Thorne’s work with the creative writing group produced some outstanding work, and Leah rightly commented that “this was one of the best group ever”.

All thanks to Governor Gareth Sends for his full support and encouragement throughout!

Anne Frank Exhibition at HMP Werrington 20th June - 1st July

2011-11-14T17:31:00.001Z

The Anne Frank Prison Project returned to Werrington for the 3rd year in succession!

Great help from all departments at Werrington and great enthusiasm. For the first time the exhibition was accompanied by the ‘Anne Frank & Family Photo exhibition which was exhibited in the Visitor’s centre. Leah Thorne remarked what a great Creative Writing session she had done in Werrington- which is great praise!

Mr Steve Mendelssohn was the Guest Speaker and had very much enjoyed his visit. Mrs Sylvia Lancaster, who is the mother of murdered teenager Sophie Lancaster, came along to talk about the impact her daughter’s death had on her and her family. Both these talks were extremely powerful and well received by the staff and young people at the prison. The event was rounded off with performances from ‘Music in Prisons’. Extremely memorable!

The late Sophie Lancaster

Anne Frank Prison Project exhibition at HMP Blundeston

2011-08-19T12:53:00.000+01:00

Inside Held In
Artwork by Dannielle Hodson, courtesy of the Koestler Trust
Received the Commended Award

Thank you to all Staff and prisoners at HMP Blundeston for presenting such a memorable event.
Guest Speaker, Eva Clarke (Holocaust Survivor) was really touched by the reception she received from the audience, who listened intently to her family’s experiences during the Holocaust.
A wonderful closing ceremony, most notably from performances of the brilliant poetry produced by prisoners who attended Leah Thorne’s Creative Writing Workshops.

‘Release’

2011-08-19T12:43:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Leah Thorn on the publication of her book ‘Release’. This is a poetry and prose collection highlighting issues of ‘Self harm’ in Women’s Prisons. Around 80 copies of the book are being sent to each of the female prisons in the UK.

Congratulations from all at the Anne Frank Trust!

Full House

2011-08-19T12:30:00.001+01:00

Artwork by Keith Fraser, courtesy of the Koestler Trust
Awarded The Co-operative Highly Commended award (Scotland) and the Gavin Graham Gold Award (UK)

The Anne Frank Exhibition back at HMP Werrington!

2011-08-19T12:20:00.000+01:00

The Anne Frank prison project exhibition returned to Werrington for the 3rd year in succession!

For the first time the exhibition was accompanied by the Anne Frank and Family photo exhibition which was exhibited in the Visitor’s centre. Steve Mendelsson a Holocaust Survivor was kind enough to speak again this
year at our event.
Mrs Sylvia Lancaster, the mother of murdered teenager, Sophie Lancaster came along to talk about the impact her daughter’s death had on her and her family. Both these guests' talks were extremely powerful and well received by staff and young people.
The event was rounded off with performances from ‘Music in Prisons’ which was very good.

After a Visit

2011-04-18T17:55:00.000+01:00

Art by Michael Clulow: Tilleard Haines Commended Award
Courtesy of the Koestler Trust

The Anne Frank exhibition at HMP Wellingborough (7th -18th March)

2011-04-18T17:40:00.000+01:00

This was a superb event. A long time in planning, and really paid off for all concerned.

Again, all thanks to our prisoner guides, who worked so hard and were so committed to the project. The exhibition itself was situated for 2 weeks in the Chapel and adjoining areas, and was visited by fellow inmates, staff and their families, and also a local school and a college.

A debate on ‘Freedoms and responsibilities’, was extremely well received, and much thought provoking debate and opinion was heard by prisoners, staff and visitors. This was a great opportunity for people to share their thoughts on a number of topical/controversial issues.

Our guest speaker Mr Freddie Knoller (Holocaust survivor), fascinated the audience with his story of endurance and survival during the Nazi era. No one would have guessed by his energetic performance that day, that he is going to be 90 years young (his words) in April this year. Freddie is an inspiration to us all, and we are extremely grateful to him.

Leah Thorn (spoken word poet) led a very talented group of prisoners in her creative writing workshops which produced some extraordinarily powerful poetry, which was performed at the closing event. This was made especially poignant as families and friends of the prisoners were also invited to join them for this special occasion.

We greatly appreciate the special commendation from the IMB at HMP Wellingborough in recognition of the work we did jointly during this time and the impact that it had. We would like to especially thank Mr Tony Yeomans (Head of Diversity) and Governor Peter Siddons for their whole hearted and unstinting support for this project, and we look forward to working together in the future.

The Puffin Flight

2011-04-11T11:53:00.002+01:00

Awarded the Keith Bromley Platium Award for Nature Photography
Courtesy of the Koestler Trust

Great Return Visit to HMP Whitemoor

2011-04-11T11:43:00.000+01:00

The Prison Project started off 2011 with a return visit to HMP Whitemoor. This was a wonderfully well received event which was appreciated by both Prisoners, staff and even included a visit from a local college.

In the first week, the exhibition was situated inside the prison, and in the second week, just outside the walls in the Officers Mess where families of staff were able to attend. Many thanks to all, especially (then Governor) Nick Leader, and Gina Butler and all staff for all their help and support.

The Guest speaker Mrs Eva Clarke (Holocaust survivor) spoke to the prisoners and staff in a morning session, and to the school group in the afternoon. She was reported to have been very pleased with the reception she received from both groups. It was extremely well appreciated.

The Prisoner guides were a great credit to HMP Whitemoor, and did such a good job in presenting the exhibition. Many thanks guys! Great return Visit!

Poetry on the Holocaust

2010-11-30T11:45:00.001Z

The Holocaust is colourless, dull and miserable

No colour to it.

If the Holocaust had a feel to it,

It would be numb,

No feeling to it.

If the Holocaust had a sound to it,

It would be a sickening silence,

No sound to it.

If the Holocaust had a vision to it,

It would be blank,

Nothing to be seen

Poem by a prisoner at HMP/YOI New Hall

Oakhill Secure Training Centre hosts the Anne Frank Exhibition.

2010-11-02T17:50:00.006Z

Young people at Oakhill Secure Training Centre, taking their peers and Staff around the Anne Frank Exhibition.

Rachael Wood & Nick Daines (Oakhill PVE Team) coordinated the event at Oakhill STC. The aim of this project was to encourage the young people to turn their backs on prejudice and hatred and embrace positive attitude and diversity within society.

Guests invited to experience the event included, members from the community and local partnerships, including the local school. On the last day the establishment was also honored to have Iain Stewart MP (Milton Keynes) experience the closing ceremony for the event, to which he commented: “Thank you for showing me this important lesson from history so well, we must never forget what happened”.

Rachael Wood commented, “This exhibition will be remembered and spoken about with fondness at Oakhill for many years to come, may we never forget how this historic event has and will continue to shape our future”!

Young people had the opportunity to; work towards an OCN accredited course in Diversity, experience creative writing workshops with spoken word poet Leah Thorn, and were guided through the life and time of Anne Frank by their own peers. Below is one of the poems from a young trainee who attended Leah Thorn’s workshop:

My life is hard,

I’m in Secure,
I know there’s hope
because I’ve been before
How many months? Maybe nine.
That’s too long till I see the sun shine.
I can’t wait until I see my family,
I wait and I wait,
I think they’re not coming,
I’m not thinking straight.

You think my life is easy. It’s not.
You don’t have to trust me
but just believe me.
See, I’m only fourteen,
what happens when I’m eighteen?
Will I be in YOI?
I don’t know…..

Poem written by Reece (Oakhill STC)

One Off

2010-08-16T12:30:00.001+01:00

Art work by Noel Parker HMP Maghaberry, courtesy of the Koestler Trust. The piece received a G4S Highly Commended Award.

' Hold On'

2010-08-16T11:47:00.001+01:00

'Hold On' is one of an Anthology of poems produced at HMP Gartree, led by Leah Thorn, at the Anne Frank Trust Creative Writing Workshop. The event in July was a great success. We are extremely grateful to Mrs Eva Clarke ( Holocaust Survivor) for being our Guest Speaker during this event. Eva's talk was much appreciated by both prisoners and Staff. Special thanks to the team at HMP Gartree for their unstinting support.

► Hold On

Hold on to your love
Even if you’re on your own

Hold on to your dreams
Even if your afraid to sleep

Hold on to your youth
Even if you’re getting old

Hold on to what is real
Even if at times you have to pretend

Hold on to your tongue
If you’ve got nothing good to say

Hold on to hope
And draw it close

Let it warm your bosom
Don’t get morose

Hold on to the fact that
I will be here for you

Hold on to the thought that you’re my soul mate
And one day we will walk this earth!!

Hold on to your memories
They can’t be taken away from you

Hold on to your sanity
Even if its by a thread

Embrace this message
These are wise words that we’ve said!

► Group Work( Lloydy AJ, Malc,, John, Steve, TY) HMP Gartree, July 2010

Annexe In The City

2010-06-28T17:11:00.000+01:00

In this picture, from left to right: Kacey (Exhibitions Manager), Maureen McNeil (Director of Education), Alan ( Accountant), Hilary ( Programmes Manager) and Yvonne Simons ( Executive Director).

We are extremely proud to announce that the Anne Frank Model House produced by Prisoners at HMP Wakefield, especially for the Anne Frank Centre USA, has arrived with no damages incurred from this momentous journey. The Staff at the USA Centre are thrilled to have received this tremendous gift, and will be showcasing the model in the next couple of months when they move the Centre to new premises in New York City. Maureen McNeil, the Director of Education, said:
" We would like to express our deepest gratitude to those who worked on the house. Their artistry and care are evident, and the symbolic gesture speaks volumes."

London Eye Crying

2010-06-28T15:54:00.000+01:00

Art work by Paul O'Halloran HMP Wandsworth, courtesy of the Koestler Trust. The piece was Kalyx commended.

HMP Wakefield wins Award

2010-06-28T15:00:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to the team from HMP Wakefield who recently won a Prison service Award for ‘Decency and Diversity’. They were chosen for the outstanding work that they do with prisoners at HMP Wakefield, and for the work that the Charity workshop does for the community. The Anne Frank Trust was presented with scaled models of the Anne Frank House and donations boxes; one of the models was proudly presented to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam in 2009, to commemorate what would have been Anne frank’s 80th birthday

The Prison service Award was presented by Mr Danny McAllister the Director of High Security Prisons in the UK. The ceremony was held at the Walton Hall in Warwickshire.

My Darkest Hours

2010-06-25T17:27:00.000+01:00

Art work by Patrick John Craggs, HMP Ashwell, Courtesy of the Koestler Trust. The piece was awarded a Bronze Award.

HMP Swaleside and HMP Standford Hill Jointly host the Anne Frank Exhibition

2010-06-17T17:10:00.001+01:00

In May 2010 HMP Swaleside and HMP Standford Hill combined to host the Anne Frank exhibition. The Guest speaker at both establishments was Dr Eva Schloss, who was extremely well received by her audience. Eva’s talk at HMP Swaleside was held in the chapel, in front of 120 prisoners and staff. In HMP Standford Hill there was a more relaxed and slightly impromptu talk with a group of prisoners and staff in the visitors centre. Both audiences listened intently to Eva talk of her experiences, and asked very interesting questions which Eva enjoyed answering. It was extremely memorable and we are extremely grateful to Eva for giving of her time to do this for the Trust.

HMP Standford Hill Cat D (open prison) sited the exhibition in the visitors centre, and Senior Officer Amanda Syddell organised visits from Eastchurch Primary School to see the exhibition. Especially interesting as the prisoners of Standford Hill were the exhibition guides. They were so professional that many did not realise they were prisoners and not guides from the Trust! This was a wonderful experience for the children, and did much to break down barriers, and stereotypes about prisons/prisoners. Both prisoners and schoolchildren got a great deal out of this experience, and even greater community involvement would have ensued had there been the time!

We plan to use the Standford Hill model to further strengthen ties with the community in regions where there are similar establishments – as it demonstrated how important these links can be, and how rewarding the benefits are of this shared experience. It also showed some of the good things that go on in prisons, rarely seen by the general public, and rarely reported in the national press.

HMP Foston Hall builds a Memorial Garden in remembrance of the Holocaust Victims.

2010-03-01T17:42:00.003Z

HMP Foston Hall is a closed female establishment, which holds up to 283 prisoners, located near Derby.

The Prison hosted the Anne Frank exhibition on the 10th to the 12th of February 2010. The event was attended by almost all prisoners as well as members of Staff.

At the closing event, a Holocaust Memorial Garden was officially opened. The women in the prison put a huge amount of effort and work into the project.They had cleared the ground, laid the flower beds, as well as constructing the memorial in the centre of the garden which they named the garden of ‘Remembrance and Reconciliation’. At the centre of the memorial, there is a candle section which is surrounded by barbed wire. The women even took the trouble to make the barbed wire look rusty and old, the women prisoners were so proud of what they had done!

Rabbi Perez said an opening prayer and he blessed the garden. Simon Winston (Holocaust survivor) gave a series of talks about his experiences. Also at the event, were two musicians who played beautiful Klezmar music, (music which was banned by the Nazi regime) during the candle lighting. Also attending, was Nigel Groom, a Representative of GRT ( Gypsy Roman Traveller Community) who gave a talk about the Travellers persecution throughout history.

The event was well organised and very moving, it was such a success!

The Anne Frank Prison Project

2009-09-09T16:39:00.001+01:00

The Anne Frank Prison Project and exhibition is not just about a young Jewish girl who died in the Holocaust and happened to write a famous diary.
The story of the Frank family both tragic and inspirational, is the example that is used to explore the rise.............. Read more
Story by Steve Gadd, Project Manager

Anne Frank House Model in South Africa!

2009-09-07T15:50:00.001+01:00

Reaching South Africans:
At the handing over ceremony in Amsterdam, 29 April 2009 (left -right):Jan Erik Dubbelman (Director of the International Department at the AnneFrank House); Steve Gadd (Prison Exhibition Manager for the Anne Frank Trust);Simon McDonnell (Diversity Governor HMP Wakefi eld); Chris Robinson (SecurityGovernor HMP Wakefi eld); Tali Nates (Director, Johannesburg HolocaustCentre); Phil Spicer (Instructional Offi cer HMP Wakefi eld); Andy Charles (Officer Instructor HMP Wakefield); Hans Westra (Executive-Director Anne Frank House)
Inmates at HMP Wakefield, one of Britain’s highest security prisons, have marked what would have been Anne Frank’s 80th birthday by producing a scale model of the Frank family’s former home-in-hiding.
Reaching South Africans
Steve Gadd and four prison officers travelled to Amsterdam on Wednesday 29 April 2009. In a moving ceremony at the Anne Frank House, they handed over the scale model to Tali Nates, director of the Johannesburg Holocaust Centre.
“It is our way of paying our respects, in commemoration of Anne, her family and the tragedy of their lives. ...we would like this presentation to be a celebration of Anne’slife and the inspiration she has been to millions of people all around the world.” Steve Gadd, Anne Frank Trust UK .
The model was subsequently brought to South Africa, destined to feature in the Anne Frank – a history for today exhibition in the Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg. Site of Johannesburg’s notorious Old Fort Prison complex where thousands of ordinary people were brutally punished before the dawn of democracy in 1994, Constitution Hill is now the home of South Africa’s Constitutional Court. The Anne Frank Trust in the UK, one of the partner organisations of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, has been taking the exhibition Anne Frank – a history for today into British prisons since 2002. In this prison project inmates learn about Anne Frank and the Holocaust, and pass on what they have learned to their fellow prisoners.
"I always thought that we black people were the only ones who were discriminated against", said a British prisoner to journalist Henriëtte Lakmaker of the Dutch newspaper Trouw in 2008."[...] because of the Anne Frank exhibition, I now know that others can be victims of discrimination too".

"Being part of the project has given me a sense of achievement that few projects allow you to have. Before this my knowledge of Anne Frank was purely the name itself... Today after many cuts, much frustration at myself, I’ve learned about the person who just wanted to discover her life. Getting to know more has allowed me to instill a sense of discipline in what is usually a selfish path. Thanks to the foundation in Anne Frank’s name I have gained a sense of direction and for that I am grateful. I am also proud of the work that I have done will be admired by thousands of people all over the world... ” Geoff, a prisoner at HMP Wakefield.

“I never really had an interest in the story of Anne Frank until working on this project, but have found her story to be of great interest, it certainly brings into perspective how fortunate I am that my Jailers allow me the luxuries of TV’s, decent food and most importantly, life. It was a privilege to be able to help other people remember how things were, and never should be again”. Brian, a prisoner at HMP Wakefield

HMP Preston hosts Anne Frank exhibition

2009-09-06T15:30:00.000+01:00

Inmates at a Lancashire prison are hosting an exhibition that follows the tragic experiences of Jewish diarist Anne Frank.The handwritten account of living in hiding from the Nazis before being caught and sent to a concentration camp, is synonymous with prejudice across the world.
HMP Preston is hosting an exhibition in the prison's chapel until June 12 – Anne's birthday.

http://www.lep.co.uk/entertainmentnews/Jail-hosts-Anne-Frank-exhibition.5343218.jp

Preston video interview

http://www.lep.co.uk/video.aspx?VideoPath=PRES/anne_frank512k_stream.wmv&VideoID=36977&ArticleID=5343218

Elmely: Prisoner's Frank account of Society

2009-09-05T17:33:00.001+01:00

A Prison exhibition about the life of Anne Frank has helped inmates get to grips with social issues.
It was hoped the display at Elmley Prison would encourage prisoners to consider issues such as genocide, civil rights, immigration and hate crime.

Elmley’s Head of Behaviour Management Iain Afrin said: “It has been good to see the lads taking on board what they are actually watching and it has really promoted discussion. There has been nothing negative and it has given them food for thought.”

Mr Afrin also said that: “It gives them a greater sense of awareness of what went on historically and gets them to examine their own lives and of those others around them. Things like ethnic cleansing and racism are very much current issues.”
................Reported by Chris Thomas (krn media)
The Gazette & Times, March 25, 2009

The Gripping Story of Eva Clarke, Survivor of Auschwitz.

2009-09-03T14:08:00.002+01:00

Why would a Holocaust survivor volunteer to spend time recounting her family history to prisoners?

Having been born on a filthy coal truck on the way from a slave labour camp to Mauthausen concentration camp, Eva Clarke and her mother experienced one of the greatest atrocities in documented history. Why would she willingly go into places where people are held in cells, guarded behind barbed wire? Eva gives four motives for her talk. read more

Anne Frank Awards Event 2009

2009-09-02T14:38:00.005+01:00

The 2009 Awards ceremony took place in the historic surroundings of The House of Commons on Thursday 11 June .

The Award for a prison educator went to Tim Cliford. Tim joined HMP Ashfield in 1999, and became a key member of the team which transformed the prison education department. In 2006 he contracted cancer, but continued his treatment whilst at work. Despite his condition and treatment, he helped form a charity, "Making the Change", to provide supported accommodation for young people leaving custody...read more

Anne Frank Awards; Young Persons Awards

2009-09-01T15:39:00.001+01:00

Ben Elliot Holden, currently at Feltham, recently won an Anne Frank Award for a Young Person:

Ben, 18, is an inmate at HMP YOI Feltham. His release is imminent and during his time at Feltham he has voluntarily contributed in a number of areas connected with supporting and providing for minority groups and inviduals........Read more here

Leah Thorn - Prison Project Performance Poet

2009-08-31T14:31:00.000+01:00

Leah is a spoken-word poet and workshop facilitator, known for her passion and compassion.

Her writing has been anthologised in England and in the USA, in publications such as Bridges US Jewish feminist journal, the Apples & Snakes anthology Velocity, The Journal of Holocaust Education, The Open Page International Women & Theatre Journal and The Jewish Quarterly.

Here she talks about her new film: "I am a spoken word poet and My Amulet is my first film, My Amulet features an extract from my performance piece kin’a’hora and explores my personal take on aspects of Anglo-Jewish Ashkenazi [Eastern European] identity and assimilation. The visuals are a combination of my family’s cine film from the 1960’s and 70’s and footage of me performing the poem to camera." Leah Thorn

Open College Network module: ‘Prejudice and Discrimination’

2009-08-30T14:46:00.001+01:00

Lucy Glennon & Jose Aguiar have been creating OCN modules for specific use in prisons.

"We are currently putting the finishing touches to a further OCN module, ‘Prejudice and Discrimination’, which will be available, at further cost, once complete. We have had some very positive feedback from HMP Holloway (from education staff, officers and inmates) about the course materials, which are based around the six new panels of the prison exhibition.

Because poster copies of the new panels come as part of the course and it can be used alongside the AF Prison project’s visit, or independently of it. We hope it will be a very valuable asset to prison education departments, and we believe it to be quite unique in its nature – it is bespoke for prisons, all monitoring documents and teachers guides are provided too. If you think the education department would be interested, please pass this information on or let us know who to speak with." Call 020 7284 5858