Building Futures
Building Futures was our project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund to explore the experiences of people who spend 10 or more years in custody. The programme has now concluded.
About the project
Building Futures focused on how long prison sentences impact prisoners, their families and wider communities. Working collaboratively with prisoners, prison staff and others, the programme sought to shape a prison environment that is safe, humane, encourages accountability and fosters hope. It also promoted prisoner leadership, self-advocacy and the development of inter-prisoner support networks. Through engagement with people serving long sentences, the project generated valuable insight into their experiences, challenges and aspirations. Although the programme has now finished, it produced a significant body of work that continues to inform understanding of long-term imprisonment and how policy, practice and services can better support those serving lengthy custodial sentences.
What's the issue
In the last twenty years, the prison population has changed hugely.
- Sentences for more serious crimes have become longer.
- At least 11% of the prison population is now serving some type of indeterminate sentence.
- Far more people will now spend 10 or more years in prison.
- The average tariff length for murder has increased from 13 years in 2000 to 20 years in 2020.
- Meeting the challenges of this change will shape the prison landscape for the foreseeable future.
Building Futures publications
View all- February 2026 What makes a progressive regime? Experiences of progressive regimes and opportunities for improvement This report by the Building Futures Working Group at HMP Warren Hill presents findings from surveys ... What makes a progressive regime? Experiences of progressive regimes and opportunities for improvement
- December 2025 A Measure of Hope? How purpose, meaning and fulfilment can ease the harms of long-term imprisonment This report by Kimmett Edgar, Claudia Vince and Rachel O’Brien draws on the voices of 123 peop... A Measure of Hope? How purpose, meaning and fulfilment can ease the harms of long-term imprisonment
- November 2025 The Long Stretch 2: The emotional impact of long-term imprisonment on loved ones This report by Ruth Woolsey follows consultation with 27 people: 24 who have loved ones serving long... The Long Stretch 2: The emotional impact of long-term imprisonment on loved ones
- August 2025 Release from long-term imprisonment This report, written by Dr Ailie Rennie, in partnership with PRT’s Building Futures programme,... Release from long-term imprisonment
