Celebrating the women of Spark Inside on International Women’s Day!

This International Women’s Day we are celebrating the many women who helped build, grow and lead Spark Inside from its very formation, to where it is today – having coached more than 1500 people who live and work in prison!

In 2012 Baillie Aaron founded Spark Inside and met an impassioned life coach, Lola, who designed what is now Spark Inside’s award-winning intervention, Hero’s Journey – a life coaching programme for young people in prison.

Roma Hooper OBE became Chair of Trustees at Spark Inside, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge and experience of the sector and the political arena surrounding it.

In the following years we grew a diverse team of expert life coaches, including many dedicated women, who among them empowered hundreds of young people and prison staff to achieve their goals and build brighter futures. Some of these brilliant coaches include Alejandra Arteta, Naina Oliver, Nina Bainbridge, Jennifer Gordon, Lilian Flynn, Audrey Cairo, Caterina Declas. Dorottya Szuk, Lynne Hale, and more!

We would not be where we are today without the outstanding commitment of the women at Spark Inside, whether on the Board of Trustees (Erica Handling, Josephine Lyseight, Sophie Ruddock, Stephanie Davin, Melissa Case, Kennes M.), the team of coaches, and the excellent women in Spark Inside HQ: Vicki Cardwell, Louise Potter, Benita Hussain, Charlie Cole, Eloise Falconer, Rishika B., Julia Ross and Cecilia Cappel.

We would like to thank all these women for their hard work, innovative ideas and skilled leadership, and pledge to support and uplift one another as we strive towards a more equitable and inclusive world.