Service provided by My Life – Mental Health Charity
Unlock My Life
Who we are
Unlock My Life is a project delivered by My Life, a registered mental health charity supporting people to improve wellbeing, build resilience and create positive futures. Our work is shaped by lived experience, with many of our team having personal experience of the criminal justice system and mental ill-health.
What we do
Mental Health & Wellbeing Training
We deliver practical, easy-to-understand mental health and wellbeing training that helps women better understand their emotions, manage stress and anxiety, and build healthier coping strategies. Sessions are based on real-life experiences and provide tools that can be used both in custody and after release.
Mental Health Ambassador Programme
Women can volunteer as trained Mental Health Ambassadors (MHAs), supporting others on the wing through peer support, listening and signposting to services when needed. MHAs help reduce isolation, encourage positive conversations around mental health and provide trusted support from someone with shared experience.
Train the Trainer
Some MHAs can progress into instructor roles through our Train the Trainer programme. This gives women the opportunity to build confidence, communication and leadership skills by helping deliver training sessions to others in custody.
Woman2Woman Groups
Woman2Woman groups provide safe, supportive spaces where women can openly discuss issues affecting their wellbeing, including relationships, family, mental health and life in custody. The groups help reduce stigma, build connection and encourage mutual support.
Purposeful Activities
We run a range of positive wellbeing activities including arts and crafts, games, group challenges and creative sessions. These activities help reduce isolation, encourage social connection and support emotional wellbeing in a relaxed environment.
Volunteering and employment opportunities
Unlock My Life creates progression opportunities for women during and after custody. Many people begin as participants, move into volunteering roles such as Mental Health Ambassadors, and later progress into peer mentoring, training or paid employment opportunities with the project and wider community services after release.
Referral Information
No referral is needed to access Unlock My Life services. Our programmes are open to anyone within the prisons where we operate who would like support with their mental health and wellbeing.
Individuals can get involved by speaking to a member of the Unlock My Life team, prison staff, or one of our trained Mental Health Ambassadors (MHAs), who can be identified by their blue t-shirts. Support is voluntary and designed to be accessible, practical, and welcoming to anyone who may benefit from improved mental health understanding, peer support, or wellbeing guidance during custody or when preparing for release. MHAs are also available to provide information about the project, share their experiences, and help people access training, group sessions, and peer support opportunities.
Referrals Offered:
- This service does not offer Booking referrals
- This service does not offer Drop-in referrals
- This service does not offer Electronic referrals
- This service offers Other – See referral information referrals