Scottish Prison Service

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Scottish Prison Service Helping to build a safer Scotland - Unlocking Potential - Transforming Lives This is the official corporate page of the Scottish Prison Service.

This page is only monitored during office hours. If you have concerns about the immediate health, safety and well-being of someone in our care, please phone the prison they are located in. Phone numbers for prisons can be found here: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Prisons

HMP Grampian celebrated day by recognising the dedication, professionalism and positive impact of staff across the est...
30/09/2026

HMP Grampian celebrated day by recognising the dedication, professionalism and positive impact of staff across the establishment.

Activities included a Hidden Heroes slideshow and flag raising, an Appreciation Tree where colleagues could recognise one another, a heroes based creative writing competition for those in custody, and a superhero-themed family visit event delivered in partnership with Denis Law Legacy Trust - Streetsport.

A highlight of the celebrations was the “Rogues Gallery”, featuring around 40 staff transformed into superhero caricatures.

All 240 staff working today received a Hidden Heroes goodie bag, as a token of appreciation for their commitment and contribution.

Thank you to all of our Hidden Heroes for everything you do!

Behind our prison walls are dedicated people who care deeply about helping others make positive changes.Every day, our s...
30/09/2026

Behind our prison walls are dedicated people who care deeply about helping others make positive changes.

Every day, our staff show care, compassion and commitment. They build relationships, offer support, create opportunities and help people see that their lives do not have to be defined by the choices or circumstances that brought them to us.

Much of this work happens quietly and often goes unseen. Yet their actions change lives. Often, they save lives.

This is the work of hidden heroes.

On , we celebrate the people who make the Scottish Prison Service what it is.

Staff and individuals in our care at HMP Edinburgh came together for a ‘Soccer Sixes’ charity football tournament, raisi...
29/09/2026

Staff and individuals in our care at HMP Edinburgh came together for a ‘Soccer Sixes’ charity football tournament, raising more than £1,100 for Andys Man Club.

Seven prisoner teams and one staff team took part, with staff emerging victorious after a 5-2 win in the final.

Andys Man Club is a men’s mental health and su***de prevention charity, providing free peer-to-peer support groups where men can speak openly about their experiences in a safe, non-judgemental environment. You can find out more about them here: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/

Pictured is organiser Officer Brian Foster presenting a cheque to a representative from the charity

HMP Perth recently welcomed former Royal Marine Ian Pomeroy, who works at HMP Exeter, during his remarkable long-distanc...
28/09/2026

HMP Perth recently welcomed former Royal Marine Ian Pomeroy, who works at HMP Exeter, during his remarkable long-distance walk in support of The Not Forgotten charity.

With a Bergen on his back and a wheelbarrow in front of him, Ian is covering 300 miles around the coastline of the British Isles. He describes the challenge as “a way to stand with the men and women who’ve carried far heavier burdens than I or the barrow ever will. Every mile is a reminder: service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off, and neither should our support.”

During his visit, he met veterans in our care, sharing stories from his journey and speaking about the important work of The Not Forgotten.

The charity supports wounded, injured, sick and vulnerable veterans and serving personnel, helping to tackle isolation and loneliness through a range of activities and events.

Thank you for visiting, Ian, and all the very best for the miles ahead!

Staff from HMP Inverness have raised an impressive £980 for Maggie's Centres, a charity supporting people living with ca...
25/09/2026

Staff from HMP Inverness have raised an impressive £980 for Maggie's Centres, a charity supporting people living with cancer and their families, through two fundraising challenges.

Governor in Charge Mark Holloway took part in a Lego Walk, kindly supplied by Lee Walls from Firewalk in Scotland, putting a unique twist on a traditional fire walk by tackling a path of sharp Lego bricks. The event also included board-breaking activities and support from the families of people in custody.

Meanwhile, five colleagues working on the HMP Highland project, including four from HMP Inverness and one from UHI Inverness, took part in the Run the Runway event at Inverness Airport on 22 August, completing a 5K run at midnight guided only by the airport's runway lights.

Together, the two events raised £980 to support Maggie's work across the Highland region. Well done to all involved!

Recovery Month has brought people together across HMP & YOI Grampian, with more than 250 individuals taking part in thre...
24/09/2026

Recovery Month has brought people together across HMP & YOI Grampian, with more than 250 individuals taking part in three recovery walks within the establishment's grounds.

A range of other activities have taken place, including a tea party in the women's hall and visits from guest speakers such as author Barry Woodward, alongside Phoenix Futures, Cup and a Blether, and Aberdeen in Recovery. Through workshops, talks and activities, they have offered inspiration and support to those on their recovery journeys.

And there's still more to come! Tomorrow will see the launch of 'Journeys of Recovery and Healing', a collection of poetry and prose written by people in custody through the Writers in Residence programme. The project has been delivered in partnership with the Scottish Recovery Consortium.

The celebrations will conclude with Grampian's first peer-led recovery group taking part in the much-anticipated Great Grampian Bake Off!

Individuals in our care have secured an impressive 315 awards at this year's Koestler Arts Awards, including 11 Platinum...
23/09/2026

Individuals in our care have secured an impressive 315 awards at this year's Koestler Arts Awards, including 11 Platinum, 13 Gold, 23 Silver and 36 Bronze awards.

Almost 1,000 entries were submitted from across Scotland's prisons, showcasing talent in categories ranging from visual arts and crafts to writing, film and performance.

Supported by our education provider, PeoplePlus Scotland, this success highlights the positive impact of creative learning opportunities in custody, helping individuals develop skills, confidence and aspirations for the future.

We're delighted to share some of this year's award-winning work with you including a remarkable needlecraft piece created by an individual in HMP Perth that measures more than 1.5 metres long!

The Life Skills programme at HMP Castle Huntly helps people in custody develop the practical and personal skills needed ...
22/09/2026

The Life Skills programme at HMP Castle Huntly helps people in custody develop the practical and personal skills needed for everyday life. The course covers a range of topics including digital skills, emotional regulation, cooking and nutrition, money matters, self-awareness, mindfulness, problem solving and working with others.

On 8 September, learners showcased some of these skills at the People Plus Coffee Morning, preparing an impressive range of home baking including custard creams, Jaffa cakes, lemon drizzle cake, fudge, chocolate black pudding slice and cinnamon swirls. They played an active role throughout the event, serving visitors, replenishing stock and providing a warm welcome to guests.

The celebrations continued on 17 September with the Life Skills course graduation. The event gave learners the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they had developed, while allowing staff and partners to see the progress made throughout the programme.

21/09/2026

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please be advised that due to essential electrical works being carried out at HMP Dumfries, all telephone services, including in-cell telephony, will be unavailable between 8.00pm and 6.00am on:

• Monday 21 September
• Tuesday 22 September
• Wednesday 23 September

Should you need to contact the establishment during these periods, particularly if you have a concern about anyone in our care, please use one of the following mobile numbers: 07595 063159 or 07890 984299

HMP Shotts marked World Su***de Prevention Day with a two-day football tournament, bringing people together, promoting w...
21/09/2026

HMP Shotts marked World Su***de Prevention Day with a two-day football tournament, bringing people together, promoting wellbeing and encouraging open conversations about mental health.

What started as an idea from an individual in our care grew into a successful event involving more than 40 men each day, with many others volunteering their time to help make the tournament possible. Six teams competed through group-stage and knockout matches before returning the following day to contest the final.

The event highlighted the power of football to connect people, build positive relationships and create a safe space for important conversations. Former footballer David Cox joined participants on day one to share his personal experiences, encouraging reflection and open discussion around mental health and wellbeing.

For the final match, the establishment welcomed former professional footballers Simon Donnelly, Kevin Kyle and Ryan Stevenson to present medals and the tournament trophy, which had been handcrafted by the individuals in our care. Ryan also shared his stories from on and off the pitch, reinforcing the importance of talking, listening and supporting one another.

Well done to the Support and Wellbeing Team for delivering the event, and thank you to John Joyce, Football Fans in Training Facilitator, for his support and generous donation of footballs and bibs.

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