Read on Twitter
Do you want to support LGBTQ+ people who are incarcerated in the UK? A thread:
Do you know any LGBTQ+ people inside?
Reach out to them. Call them. Send them money. Write to them. Make sure they know about the organisations that can support them.
Reach out to them. Call them. Send them money. Write to them. Make sure they know about the organisations that can support them.
Write to people inside
Being in touch with people inside can offer a vital lifeline who may not be getting much support.
The Bent Bars Project offer a pen pal scheme to connect queer communities across prison walls https://www.bentbarsproject.org/
Being in touch with people inside can offer a vital lifeline who may not be getting much support.
The Bent Bars Project offer a pen pal scheme to connect queer communities across prison walls https://www.bentbarsproject.org/
You can also write a one-off letter or card which we will pass on to a queer person inside to let them know that people outside are thinking of them. Post them to:
PO Box 5554, Manchester, M61 OSQ
PO Box 5554, Manchester, M61 OSQ
Donate money
This last fortnight we have spent ~£500 on postage, because of the huge upturn in requests for books. We won't be able to continue our work without your support. You can donate by PayPal https://www.paypal.me/booksbeyondbarsuk
Please also look into sending some £ to Bent Bars!
This last fortnight we have spent ~£500 on postage, because of the huge upturn in requests for books. We won't be able to continue our work without your support. You can donate by PayPal https://www.paypal.me/booksbeyondbarsuk
Please also look into sending some £ to Bent Bars!
Donate good quality 2nd hand books to us.
We are particularly looking for pop science, adult colouring books, dictionaries, language learning resources, yoga, mindfulness, true crime, LGBTQ+ themes.
You can send them to us at
PO Box 5554, Manchester, M61 OSQ
We are particularly looking for pop science, adult colouring books, dictionaries, language learning resources, yoga, mindfulness, true crime, LGBTQ+ themes.
You can send them to us at
PO Box 5554, Manchester, M61 OSQ
Send us some books off our wishlist.
We have an Amazon wishlist, but if you can, please buy us books from another retailer. Check out @PortalBookshop who will send books on to us. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/ls/ref=ARRAY(0x969c66a8)?ie=UTF8&lid=E34BHACB8U5A&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_6UOIBbP2YH7N7&ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls&ty=wishlist
We have an Amazon wishlist, but if you can, please buy us books from another retailer. Check out @PortalBookshop who will send books on to us. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/ls/ref=ARRAY(0x969c66a8)?ie=UTF8&lid=E34BHACB8U5A&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_6UOIBbP2YH7N7&ref_=d6k_applink_bb_dls&ty=wishlist
Take action on the Gender Recognition Act
GRA reform could make it easier for trans prisoners to be held in the correct prisons. Now is a crucial time to take action: https://twitter.com/Genderintell/status/1272849927266238467?s=19
GRA reform could make it easier for trans prisoners to be held in the correct prisons. Now is a crucial time to take action: https://twitter.com/Genderintell/status/1272849927266238467?s=19
Learn from current prison campaigns
This is key to understanding what's going on in UK prisons right now.
Follow @JENGbA @SmashIPP @CAPExpansion @psn_ldn @reclaimholloway and share their work!
This is key to understanding what's going on in UK prisons right now.
Follow @JENGbA @SmashIPP @CAPExpansion @psn_ldn @reclaimholloway and share their work!
Learn about prison abolition, spread that knowledge
There's so many abolitionist reading lists online that are great.
@ReclaimJustice has a reading group with excellent resources.
Check out @CAPExpansion's list of resources.
There's so many abolitionist reading lists online that are great.
@ReclaimJustice has a reading group with excellent resources.
Check out @CAPExpansion's list of resources.
Amplify voices of people affected by the prison system
Talk to prisoners / ex prisoners / orgs that work *with* prisoners / family & friends of those inside.
Follow abolitionists like @agitateorganize and share their work.
Talk to prisoners / ex prisoners / orgs that work *with* prisoners / family & friends of those inside.
Follow abolitionists like @agitateorganize and share their work.
Make yr existing campaigns relavent to people inside
Got a housing campaign? A food sovereignty campaign? A healthcare campaign?
Connect the dots. Abolishing prison means more than adequate support networks, bring the anti prisons analysis into the work you are currently doing
Got a housing campaign? A food sovereignty campaign? A healthcare campaign?
Connect the dots. Abolishing prison means more than adequate support networks, bring the anti prisons analysis into the work you are currently doing
Got an LGBT social group / water polo club / campaign?
Spend some time giving back and creating community across prison walls. Run a fundraiser. Hold letter writing sessions. Do a book donation drive.
Spend some time giving back and creating community across prison walls. Run a fundraiser. Hold letter writing sessions. Do a book donation drive.
Feel free to add your own ideas and thoughts below, and to share any useful and interesting work that's going on. These things are just the beginning of what's possible x
