Our Rugby Academy - Through the eyes of Liz Bowyer

I have been working with 3Pillars since April 2025, when they agreed to come to HMP Sudbury to deliver a Level 1 Sports Leadership Award. I was their contact point, and my first task was to recruit for this course. Sign-ups were happening, but slowly, that was until Pickle came in and after a walk and talk with prisoners around the establishment, we had more than enough men interested in taking part.

It started on 10th April, Jen, Sarah, Pickle and Jack turned up at the gate, we walked through the establishment and met with the men at the gym. At short notice, we had to change venue to the library, so off we went. Registers were done, mens’ names were put on labels, ice breakers were done and before long, everyone was engaged and enjoying themselves. They moved to the pitch. Men of all shapes, sizes and ages, were running, throwing and catching and laughing – that was the biggest change in such a short time.

The men were looking forward all week to the next day of training and by the end of this course, they had changed from individuals to a team, they seemed happier, and they valued themselves and their teammates, they supported each other, it created a great community feeling. I was amazed at the changes that had happened from a four-day course and these were lasting changes.

When 3Pillars agreed to come in for a second time, there was a buzz around the place, there was no issues with getting prisoners signed up for the course as those that had previously done it recruited for it and three of them were able to take part again, being assistant coaches and mentors this time. Again, the outcome was massive! I heard remarks such as “for 4 days I have felt like I’ve not been in prison”, “This is the best course I have done since being in custody” and “This has seriously changed my life”.

During this time, the 3Pillars Awards Event took place and I had been nominated for an award along with three men from the April course. I went along with my husband and three of my children, we met two of the prisoners from HMP Sudbury at Nottingham RFU club, they arrived with Fay.

When the “Prison Staff of the Year Award” was announced, there was my name on display, but I had no idea that I was actually going to win the award, it was a huge surprise. Thank goodness I was sitting next to Kelmoy! He had already been up to receive his award and realised from the introduction that I would be next up. I had not! It was a real shock and at the same time, a complete honour. All I had done was to facilitate the work that 3Pillars were already doing, they were the ones that were changing lives, they were the ones giving back the sense of self-worth to these men, they were the ones supporting them to reintegrate and become the best versions of themselves.

I am happy to have had the opportunity to be a small part of this change, this change ripples through the establishment as although they are a few men in a large prison population, they have a changed outlook that is noticeable to others.

I continue to work with 3Pillars as Fay delivers the pre-release and post-release support to those that have achieved their Sports Leadership Awards and I look forward to them coming in to deliver further courses at HMP Sudbury.

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Liz Bowyer

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