Prisoners craft military cap badges for unique exhibition
Date published:
Veteran soldiers in Maghaberry and Magilligan prisons have hand-crafted clay army cap badges for a unique exhibition.
The arts project entitled ‘The Badge is Everything’, has been created by 30 ex-soldiers serving time in prison in Northern Ireland over the past two years.
Funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, the Crafting Resilience project for veteran soldiers was delivered by the Northern Ireland Prison Service in partnership with Start360, RDV Service and the Prison Arts Foundation.
The exhibition features 40 stylized ‘soldiers’, designed as a wooden A-frame structure, which serves as a support for a unique cap badge crafted from earthenware clay. The cap badges are all hand-crafted, kiln-fired and finished with old gold, bronze or silver glaze, symbolizing their individuality and honour of each man’s military service. Each structure also features three words chosen by the ex-servicemen, reflecting aspects of their military experience.
Maghaberry Prison Governor Tracy Megrath said: “The introduction of a veteran’s hub at Maghaberry for prisoners from an armed forces background came about through one of our own Senior Prison Officers, who previously served in the British Army. That officer, who worked with the Safety and Support team, identified an ever-increasing number of individuals in custody that were ex armed forces – and a group which felt particularly vulnerable, would isolate and were reluctant to engage in anything meaningful.
“He created a hub that would bring this group together and linking in with SSAFA - the armed forces charity - now works collaboratively with them supporting their wellbeing while in custody.
“The Northern Ireland Prison Service works with many partners in its rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners, and among them in recent years has been SSAFA. Together we provide essential support to this community in prison.”
Lucy Turner, Prison Art Foundation Artist in Resident at Maghaberry and Magilligan, said: “The exhibition provides a poignant glimpse into military life, its impact, its realities. As a single collective identity, it shifts the focus away from the individuals and toward a shared experience and reinforces the spirit of teamwork.”
Tommie Linton MBE, Prevention, Intervention Practitioner with Start360, said: “We provide a non-judgmental support service to veterans no matter what the circumstances, and this project came about as a collaboration between Start360 and the Prison Arts Foundation. It was introduced to encourage veterans to think about not only their mental health but also to seek the wide range of support that is available to them, once they are released back into the community.”
WATCH: Veteran soldiers in Maghaberry and Magilligan prisons have hand-crafted clay army cap badges for a unique exhibition https://youtu.be/LUjZX7Ro-Ek
Notes to editors:
- PHOTO CAPTIONS
Veteran soldiers in Maghaberry and Magilligan prisons have hand-crafted in clay army cap badges for a unique exhibition. The arts project entitled ‘The Badge is Everything’, has been created by 30 ex-soldiers serving time in prison in Northern Ireland over the past two years. Pictured with some of the crafted cap badges are Tommie Linton MBE, Start360, Lucy Turner, Prison Arts Foundation, and Maghaberry Prison Governor Tracy Megrath.
Veteran soldiers in Maghaberry and Magilligan prisons have hand-crafted in clay army cap badges for a unique exhibition. The arts project entitled ‘The Badge is Everything’, has been created by 30 ex-soldiers serving time in prison in Northern Ireland over the past two years.
- Maghaberry is a modern high security prison housing adult male long term sentenced and remand prisoners, in both separated and integrated conditions.
- Magilligan is a medium to low security Prison which holds male prisoners with six years or less to serve and who meet the relevant security classification.
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