Bearing Gifts: Launch Event at HMP Leicester – 27th June 2025

On Friday 27th June 2025, HMP Leicester opened its doors to welcome guests for the official launch of Bearing Gifts – an inspiring new initiative that is stitching together reparation, sustainability, and social impact from behind prison walls.

Bearing Gifts empowers prisoners to repurpose textile waste into beautifully handcrafted patchwork teddy bears. Each bear sold funds the donation of a twin bear to a child in need, creating a symbolic and tangible bridge of empathy between prisoners and the wider community.

At the launch guests heard from Paddy, the prisoner whose creativity and determination sparked the idea, met the team and partners involved, including FEL’s Fashion Technology Academy, as well as visiting the prison workshop, where the bears are made.

With expert training from FEL’s – Fashion Technology Academy, participants gain industry-recognised qualifications that provide a vital stepping stone toward employment or entrepreneurship upon release.

Talking about the initiative TJ Hussein, Head of Compliance at Fashion-Enter Ltd commented: “Over the past few months, I’ve been involved in the development of the Bearing Gifts Stitching Academy at HMP Leicester, ensuring that their new workspace reflects the same high standards that we uphold across all our www.FCFTA.com campuses.

“Fashion-Enter Ltd / FTA has taken great care to ensure that every machine in the academy is fully compliant, fit for purpose, and ready for immediate use. We’ve also organised and supplied all their fabrics and trims – providing more than were required because we are fully committed to supporting this innovative and important programme from the ground up.

“The studio itself has been designed with a lean and efficient layout. It’s been completely repainted and upgraded with new electrics to provide a fresh, professional, and inspiring environment for all who use it.

“Good luck to everyone involved. We’re proud to be part of something so positive and forward-thinking.”

Fashion-Enter Ltd / FTA CEO, Jenny Holloway, added: “When I first met Helen Cox at HMP Leicester I was absolutely committed to making this concept of Bearing Gifts work. I met Paddy who explained how the traveller community says; ‘I half my heart for you’ as an expression of love. He then rolled that forward to create two bears that share two halves of one heart. Each loved one, be that a partner or child, owns a bear with a half a heart to create a whole heart when reunited together.

“To further support the programme we have spent days of development time in creating the bears. I have no doubt that HMP Leicester will further develop and create new and exciting variations of the teddy. Paddy has so many ideas and we wish everyone so much success. Additionally, Fashion-Enter Ltd will be training the new instructor at the visit to a Level 1 stitching standard.

“Our absolute grateful thanks to Nick Campsie and the Tasso Foundation. Without Nick’s amazing support this program could not have been launched!”

Nick Campsie, Tasso Foundation, said: “Patrick deserves huge credit for this initiative, as do the staff at HMP Leicester. The Tasso Foundation is proud to support Bearing Gifts as it shows how creativity and compassion can drive real rehabilitation and change lives both inside and outside prison walls.”

“We are so grateful to be part of this inspiring project. It was incredible to witness the journey from an initial idea to a fully equipped workroom within HMP Leicester,” saidBeth Davy-Day, FEL’s, Creative Director. “Paddy’s passion and dedication to Bearing Gifts is truly inspiring. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with the inmates—helping them develop their stitching skills and building their confidence as they create the beautiful Bearing Gifts bears.”

Jo Bean, FTA Leicester tutor (pictured right) added: “After meeting Paddy in the workshop it was great to hear the story behind the idea of Bearing Gifts, with each teddy bear having a heart that is detachable to enable anyone who may be leaving loved ones behind so they can share a bear until they are reunited, or they can be gifted to a child in need.”

To find out more about this programme visit: https://bearing-gifts.co.uk/