S21 Ep7: The Greatest Misconceptions About Women in Prison with Lady Edwina Grosvenor Justice System Reformer, Founder & Chair of One Small Thing

What drives someone born into one of the UK’s most prominent aristocratic families to dedicate their life to prison reform, particularly advocating for the needs of women behind bars?

In this episode, Holly speaks with the remarkable Lady Edwina Grosvenor, whose background might lead you to expect a life of privilege and tradition—but her story is anything but conventional. Edwina shares how, “From a really young age, I felt that injustice of the luck of birth,” an early realisation that sparked her commitment to the most marginalised members of society.

From the impact of privilege on her perspectives to her work in addressing the systemic injustices faced by incarcerated women—like the lack of access to basic necessities—Edwina shares a rare, firsthand view of the hidden world of prisons. She dives into the complex relationship between domestic violence and incarceration rates, and why trauma-informed care is essential for breaking cycles of recidivism.

She challenges us all: “Do we want our prisons to be warehouses for the incorrigible or greenhouses for the redeemable?” Her vision for a more compassionate justice system is clear: “Should we be helping people to lead a better life or should we be actively preventing it?”

Listen now for a conversation that will open your eyes, challenge your assumptions, and inspire you to consider how empathy can drive real change. Join us in exploring the hidden world of prisons and the transformative power of hope.

Win an Independent Ad Break on Conversations of Inspiration: Are you a founder with a story to share? Enter for a chance to win your own ad break on this podcast. This opportunity is brought to you in partnership with Dell Technologies, supporting startups with expert advice and scalable solutions.

Exclusive Dell discount for Conversations of Inspiration listeners: Save up to 20% through Dell Exclusive Offers by using your email and the exclusive Holly & Co password: ‘HCO’.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions about the deaths of babies, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you need to, please skip from 26 to 28 minutes. Take care while listening.