Natasha Porter OBE
@natashaporter.bsky.social
CEO and founder Unlocked Graduates
Board for Children’s Commissioner, Impetus, Get Further & The Times Crime and Justice commissioner. Young Australian of the year in the UK 2025.
Into all things education/prison reform/leadership
Board for Children’s Commissioner, Impetus, Get Further & The Times Crime and Justice commissioner. Young Australian of the year in the UK 2025.
Into all things education/prison reform/leadership
The politicians are right!
Let's move away from sweets and games consoles as rewards in prison!
Instead let's have industrious environments, high-quality education and work, programmes to help behaviour change, and highly trained expert staff!
Should cost about the same, right?
Let's move away from sweets and games consoles as rewards in prison!
Instead let's have industrious environments, high-quality education and work, programmes to help behaviour change, and highly trained expert staff!
Should cost about the same, right?
October 16, 2025 at 9:09 AM
The politicians are right!
Let's move away from sweets and games consoles as rewards in prison!
Instead let's have industrious environments, high-quality education and work, programmes to help behaviour change, and highly trained expert staff!
Should cost about the same, right?
Let's move away from sweets and games consoles as rewards in prison!
Instead let's have industrious environments, high-quality education and work, programmes to help behaviour change, and highly trained expert staff!
Should cost about the same, right?
Reposted by Natasha Porter OBE
Writing in @russellwebster.com's blog, Unlocked's CEO and Founder @natashaporter.bsky.social explained the role that our new book Leading Prison Landings: The Unlocked Guide to Jailcraft can play in supporting prison officers to improve their relational practice and have the greatest possible impact
September 16, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Writing in @russellwebster.com's blog, Unlocked's CEO and Founder @natashaporter.bsky.social explained the role that our new book Leading Prison Landings: The Unlocked Guide to Jailcraft can play in supporting prison officers to improve their relational practice and have the greatest possible impact
This is HUGE news!
After 9 years of research and testing and analysis, we are FINALLY releasing this @unlockedgrads.bsky.social book! Harry Fletcher-Wood is the brilliant co-author, and there's even a foreword by the amazing Alison Liebling! 👊
After 9 years of research and testing and analysis, we are FINALLY releasing this @unlockedgrads.bsky.social book! Harry Fletcher-Wood is the brilliant co-author, and there's even a foreword by the amazing Alison Liebling! 👊
Finally, a toolkit for those doing the hardest job in the hardest place. Introducing Leading Prison Landings: The Unlocked Guide to Jailcraft – the first codification of what expert relational practice looks like as a prison officer and how to master it. unlockedgrads.org.uk/news-item/in...
August 19, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This is HUGE news!
After 9 years of research and testing and analysis, we are FINALLY releasing this @unlockedgrads.bsky.social book! Harry Fletcher-Wood is the brilliant co-author, and there's even a foreword by the amazing Alison Liebling! 👊
After 9 years of research and testing and analysis, we are FINALLY releasing this @unlockedgrads.bsky.social book! Harry Fletcher-Wood is the brilliant co-author, and there's even a foreword by the amazing Alison Liebling! 👊
Really struggling to understand how people can be AGAINST legislation that limits children’s access to pornography and extreme violence online. Especially because we know unfettered internet access is damaging children and our society, and is giving easy access to predators.
August 1, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Really struggling to understand how people can be AGAINST legislation that limits children’s access to pornography and extreme violence online. Especially because we know unfettered internet access is damaging children and our society, and is giving easy access to predators.
Low key offended that the Bluesky age verification thing took about a millisecond to work out from scanning my face that I am an adult.
Also though, quite brilliant that this has been introduced!
Also though, quite brilliant that this has been introduced!
July 25, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Low key offended that the Bluesky age verification thing took about a millisecond to work out from scanning my face that I am an adult.
Also though, quite brilliant that this has been introduced!
Also though, quite brilliant that this has been introduced!
Such a lovely evening with Public First / Stonehaven celebrating the arrival of summer! Loved catching up with so many of the best people 🙌
Also V&A is just the best place for an evening of summer drinks 💕
Also V&A is just the best place for an evening of summer drinks 💕
June 12, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Such a lovely evening with Public First / Stonehaven celebrating the arrival of summer! Loved catching up with so many of the best people 🙌
Also V&A is just the best place for an evening of summer drinks 💕
Also V&A is just the best place for an evening of summer drinks 💕
Delighted to be invited by @thefea.bsky.social to speak to a group of founders and CEOs about setting up a board of trustees.
I have an incredible board at @unlockedgrads.bsky.social, and also lucky to be on a number of brilliant boards, so it was great to share what I’ve seen work and not!
I have an incredible board at @unlockedgrads.bsky.social, and also lucky to be on a number of brilliant boards, so it was great to share what I’ve seen work and not!
June 10, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Delighted to be invited by @thefea.bsky.social to speak to a group of founders and CEOs about setting up a board of trustees.
I have an incredible board at @unlockedgrads.bsky.social, and also lucky to be on a number of brilliant boards, so it was great to share what I’ve seen work and not!
I have an incredible board at @unlockedgrads.bsky.social, and also lucky to be on a number of brilliant boards, so it was great to share what I’ve seen work and not!
Reposted by Natasha Porter OBE
'We must get real about how much support many prisoners need'
@natashaporter.bsky.social of Unlocked Graduates warns that David Gauke's prisoner early release plan needs to unlock opportunities, not just doors
@natashaporter.bsky.social of Unlocked Graduates warns that David Gauke's prisoner early release plan needs to unlock opportunities, not just doors
feweek.co.uk
June 5, 2025 at 8:37 AM
'We must get real about how much support many prisoners need'
@natashaporter.bsky.social of Unlocked Graduates warns that David Gauke's prisoner early release plan needs to unlock opportunities, not just doors
@natashaporter.bsky.social of Unlocked Graduates warns that David Gauke's prisoner early release plan needs to unlock opportunities, not just doors
Take a look at my piece in @feweek.bsky.social on why the proposed incentives to get prisoners engaging in education have the potential to be incredible, but how easy it will be to screw the whole thing up (and of course, how to make sure it isn’t!)
feweek.co.uk/early-prison...
feweek.co.uk/early-prison...
Early release incentive could fix broken prison education
Plan to reward prisoners for engaging in education with early release must unlock real opportunities, not just doors
feweek.co.uk
June 5, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Take a look at my piece in @feweek.bsky.social on why the proposed incentives to get prisoners engaging in education have the potential to be incredible, but how easy it will be to screw the whole thing up (and of course, how to make sure it isn’t!)
feweek.co.uk/early-prison...
feweek.co.uk/early-prison...
Love seeing this! HMP Manchester had an urgent notification about 6 months ago (prison equivalent of special measures), and @unlockedgrads.bsky.social participants there really wanted to help create more rehabilitative opportunities for the prisoners in their care. This is one of those ideas!
June 4, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Love seeing this! HMP Manchester had an urgent notification about 6 months ago (prison equivalent of special measures), and @unlockedgrads.bsky.social participants there really wanted to help create more rehabilitative opportunities for the prisoners in their care. This is one of those ideas!
Really brilliant, inspiring piece on how hugely rewarding - as well as challenging - being a foster parent is.
(Also if you’re in London, Now Foster is up and running and offers extra support for new foster parents)
www.thetimes.com/article/f8e4...
(Also if you’re in London, Now Foster is up and running and offers extra support for new foster parents)
www.thetimes.com/article/f8e4...
‘Fostering was exhausting. But it made our lives so much richer’
For ten years Caroline Scott and her husband were both parents and foster carers. She reveals what it takes to look after traumatised children, and why she adopted one of them
www.thetimes.com
May 31, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Really brilliant, inspiring piece on how hugely rewarding - as well as challenging - being a foster parent is.
(Also if you’re in London, Now Foster is up and running and offers extra support for new foster parents)
www.thetimes.com/article/f8e4...
(Also if you’re in London, Now Foster is up and running and offers extra support for new foster parents)
www.thetimes.com/article/f8e4...
Our COO at @unlockedgrads.bsky.social Libby is off on mat leave today, and we are so excited to be welcoming a new smallest person to the wider Unlocked family soon!
I’m really proud to run an organisation where we really support incredible women to have children while in c-suite jobs 💪
I’m really proud to run an organisation where we really support incredible women to have children while in c-suite jobs 💪
May 30, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Our COO at @unlockedgrads.bsky.social Libby is off on mat leave today, and we are so excited to be welcoming a new smallest person to the wider Unlocked family soon!
I’m really proud to run an organisation where we really support incredible women to have children while in c-suite jobs 💪
I’m really proud to run an organisation where we really support incredible women to have children while in c-suite jobs 💪
Scandinavia is often an unhelpful comparator for public service reform, but I really believe this model could be transformative.
Frontline staff being empowered and developed so they can lead a culture of rehabilitation is very exciting!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Frontline staff being empowered and developed so they can lead a culture of rehabilitation is very exciting!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Scandi beige: two crisis-hit prisons to convert wings into calming Nordic units | The Observer
Independent journalism | News, culture & style | Investigations, analysis, features, ideas, recipes, newsletters & podcasts that make sense of the world
observer.co.uk
May 25, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Scandinavia is often an unhelpful comparator for public service reform, but I really believe this model could be transformative.
Frontline staff being empowered and developed so they can lead a culture of rehabilitation is very exciting!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Frontline staff being empowered and developed so they can lead a culture of rehabilitation is very exciting!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Despite the headline here, I actually think this Gauke review recommendation could be a game changer and am very much in favour - but only if it’s delivered well!
‘No evidence’ early prison release scheme will work, expert warns
www.thetimes.com/article/73ff...
‘No evidence’ early prison release scheme will work, expert warns
www.thetimes.com/article/73ff...
‘No evidence’ early prison release scheme will work, expert warns
The government’s plan to reduce the prison population will fail without ‘purposeful activity’ in jails, says head of prison officer training scheme
www.thetimes.com
May 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Despite the headline here, I actually think this Gauke review recommendation could be a game changer and am very much in favour - but only if it’s delivered well!
‘No evidence’ early prison release scheme will work, expert warns
www.thetimes.com/article/73ff...
‘No evidence’ early prison release scheme will work, expert warns
www.thetimes.com/article/73ff...
This from the Gauke sentencing review is exactly what is needed - sentencing which recognises and rewards prisoners’ engagement in purposeful activity and education whilst in prison.
Now we need to build a prison system which can effectively deliver this.
Now we need to build a prison system which can effectively deliver this.
May 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
This from the Gauke sentencing review is exactly what is needed - sentencing which recognises and rewards prisoners’ engagement in purposeful activity and education whilst in prison.
Now we need to build a prison system which can effectively deliver this.
Now we need to build a prison system which can effectively deliver this.
I am on a train and then man next to me has just taken his shoes and socks off, and the man opposite has now taken his shoes off.
Has this become a thing that people do?!
Has this become a thing that people do?!
May 22, 2025 at 9:37 AM
I am on a train and then man next to me has just taken his shoes and socks off, and the man opposite has now taken his shoes off.
Has this become a thing that people do?!
Has this become a thing that people do?!
This is a must read article for anyone considering school mental health interventions. It also should make us more wary if considering how universal “trauma informed approaches” are rolled out across schools.
Targeted approaches delivered by experts seem to have the best evidence.
Targeted approaches delivered by experts seem to have the best evidence.
Mental-health lessons not only don't work, in some cases they're making things worse.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... pbs.twimg.com/media/Grc4V5...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... pbs.twimg.com/media/Grc4V5...
May 21, 2025 at 7:50 AM
This is a must read article for anyone considering school mental health interventions. It also should make us more wary if considering how universal “trauma informed approaches” are rolled out across schools.
Targeted approaches delivered by experts seem to have the best evidence.
Targeted approaches delivered by experts seem to have the best evidence.
V interesting data crunching from @impetus.org.uk out today looking into who ends up being NEET ideally so we can stop it happening so often. And this really matters because 1 in 7 young adults are currently NEET!
May 20, 2025 at 8:53 PM
V interesting data crunching from @impetus.org.uk out today looking into who ends up being NEET ideally so we can stop it happening so often. And this really matters because 1 in 7 young adults are currently NEET!
Suddenly got subtitles? Not sure how I feel about this.
May 17, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Suddenly got subtitles? Not sure how I feel about this.
Hoping the return of EU youth mobility scheme means the return of a thriving aupair sector!
www.thetimes.com/article/91ba...
www.thetimes.com/article/91ba...
Keir Starmer opens door to EU youth mobility scheme
The prime minister said the scheme would not herald a return to free movement
www.thetimes.com
May 17, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Hoping the return of EU youth mobility scheme means the return of a thriving aupair sector!
www.thetimes.com/article/91ba...
www.thetimes.com/article/91ba...
Very proud to have these @unlockedgrads.bsky.social celebrated tonight at a Ministry of Justice awards event.
Eli for introducing a library and culture of reading onto the induction unit where he works, and Jim for bringing in a system to better support diabetic prisoners across his prison!
Eli for introducing a library and culture of reading onto the induction unit where he works, and Jim for bringing in a system to better support diabetic prisoners across his prison!
May 8, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Very proud to have these @unlockedgrads.bsky.social celebrated tonight at a Ministry of Justice awards event.
Eli for introducing a library and culture of reading onto the induction unit where he works, and Jim for bringing in a system to better support diabetic prisoners across his prison!
Eli for introducing a library and culture of reading onto the induction unit where he works, and Jim for bringing in a system to better support diabetic prisoners across his prison!
The first time I went into a prison that held children, I saw a pile of familiar children’s books, including Jacqueline Wilson’s Sleepovers, outside the cell of a 15 year old boy who had to be unlocked by three prison officers wearing full riot gear.
feweek.co.uk/locked-up-yo...
feweek.co.uk/locked-up-yo...
We know why locked-up young offenders know each other
New research exposes the startling truth about where young offenders come from
feweek.co.uk
May 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The first time I went into a prison that held children, I saw a pile of familiar children’s books, including Jacqueline Wilson’s Sleepovers, outside the cell of a 15 year old boy who had to be unlocked by three prison officers wearing full riot gear.
feweek.co.uk/locked-up-yo...
feweek.co.uk/locked-up-yo...
So excited @unlockedgrads.bsky.social has codified an instructional coaching model for prison officers for the first time!
We hope this revolutionises prison officer training, offering a new evidence-based approach to reflect the enormous challenges and complexities of the role.
We hope this revolutionises prison officer training, offering a new evidence-based approach to reflect the enormous challenges and complexities of the role.
May 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
So excited @unlockedgrads.bsky.social has codified an instructional coaching model for prison officers for the first time!
We hope this revolutionises prison officer training, offering a new evidence-based approach to reflect the enormous challenges and complexities of the role.
We hope this revolutionises prison officer training, offering a new evidence-based approach to reflect the enormous challenges and complexities of the role.
I’ve been at a couple of events focused on creating more inclusive schools recently, and it’s such a disconnect between what behaviour some people think schools should accept to be inclusive, and how chaotic, unsafe and non inclusive a school would be if it actually allowed that behaviour.
March 31, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I’ve been at a couple of events focused on creating more inclusive schools recently, and it’s such a disconnect between what behaviour some people think schools should accept to be inclusive, and how chaotic, unsafe and non inclusive a school would be if it actually allowed that behaviour.