What does meaningful neurodiversity support look like for young women in prison?
At Unlock Drama, our work across women in justice, neurodiversity and rehabilitation is rooted in creating environments where participants can engage in ways that work for them.
In August 2026, we delivered our first Neurodiversity Project at HMP Foston Hall, working with neurodivergent young women aged 18–25.
The project used applied theatre and creative practice to explore neurodiversity, confidence, communication, teamwork and self-expression.
The impact demonstrates what can happen when neurodivergent women in prison are given a safe, inclusive and adaptable environment in which to participate, connect and recognise their strengths.
Understanding neurodiversity in women’s prisons
There is no single way in which a neurodivergent person learns, communicates or participates.
That principle was fundamental to this project.
The young women entered with different levels of confidence, communication styles and experiences of custody. Some were immediately comfortable contributing, while others preferred to observe before participating.
Our facilitators adapted the delivery rather than expecting participants to adapt to one fixed approach.
Clear structure, written and visual information, practical demonstrations, modelling, movement breaks and step-by-step instructions were incorporated into the programme. Participants were given different ways to access information and opportunities to engage at their own pace.
As the project progressed, facilitators observed increasing trust, collaboration and mutual support within the group.
For Unlock Drama, this is an important part of neurodiversity-informed practice within the criminal justice system: recognising individual strengths and needs and creating an environment in which different ways of communicating, thinking and learning are valued.
From isolation to connection
One of the strongest themes to emerge was social connection.
By the end of the project, participants spoke about making new friends, becoming more comfortable talking to people and developing confidence working as part of a team.
One young woman told us:
“Helped me to socialise and gain confidence. I actually went to the gym for the first time in ages as I had friends to go with from T wing.”
Another reflected:
“How much I spoke to others, I normally keep myself to myself.”
For another participant, who spoke limited English, the impact of connection was particularly significant:
“I have learned more English, practiced it and integrated more. There are no other Romanian prisoners here, so I am on my own, but now I have friends.”
For women in prison, opportunities to develop connection, trust and a sense of belonging can be incredibly important.
Building confidence in young women in custody
Confidence was another significant area of development.
By the end of the project, every participant completing both evaluations rated their confidence at six or above, with some rating themselves 10/10.
Participants described themselves as:
“More chatty.”
“A lot calmer.”
“Working in a team better and more confidence.”
“Speaking a bit more.”
One young woman said she had “come out of my comfort zone a lot.”
Participants also noticed changes in each other, describing people becoming more outgoing, coming out of their shells and growing in confidence.
Neurodiversity, identity and being yourself
The project wasn’t simply about developing skills. It created opportunities for young women to explore and better understand their own neurodiversity.
One participant said:
“It helped me to understand that having a neurodiversity is okay and you are not ‘weird’.”
Another reflected:
“That it is okay to be different. With ADHD I often feel different and misunderstood by others, but I feel so myself here.”
And one of the simplest pieces of feedback was perhaps one of the most powerful:
“Thank you so much for letting me be me.”
For our work with neurodivergent women in the criminal justice system, those words matter.
Inclusive practice isn’t about expecting somebody to change the way they think, communicate or learn in order to participate.
It is about creating different routes into participation and recognising the strengths an individual already possesses.
Supporting engagement and purposeful activity in prison
Engagement was another important outcome.
All seven participants who completed both the pre- and post-project evaluations attended every session.
One young woman reflected:
“Waking up on time and coming to every session. When I woke up I have actually wanted to come to these sessions and felt keen. I am never normally like that and will always just quit.”
Another described the importance of completing something:
“I also never normally finish anything as I will get bored or forget about it. But it has been nice to see something to the end and see the end result.”
The post-project evaluation also showed that all participants agreed or strongly agreed that they were motivated to take part in education or other activities.
For women in prison, meaningful and purposeful activity can provide opportunities not only to occupy time, but to experience achievement, responsibility, collaboration and progress.
Using lived experience to increase understanding of neurodiversity
The young women didn’t just explore their own experiences. They used theatre to communicate those experiences to others.
Together, participants developed an original mockumentary-style piece exploring everyday experiences of being neurodivergent in prison.
They highlighted how apparently simple situations can become challenging and considered practical ways in which greater understanding, patience and adjustments could improve communication.
One participant explained:
“Something that is as simple as a form like we did in the play can be hard for people and they may need an extra hand and patience.”
Another said:
“To show people that those who are neurodivergent experience the world differently, especially prison as it can be very overwhelming. However we are still very capable.”
This is one of the strengths of applied theatre in prisons. Participants are not simply recipients of an intervention. Their lived experiences can become the starting point for reflection, conversation and greater understanding.
Creative rehabilitation and women in justice
Rehabilitation is complex and cannot be attributed to a single short-term intervention.
However, this project identified positive changes in areas that can support engagement with rehabilitation, including confidence, communication, motivation, relationships, self-understanding and empathy.
Participants themselves made that connection.
One young woman said:
“It shows prisoners that they can do anything they put their mind to. It doesn’t matter that you are in jail.”
Another reflected:
“Shown me that there are different ways to express yourself and communicate. I feel a lot less angry about my situation… I feel I understand other people more as they are going through the same things as me.”
For Unlock Drama, creative rehabilitation is about creating opportunities for people to recognise strengths, develop skills, build relationships and experience themselves differently.
The impact in numbers
⭐ 100% of participants completing the evaluation would recommend the project to others.
⭐ 86% rated the project 10/10.
⭐ The remaining participant rated it 9/10.
⭐ 71% reported feeling “Amazing” at the end of the project.
⭐ All seven participants completing both evaluations attended every session.
⭐ Every participant completing both evaluations rated their confidence 6 or above at the end of the project.
⭐ All participants completing the post-project evaluation agreed or strongly agreed that they were motivated to participate in education or other activities.
Yet perhaps the clearest indication of how the young women experienced Unlock Drama came from the words they chose themselves:
Confidence. Achievement. Discovery. Teamwork. New friends. Laughter. Resilience. Strong. Progress.
And, written proudly on the word cloud they created together:
“SMASHED IT.”
Continuing our work with women in justice
This first project at HMP Foston Hall demonstrates the potential of combining neurodiversity-informed practice, applied theatre and creative rehabilitation within women’s prisons.
It also reinforces something central to Unlock Drama’s approach: successful engagement does not require everyone to participate in the same way.
When we create flexible environments, listen to lived experience and recognise individual strengths, we create opportunities for people to participate, connect and discover what they are capable of.
For these young women, that meant new friendships, greater confidence, increased communication, a stronger sense of achievement and, for some, a different understanding of themselves.
As one participant put it:
“Be yourself. You don’t have to change for anyone and no one should expect you to.”
That feels like a fitting reflection of what this project achieved.
Interested in partnering with Unlock Drama to deliver neurodiversity, rehabilitation or women in justice projects?
