OUR VISION IS TO END DEHUMANISATION OF PEOPLE IN PRISON AND BUILD SAFER SOCIETIES.

In many prisons across the world basic human rights are not being met and systems are collapsing. We know that stripping people in prison of their humanity damages their mental health, increases violence, and does nothing to reintegrate them into a fractured society. We also know that positively changing prison conditions creates a safer society, both inside and outside the prison walls.

The Problem

In many prisons across the world basic human rights are not being met and systems are collapsing, causing overcrowding, rising violence, suicides and drug issues making it difficult to rehabilitate inmates and reintegration back into society. 

THE SOLUTION

Practical, therapeutic, intervention and training solutions to meet basic, physiological and growth needs which lead to improved health and wellbeing for prisoners, staff and relatives. Raised aspirations, improved relationships and self-esteem, reduction in recidivism and violence.

OUR PROJECTS PROVIDE

Practical solutions which meet the most basic of needs - food, water, better sanitation, reduction of overcrowding… which lead to a healthier prison population.

Therapeutic solutions which meet the psychological needs of people in prison, significantly reducing the level of violence.

Projects which meet the growth needs of those serving sentences, leading to a drop in rates of recidivism.

ABOUT THE
FOUNDER

My name is Raphael Rowe. When I was 20 years old, I was wrongfully arrested, charged, and convicted of a murder and series of robberies I did not commit. I was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent the next 12 years inside British maximum-security prisons fighting to prove my innocence. Finally, my case was referred to the British Court of Appeal where my convictions were ruled unsafe, and I was set free.

Since my release, I have worked as a journalist and broadcast reporter for the BBC, hosted the ‘Second Chance’ podcast series, and, more recently, fronted the Netflix series ‘Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons’. Through my work I have found that in many prisons across the world basic human rights are not being met, and systems are collapsing. I have seen first-hand that stripping people in prison of their humanity damages their mental health, increases violence, and does nothing to reintegrate them into society. I have also seen that positively changing prison conditions creates a safer, less fractured society, both inside and outside the prison walls.

All this has inspired me to try to make positive changes in prison systems throughout the world. I believe passionately that we can make such changes, and this is why I have set up the Raphael Rowe Foundation.

OUR TEAM

Our team is supported by an incredible board, several of whom have experienced life in prison.

Raphael rowe
Founder & Director
My life experiences have inspired me to try to make positive changes in prison systems throughout the world. I believe passionately that we can make such changes, and this is why I have set up the Raphael Rowe Foundation.
Delphine Cassereau
Director of Operation
Delphine is a business owner and freelance consultant specialising in digital transformation, project management, change management and human resources.
Amit Amin
Head of Innovation
Amit’s mission is to help brave, kind and talented people in business to get much further, much faster. One half of the photography and film dynamic duo: “Amit & Naroop” - he is consistently in demand from the world’s largest brands including Adidas to EBay, and celebrities from Ronaldo to Raphael Rowe!
Claire Webster
Head of Finance
Regardless of the sector or size of the organisation, my role has always had one core purpose: to add value to the business, and whilst commercial aptitude combined with financial insight are paramount I also believe that ensuring people are fully supported from a diversity and inclusion perspective is critical to the ultimate success of the business.
Jamie Hunt
Head of Fundraising
Jamie is in the global Energy Transition team at Baker Hughes, and has worked in the international energy business for over 15 years. Since 2008 he has worked voluntarily for several projects in Sierra Leone, including the running of an orphanage, the creation of mobile jungle medical units, a prosthetic outreach foundation, and a former child-soldier rehabilitation programme.

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TODAY

The RRF is a non-profit organization. We value every donation, no amount is too small. Your contribution directly funds the RRF's projects and operations which support our mission to transform prisons and communities through compassionate action.
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