“Digitising wasn’t too simple, but I just kept practising, practising, practising.” He also taught himself how to digitise during his daily 8am to 4.30pm stints in the workshop. The prison’s Brother PR655 had been delivered without a manual, so Javed taught himself how to use it by downloading the software and doing all the exercises and tutorials. Javed learned how to use all the machines but it was embroidery that he really excelled at despite never having been near an embroidery machine in his life. It was set up seven years ago and is, explains Pat, the place that other prisons turn to for advice when setting up their own print shop. The print shop takes orders from outside businesses, as well as other prisons, and also works with Team Contracts Embroidery in Durham.

“I didn’t know what it was at the time, but they said it would be good experience for the outside.” Those working in the print shop – they’re known as students, not prisoners, explains Pat Gardener, Deerbolt’s learning, skills and employment manager – can acquire a range of skills, from printing canvases and banners to sublimating mugs and embroidering workwear. “It introduced me to my future, which is embroidery, and I’ve never been happier.”Īt his induction, one of the prison officers recommended the print shop to Javed. Now aged 22, Javed says going to prison is the best thing that’s ever happened to him. On the day that Javed Ali entered HMYOI Deerbolt to serve a five-year sentence for blackmail, the 19-year-old had no idea that when he left prison it would be as an embroiderer.

Swf embroidery machine led hard to read