Welcome to Elizabeth Fry Charity

Supporting women to make positive changes in their lives.

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For over 150 years, the Elizabeth Fry Charity has been working with women, since the prison reformer Elizabeth Fry started her work.

Everyone deserves a second chance

Based in central Reading, Elizabeth Fry House, a 24-bed Female Approved Premises, provides residential support and interventions to the widest range of women involved in the criminal justice system.

Through structured one-to-one sessions and a programme of rehabilitative activity, the intention is to increase women’s confidence and reduce re-offending, allowing, in time, for reintegration into society.

Our Approved Premises

Elizabeth Fry House is a 24 bed Approved Premises for women. We are located in Reading, in the south of England, and provide placements to women from across England and Wales.

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Information for Referrers

​We consider women convicted of all types of offences and will offer a placement having considered whether the risk of serious harm to self and others can be managed at Elizabeth Fry House.

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Our Programme

Residents at the Approved Premises have access to a range of purposeful activities aimed to support them to address issues that led to their offending and to develop the skills for them to lead an offending-free life in future.

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In their words...

Rebecca has been able to make a choice and take control over her own experience, which ultimately has changed her reality.

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Become a Trustee

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Read our FAQs

Are you due to arrive at Elizabeth Fry House soon and have some questions?

FAQs

Meet our people

Donate Today

Every donation made to Elizabeth Fry helps give women a second chance in their lives and makes a HUGE difference to their time here.

£5

Will pay for a prize for a resident in an evening activity

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£25

Pays for a yoga and mindfulness session for residents

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£40

Provides a resident with Primark vouchers to buy basics

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£70

Covers the cost of a resident's move on pack once they have successfully left the AP

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Our Latest Vacancies

Job Vacancy
megaphone job announcment

Resettlement & Support Manager

Are you looking for an opportunity where your skills will make a difference in supporting women in the Criminal Justice System.

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Latest News

    24 October 2024

    Jo’s Journey from Addiction to Sobriety

    This my story, my journey from addiction to sobriety.
     
    I have not had a childhood that I would want any child to ever experience. Addition to alcohol and drugs has becomes my shelter, my way of keeping myself alive. Sadly, I was still a child -I was 13- when I discovered that substances could provide some sort of relief to the pain I felt. It was as soothing as it has become disruptive. But it was an escape from the harsh reality of the world and from the trauma.

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    12 September 2024

    Addressing the Crisis in the Criminal Justice System

    The Role of Approved Premises particularly for women offenders By Dr. Ann Collins,   Recent events, such as the sentencing of rioters, have once again drawn attention to the ongoing pressures within our prison system. Overcrowding has been a persistent issue, with prison staff increasingly expected to deliver services under strained conditions due to continuous […]

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    10 June 2024

    Enabling Environment Award

    We are thrilled to share that Elizabeth Fry Charity has been awarded the Enabling Environment Award by the Royal College of Psychiatrists! The award recognises our commitment to providing specialised support to women impacted by the criminal justice system.

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    23 April 2024

    Emily’s Story

    Emily moved on from the Approved Premises in 2022. She continues to receive support from the Charity’s Outreach Worker. Emily’s Story Emily has diagnosed neurodivergence and leads a solitary lifestyle, leading to significant social isolation. She chooses to spend her evenings crocheting, a skill she learnt during her long prison sentence, and an activity she […]

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    4 April 2024

    Kerry’s Story

    In this article Kerry, a resident of Elizabeth Fry House talks about the benefits of having a specialist Housing Worker employed by the Charity. Emma’s role is to support residents to identify suitable and safe move on accommodation. Kerry had served a lengthy prison sentence prior to being released to Elizabeth Fry House. She describes […]

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    9 February 2024

    Peer Mentor Leads Creative Writing Sessions

    At Elizabeth Fry House we believe in the importance of self-expression and encourage residents to explore different ways of achieving this.

    Earlier this week Luke (he/his), an ex-resident of Elizabeth Fry House who now volunteers for the Charity as a mentor led a session on Creative Writing.

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    15 December 2023

    Did you Hear the Drums?

    If you’d have visited Elizabeth Fry Charity earlier this week you may have wondered what all the noise was about. On Monday afternoon a drumming workshop took place with residents and staff and, it is fair to say some pretty impressive sounds were created – including traditional West African Music and a unique rendition of “We Will Rock You”

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    20 November 2023

    New funding for Therapeutic Gardening services.

    A huge thank you to Westhill Endowment for awarding a grant to Elizabeth Fry Charity.

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    20 November 2023

    Donation from Lush!

    A huge thankyou to Lush for their generosity in sending these toiletries for our residents.

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    22 September 2023

    Probation Day Competition Winners!

    We are thrilled to announce that Elizabeth Fry Approved Premises has won the Poetry category in the regional Probation Day Competition.

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    9 October 2023

    Visit from the High Sheriff of Berkshire to Elizabeth Fry Charity

    We welcomed Simon Muir, the High Sheriff of Berkshire, and Sarah-Jane Muir to Elizabeth Fry Charity in October.

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    22 September 2023

    New Artwork from HMP Send

    Elizabeth Fry House is proud to announce the acquisition of a captivating new artwork, created by Petra from HMP Send.

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