#Christmas I once met a man who’d killed someone, when he was still very young. He wasn’t released from prison until he was in his fifties, many years beyond his tariff. The problem was, prison exacerbated his anger.

He was, it seemed, a hopeless case. Parole hearings came and went, and he was adjudged to be a danger

That he was released at all was a miracle. But something happened. He started to stitch. The charity that enabled him to do this was @finecellwork

‘Michael’ (not his real name) explained why. ‘You can’t stitch when you’re angry.’ @finecellwork gave him that precious chance to demonstrate he could change.

It did more than that. His work, in tapestry, was of the highest order. By the time he was released examples of his skill were to be found in Palaces, and Museums.

He found pride, and self worth for the first time in his life. The money @finecellwork paid him, not much owing to HO rules, he donated to victims’ charities. He could not undo the great wrong he had done, but he could become a better man.

I urge you to support @finecellwork - you will help change someone for the better. You can help prisoners become the people they were meant to be.