I recently had the privilege of attending a graduation ceremony at Portlaoise Prison, Ireland’s highest-security facility, as a guest of the Irish Red Cross Community-Based Health and First Aid in Prisons Programme. It was a powerful and moving experience that will stay with me for a long time.

Alongside me were two of our incredible programme leaders, Melissa and Sandra, who work directly with prisons and support inmates throughout their Red Cross journey. Also in attendance was our Board Chair, Charlie Flanagan, a former Minister for Justice and native of Portlaoise, who was warmly welcomed.

As we exited the prison that evening, the Chief asked us to guess how many doors he’d need to unlock to let us out. We all guessed too low. The answer was seventeen. Seventeen separate doors, gates, and security checks. Every few steps: a pause, a swipe, a beep, a buzz. It brought home the reality of life insideand just how hard the journey out really is.

But that day, inside those seventeen doors, I witnessed something deeply hopeful. In a classroom within the prison walls, families gathered: parents, partners, children, grandchildren – even a twelve-week-old baby. They were there to celebrate a remarkable achievement: the transformation of their loved ones into Irish Red Cross volunteers focused on health, wellbeing and community leadership.

This isn’t just a course – it’s a gateway to becoming part of a global movement. The inmates who take part do so voluntarily, living out one of the fundamental principles of the Red Cross: voluntary service. Through this programme, they learn skills in health education, hygiene, mental health awareness, communication, first aid and CPR. But more than that, they are empowered to design and deliver their own peer-to-peer health projects inside the prison – initiatives that promote safety, wellbeing and dignity for others in their community.

One project focused on daily wellbeing – breathing techniques, gentle movement, and mindfulness. Modest on the surface, but quietly profound in a place where time and mental space are scarce.

This is a proven programme, running successfully in every prison in Ireland. It’s unique in the way it builds community inside the prison walls. It has earned academic attention from University College Cork and a Canadian university, and other Red Cross societies across the world – in Lithuania, Italy and beyond – are now drawing on Ireland’s experience to begin to implement their own versions. We’re sharing our best practice, templates, and learning through a global Red Cross hub.