Yvonne Jewkes

Got the Winter Blues? Treat yourself by booking a summer writing retreat in Bath, 26-29 June. If you’ve been watching Agatha Christie’s ‘Seven Dials’ you’ll recognise the location. www.freedomtowrite.co.uk
On Substack I reflect on the winter retreat…

#bluemonday #freedomtowrite #writingretreat

I’m excited to be running a creative writing workshop at The Village in Larkhall, Bath on Weds 12th Nov 7-9pm. Cost is £25 which includes cheese and nibbles. It’s suitable for all experience levels, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. If you’d like to come along please DM me.

We had a fantastic time hosting our third creative writing retreat with a great bunch of people in Norway last week. I’m excited for the next retreat in my home town of Bath in January. See www.freedomtowrite.co.uk for details. DM me if interested…

‘Hare: The story behind the tattoo’ yvonnejewkes.substack.com/p/hare

Is there a more soul wizening phrase in the modern university than ‘mandatory online training’? (Other than ‘you need to now complete the mandatory online training refresher course’)?

why I write and why I teach creative writing + news of the next retreat, 9-12 January 2026

Over on Substack I’ve written about why I write, why I love teaching creative writing in prisons and what my prisoner students say about it. Plus news of the #FreedomToWrite winter retreat, 9-12 January.
#whyiwrite #creativewriting #writingretreat #teachinginprison

open.substack.com/pub/yvonneje...

cutting hair for a tin of mackerel and how a friend in prison is teaching me the value of small freedoms

I wrote about how a friend in prison is making me appreciate small freedoms yvonnejewkes.substack.com/p/cutting-ha...

Thank you, Michele, it was great to meet you too. Thanks for your encouragement. I hope your talk in London went well and best of luck with your onward journey too x

Thanks, Rob! I can definitely see the (grimly) funny side of it. About ten years ago I started writing a comic novel set on a university campus. I reckon this might be the time to return to it.

That’s one of the reasons I didn’t use it in my post. It’s a label that obfuscates the true horrors…

I might return to my novel but reframe it in the light of my experience in the neoliberal university…!

Leaving Academia Reflections on failure, freedom, and creating a meaningful life outside the university

I wrote something on Substack about why I’m quitting my job & leaving academia. Five minutes later an email went round saying that the already brutal 21-day essay marking & feedback period is being reduced to 15 days. I’m so glad to be leaving it behind. Here’s why open.substack.com/pub/yvonneje...

It was great to do a keynote on ‘Trauma-Informed Design – An Aid to Recovery or Mere Window Dressing?’ followed by a book signing at the #DesignInMentalHealth conference in Manchester yesterday

Coroner's plea to find families of shamed surgeon Ian Paterson's patients Elaine Morris, 45 from Solihull, is one of the five women whose next of kin have not been traced.

Please share. The coroner is asking for help tracking down next of kin for five Ian Paterson patients whose inquests are ongoing: www.bbc.com/news/article...

I’m quoted in the FT and the Daily Mail this weekend - two articles which sum up the bifurcated prison crisis debate in the UK.

‘An Architecture of Hope’ has been non-fiction pick of the week in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and WAtoday #australia

The book comes out of our collaborative research on the long afterlives of Britain's Victorian prison estate. The project is lead by Dominique Moran with @yvonnejewkes.bsky.social and Jennifer Turner and funded by the ESRC. It's been such a privilege to work with all of them.

A prison officer sits outside the prayer room under the pointed arches within the central atrium inside HMP Lincoln, Lincoln.

In among the madness, I'm delighted to have submitted the manuscript for our forthcoming book Incarcerated: Contemporary Photography from the Victorian Prison to @bluecoatpress.bsky.social.

Incarcerated brings together @andyaitchison.bsky.social powerful photographs of HMP Lincoln and Liverpool.

It was great to be at the Paisley Book Festival yesterday talking about ‘An Architecture of Hope’ and ‘The Barlinnie Special Unit’ with @kir-anderson.bsky.social.

32 of my publications stolen by Meta to train AI. It’s not ok. Sign the petition.

Next Sunday I’m at Paisley Book Festival talking about ‘An Architecture of Hope’ along with @kir-anderson.bsky.social. It’s sure to be a fascinating conversation about the importance of rebuilding lives in prison.

paisleybookfestival.com/programme/bu...

#paisleybookfestival #PBF25 #TheLivesWeLive

Clem Burke obituary Drummer with Blondie who provided the backbone of their string of hit singles and live performances

Very sad to hear about the passing of Clem Burke. Brilliant drummer, so integral to Blondie’s sound and success, and he always seemed like a thoroughly decent human being www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

Spent an enjoyable afternoon at BBC Bristol being interviewed about my book #AnArchitectureOfHope

Well, it was a slight exaggeration to call me a prison architect - I merely advise - but it was great to speak to @emiledonovan.bsky.social @rnzrss.bsky.social this morning about my research and my new book An Architecture of Hope. Listen in www.rnz.co.nz/search/resul...

Finally got hold of this! Can’t wait to dive in. Gorgeous cover @brisunipress.bsky.social

Omg Tracy these are all GENIUS!!!

Statements are already available to download on the ALCS website 😊

It was fun to do a couple of events with Andy West at #curiousmindsfestival in #Bath last week.

I’m really looking forward to speaking @unlockedgrads.bsky.social conference tomorrow.

"My life has taken many unexpected and enriching turns since those dark times."

Criminologist Prof Yvonne Jewkes shares her story in this month's Bath Life.