Inspiration Award 2025

A pioneering support group for older prisoners to help them prepare for life outside prison has won Age Scotland’s Inspiration Award.

The HMP Shotts senior group, which focuses on health, wellbeing and social interaction, is for men over the age of 50, who currently make up 25% of the prison population. 

Faced with the challenges of an ageing population in Scotland’s prisons, the group organisers recognised the need to offer support to older prisoners away from the usual regimented prison environment. The men can be given health and wellbeing advice, take part in activities or just have someone to listen to them as well as spend time with their peers. 

Attending the group can help boost older prisoners’ confidence and give them the tools to adjust to life in the wider community after they leave prison. 

Martin Hunter, industries officer at HMP Shotts in North Lanarkshire, who works with the group, said: 

“We are both delighted and humbled to win this award as we know they are so many outstanding groups in the community that do so much good work. We have piloted this group here in HMP Shotts to great success and have seen how much the older people in our care have enjoyed it and feel a sense community during their time when attending the group. 

 

“We hopefully have shown the need for his type of group within a prison environment and hoping that other establishments may follow our lead and look to establish something for their older population as it is one demographic of the prison population that is growing and becoming more prevalent within custody.” 

Robyn Foster, an NHS health improvement practitioner who also works with the group, said: 

“You look ahead to when these guys get out and you want them to be in the best set up for them. I think that bringing the support inside the prison gives them more of an opportunity to succeed when they get out.”