1 in 4 people in prison are over the age of 50, many living with a cognitive impairment or an undiagnosed dementia.  Our team have been working with HMP Edinburgh to create a Meeting Centre within a prison environment, for men over the age of 50.

We hosted a community workshop in March, which 13 men attended.  One member said ‘What I want out of the club, is to switch off from the current mundane day to day life in prison.  To be able to relax for a bit and switch off thoughts of suicide.  To be able to talk openly without it spreading and have respect and confidentiality.’  Another member told us, that the Meeting Centre ‘would provide brain activity, the cells, we are in there for 21 hours at a time, with very little to do.  I have a hearing problem and I have a tv but can’t hear it and no subtitles’

The Meeting Centre, called The Basement meets on a weekly basis and involves different activities including quizzes, music, arts and crafts, kite making as well as creating conversation and friendships.