Extraordinary Stories
Matt Eastgate, Prison Officer, HMP Bullingdon
“I go home knowing that I have tried to help change people’s lives”
A former store manager who joined the service over five years ago has become a yoga instructor alongside his role as a prison officer on the wings at HMP Bullingdon.
In an effort to reduce reoffending and break the cycle of crime, father-of-two Matt Eastgate volunteered to become a yoga instructor in addition to his role so he could help prisoners with stress and addictions, which improves stability in the prison and supports reducing reoffending.
“I work on the wings but I also help with repairing anything from toilets to furniture. I run one yoga class session a week with up to 10 prisoners which helps staff to maintain a calmer environment and smoother running of the prison.
For prisoners who may struggle with addiction, it’s often bought on by stress and anxiety and yoga is proven to help people relax more.
I also run a class to help my colleagues at the prison to relax in their own time either at lunch or after work. I’d never been flexible and had never done yoga before I learnt to become an instructor.
Matt originally joined as an OSG before progressing to become a prison officer just nine months later.
“Not only have I been given opportunities I never thought I’d get, but I also go home knowing that I have tried to help change people’s lives in some way. I joined the service because I wanted another fastpaced role, but I also just wanted to help others as much as I can.
“There are some bad days, just like in any job. And though it’s not easy work, it’s unbelievably rewarding.”