COMMENDEE 2024-25

Initial Recommendation

This nomination followed an initial recommendation from Kevin Field, Communications Lead London Prisons

Oana has become a tireless advocate for staff and prisoner well-being at HMP Wandsworth. She has lead monthly meetings specifically for women in the workplace, offering support and a forum to address any issues they encounter.

For International Women’s Day, Oana orchestrated a celebration recognising colleagues who make a difference. Staff were encouraged to nominate individuals through a form, and the heartfelt messages were then shared at the event and in the weekly bulletin. This initiative fostered a sense of appreciation and empowerment among staff, who felt valued for their contributions.

Oana’s passion extends beyond gender. During Black History Month, she collaborated with various departments and Public Health England to secure a £1,000 budget. This funding enabled a catering company to provide celebratory food, mindfulness sessions, and even dance lessons for both staff and prisoners. The event was a resounding success, garnering positive feedback and a strong desire for similar events in the future.

Undeterred by a lack of budget, Oana organised a Wellbeing Day for staff. She secured the participation of organizations like Andy’s Man Club and Open to Nutrition, while also incorporating staff network support. This holistic approach reminded staff of the resources available to them through HMPPS partner networks.

For the past six years, Oana has consistently provided yoga sessions for both staff and prisoners. These sessions have demonstrably improved mental health and well-being within the prison community.

Oana’s leadership extends beyond her current role. Having attended Leadership School herself, she took the initiative to organise leadership workshops for staff. She continues to promote the Leadership School and actively encourages and supports colleagues in their applications.

Even after transitioning roles due to funding changes, Oana’s commitment to well-being remains unwavering. She continues to collaborate with the communications team to publish weekly updates, reminding staff of available resources and local community events that promote well-being.

Supporting Documentation

Testimonials

Oana says “I do these things because I am passionate about wellbeing for staff and prisoners, and I strongly believe it has an impact in the work environment and how people feel coming into work”

Other people say…

‘Thanks. It’s great that you spread awareness for mindfulness. It’s a great tool, especially in a place like this. May you be well happy and at peace’

‘Very good session, actually took my mind away from everything I was thinking about before the session. It’s something I will take away with me and continue doing daily. Thank you very much for opening me up to this experience’

‘Presented techniques really changed how I feel, it made me feel easier, happier. It worked well for me and I will definitely use it in the future. I will welcome such a workshop again in the future. Thank you’

‘The mindfulness session was very good. It showed some breathing techniques that can be used in the cell’

‘Really great session, XXX is a fantastic mindfulness teacher. She understands the body and mind and how we can connect with both extremely well. I would recommend this session to everyone’

‘Session was very relaxing and took me away from daily stress’

‘Really helped me focus my thoughts and helped me learn more about my breathing. A big thank you’

Additional Information

Oana has been proactively involved in wellbeing of staff and prisoners as well as cyclical events and protected characteristic activity with HMP Wandsworth.

She spearheaded the Women in the workplace focus groups initiative in HMP Wandsworth working with Governor Caisi Byrnes to develop workshops, focus groups and events. These included workshops for women in the workplace to help them become more confident challenging inappropriate behaviours and how to spot when they are becoming a target or put into a vulnerable position. The International Women’s Day event was a particular highlight. Staff celebrated their female colleagues in the workplace, which resulted in over 50 hand written submissions of personal testimony displayed at the exhibition event.

For Black History Month Oana worked with a committee to develop a programme of activity that included a 2-day event for staff and prisoners. She partnered Live Karma Yoga, a local wellbeing business and was awarded grant funding from Public Health England to deliver activity. This included African Dance sessions for staff and prisoners and mindfulness and yoga sessions, all themed to Black History Month with nearly 100 people participating.

Oana also leads the prisons Wellbeing events. She has been instrumental in reviving the post-pandemic wellbeing activity providing staff a much-needed moral lift. And she did this without a budget. Working with prison service partner networks, local businesses, and external organisations to put on an event day in locations across the prison.

Oana also delivers regular Yoga session in the prison, starting in 2018, she trained as a Yoga instructor to deliver session to staff and prisoners. Each week hourly sessions are held with regular attendance of up to 20 people dedicated to their Yoga practice.  Many who have never been involved in Yoga previously.

Oana always seeks to better herself, learn and grow in her personal and professional career but also by helping others to do the same. As an advocate of the prison service leadership school, Spark, having attended the training herself Oana went on to share the opportunities it represents with other staff in Wandsworth. She volunteered with the leadership capacity team to create awareness about joining the school and presented a training session in Wandsworth resulting in 3 people applying to join the school and 2 going on to join Spark and gain leadership roles in the prison. Oana’s passion for wellbeing is a priority for her and the willingness to support staff extends to the staff newsletter for which she has written supportive wellbeing articles for staff on a weekly basis. As well as recording regular prisoner focused wellbeing pieces for local prison radio.

She also developed a series of local noticeboards in each staff room focused on wellbeing and information for staff, recognising that most operational staff do not have the time to sit on a PC, but would instead read regularly updated information on a noticeboard while at rest.

Oana Coman is a key part of the health and wellbeing of the prison, but when you consider her day job is a Prison Education Officer, which she also excels at, the above information shows that she goes above and beyond taking a pay check.

Sign Off

Oana has supported the wellbeing agenda at HMP Wandsworth during a difficult time for the prison when staff are most in need of this support. Despite her day to day role as a Physical Education Instructor, she has taken on these roles due to her own proactivity and passion for supporting others and she’s a real asset to the Service.

Laura Yardy

Governor, HMP Wandsworth