AWARD WINNER 2023-24: Winston receives an Award for his unique talent and infectious approach as a Tailoring Instructor at HMP Downview, and for his relentless drive to empower the women he works with, and make a lasting difference to their lives; to his manager, “he is a credit to the Service”, to the women, “he’s a hero”.
[Winston’s Award is supported by G4S Care & Rehabilitation Services.]

Winston’s nomination

Initial Recommendation

Winston was initially recommended by: John Fraser, Line Manager, HMP Downview.

Winston Rose is a third generation Tailor and has worked for HMPPS for nearly 5 years. In that time he has trained countless women in sewing and textiles techniques, enabling them to gain ABC qualifications in Textiles.

Winston has a unique teaching technique and always takes time to explain to the ladies exactly what’s happening and takes them through the processes step by step. Every morning he holds team meetings where he goes through the work scheduled for the day. He has instilled confidence in ladies who were shy and ensures everyone in the workshop works as a team.

I have been his Line Manager since he started, and he is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is a credit to the Prison Service and deserves to be nominated. From the moment I interviewed him I could see that we had someone who loved everything about teaching and the fashion trade.

During Covid, Winston was instrumental in ensuring the workshop remained open 5 days per week. He re-configured the workshop to ensure women could work safely distanced. Working with a small cohort of women, he supplied PSPI and local hospitals with much needed supplies of PPE. Being able to work through Covid had a massive benefit on the women’s mental health and gave them a huge sense of purpose.

Winston is a great teacher and organiser and makes sure every woman in the workshop is engaged in doing work they enjoy rather than doing it as a necessity. Winston has given up his own time to accompany women on their first day of ROTL to London College of Fashion to ensure they get there safely and on time. On several occasions Winston has even helped the women make clothing for interviews.

Winston brings years of training and skills to the workshop, but his biggest asset is the ability to understand the needs of a group of very complex women. Being able to teach, guide and understand students in a prison environment is a magnificent trait, and to be able to do all this with compassion as well takes it to a different level.

Further Information (from HMP Downview)

HMP Downview provided the following additional testimony in support of Winston’s nomination

Winston is a well-known and popular character around the whole prison. Winston knows everyone and always has a word for you from the moment he walks in the front gate.

People that have worked with Winston describe a dedicated person who enjoys his work, likes being in the prison and shows an interest in everyone and all areas of the site.

Winston is described as a caring man and a big character. Winston welcomes staff and visitors to the London College of Fashion workshop and is proud of it and the work and learning that the women achieve.

There are numerous stories of Winston supporting women in their work and their learning, progressing through the qualifications and being successful, including those who have made it through to release on temporary licence and those who have gone on into employment after release because of the skills and approach to work they have gained because of him. Many of these women have had no formal learning or qualifications before, so the distance they have had to travel is significant, and they have done so with the trust in Winston and the support he gives.

More than that, Winston has given chances to women, opportunities to work and learn. Women have described become more settled, feeling more confident, and having some focus and finding goals to achieve.

One of the supporting letters from a prisoner says “Not all heroes wear capes, some wear Nike Air Jordans”.

Claire Swift is the Director of Social Responsibility at the University of the Arts, London College of Fashion, and said this about Winston:

“Winston Rose has excellent specialist skills coming from generations of military tailors. As a colleague of many years at London College of Fashion, I was privileged to work with him on academic modules in which Winston taught his expert knowledge to many students over the years.”

He works in detail, expressing his skills through his innate ability to work with different types of cloth, engaging and captivating new generations of learners through technical methodologies, skills and processes, alongside narrative stories and histories of craft and heritage. His students remained loyal to Winston, returning time and again as they went on to gain careers in the tailoring industry, but Winston remained a mentor and supporter of their craft, encouraging them to grow and develop, becoming experts in their own right.

Winston has translated this knowledge into building relationships with his learners, one based on an admiration of the pure craft of tailoring. Through these skills he encourages learners to become more confident in their own skills, talent and abilities, taking on a complete transformation through a dying craft. He is one of the few specialists in this area within the industry; a unique individual, mentor, expert and supporter of making and the self-confidence it can instil into all learners of this craft.

Within his transition into the prison environment, Winston has employed the same tools to encourage the women learners in ‘Making for Change’, as a specialist, teacher and mentor. Winston is admired and respected by the women and staff as they find the joy of learning a craft skill helps them to develop their self-esteem and confidence to do better and take agency over their lives.

Sign off

The nomination was signed off by the Governor, Amy Dixon.

Winston is an exceptional Instructor, and a fabulous character. Winston brings a light, an energy and a level of passion and enthusiasm that is to be admired and applauded.

Winston Rose provides inspirational leadership to those women prisoners who pass through the London College of Fashion workshop. It is clear from the feedback of the women that his skills as a tailor are augmented by his skills as a teacher and leader.

The London College of Fashion maintained service manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment for community settings throughout the pandemic and Winston Rose was central to the effort, motivating women prisoners to contribute to this work and he deserves recognition for it. To be able to assist at a time where others were unable to manufacture the volumes required not only kept our women out at work and aided in a national emergency but also shows that Winston’s work is central to our drive for rehabilitation.

Desistance is helped when our women know they are helping – and are a part of something – to be able to be a part of something like that has undoubtedly touched so many lives for the better. His workshop continues to provide uniforms for healthcare settings.

Winston is able to work well with our most troubled and our most vulnerable, and his interaction with them makes a real and sustainable difference. His workshop is a safe, calm and productive space within our prison. There is real daily enjoyment and development (personal and professional) for the women working within Winston’s workshop – and it is clear that Winston takes as much from his work as the women do.

Winston is as passionate about the positive journey of our women as he is about tailoring. He has delivered a place of excellence for learning, development and work as well as real employment outcomes for women on release. It is the work of people like our fabulous Winston that enable us to deliver the current highest outcomes in the closed women’s estate for employment on release.