2 July 2026

Dear Councillor Una O’Halloran and Councillor Ruth Hayes,

We are writing as a collective of specialist women’s organisations, Islington residents, local community groups and public figures to urge you to take action to secure the future of the Holloway women’s centre.

It has now been ten years since HMP Holloway closed in July 2016. This historic site, where Europe’s largest women’s prison once stood and where the suffragettes were once held, has now become Holloway Park, a housing development owned by the housing association Peabody.

The Ministry of Justice sold the site to Peabody in 2019 and they gained planning permission to develop the site in 2022. At that stage, Islington Council ensured there was agreement that the developer would build a women’s centre, which would exist in its own building, to honour Holloway’s legacy and provide vital services to women who need them most. This is because, when HMP Holloway closed, over 30 support services for the most marginalised women in society were also closed. In response to public campaign efforts, Islington recognised that it was important for the women’s centre to maintain that support, as well as to honour HMP Holloway’s legacy as a place for women. 

Ten years since HMP Holloway closed, progress on the women’s centre has stalled. There is still no sustainable funding plan, and no clear leadership from Islington to ensure the future of this much-needed building. Although the council played a key role in developing the section 106 agreement, in recent years, a lack of political will at Islington has left the project solely in the hands of the developer. This puts the future of the women’s centre at risk.

What is a women’s centre?

A women’s centre is not just any community centre. It is a hub for support that helps women to address key social issues including domestic abuse, sexual violence, poverty, trauma, addiction and homelessness. Unlike a prison, it is a site of prevention – not punishment.

Over two thirds (68%) of women in prison have experienced domestic abuse. One in five grew up in the care system and over half report having experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse as a child.

A women’s centre is a safe space for women to turn to where they can find compassion and healing. The Holloway Women's Centre would be run by a group of specialist organisations that understand the specific needs of criminalised women, and are able to provide the support, care and community that they need all in one place.

When women can access the support they need in one trusted place, they get help before things reach a crisis point. When a woman is transformed, it transforms communities for generations, saving funds across all sectors and services in the long run.

Why will funding the women’s centre will save Islington money long-term?

Women’s centres are modelled on prevention and early intervention, which means that they make long-term savings for local authorities. Women In Prison's research from 2022, ‘The value of women’s centres’, found that women’s centres have a benefit-cost ratio of 2.75, meaning for every £1 invested, £2.75 of socioeconomic value is generated. Almost half of the savings made (47%) are returned to the local authority, because support from a women’s centre can reduce long-term and crisis-point demands on health and housing services, as well as a reduction in the number of children entering the care system. 

This distribution of savings demonstrates that investment in a women’s building delivers measurable benefits across a range of public services and departments. It also highlights the potential for cross-departmental and multi-agency funding approaches, given that several state agencies will benefit directly from reduced demand on services and improved long-term outcomes for women.

Why is this important now?

At the time of writing, the Holloway women's centre stands unfinished. The walls are up, but it has not been furnished and there is no secure plan for who will hold the lease. There are expert women’s organisations, spearheaded by Treasures Foundation and The Maya Centre, ready and willing to run services from the building – but first, the council needs to make sure the building can open its doors, and keep them open. 

HMP Holloway is a historic site in feminist history. It's where the suffragettes were once held, along with thousands of other women over 150 years. Without the women’s centre, this legacy will be erased. And there is no better way to make reparations for the historic harms of prison than to build a women’s centre in its place. In doing so, Islington will be leading the way on how our society should treat traumatised women, with the Holloway women’s centre becoming a blueprint for a more compassionate society.

We're calling on Islington Council to honour its commitment to women and deliver the promised women's centre to preserve the legacy of HMP Holloway.

Please act without further delay: 

1. Appoint a named councillor who is responsible for the oversight of the section 106 agreement for Peabody to deliver the Holloway women’s centre;

2. Enter dialogue with the Holloway Women’s Building Collective to ensure the delivery of this historic building;

3. Identify investment to make the women’s centre financially viable long-term, including:

1. Funding for the building’s running costs, which could be cross-borough

2. 100% rate relief for any businesses that operate from the centre

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this further.

Yours sincerely,

Holloway Women’s Building Collective:

Mandy Ogunmokun and Jade Wye, Treasures Foundation

Gona Saed, The Maya Centre

Janey Starling and Seyi Falodun-Liburd, Level Up

Daisy-May Hudson, Filmmaker

Polly Creed, Filmmaker

Supported by:

1. Community Plan 4 Holloway

2. Sawsan Salim, Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women's Organisation

3. Sonya Ruparel, Chief Executive, Women In Prison

4. Deb Coles, Chief Executive, INQUEST

5. Jodie Anderson, Co-lead of casework, INQUEST

6. Sisters Uncut

7. Sandjea-Marie Adassa, Director of Development and Engagement, Advance

8. Antonia May Cross, Director of Communications, Revolving Doors

9. Abbi Ayers, Director of Strategic Development, National Women's Justice Coalition

10. Janaya Walker, Interim Director, End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW)

11. Karen Biggs, Chief Executive, Phoenix Futures

12. Aliyah Ali, CEO, The Daddyless Daughters Project CIC

13. Paula Harriott, CEO, Unlock

14. Dame Harriet Walter

15. Lemn Sissay OBE

16. Razia Hadait MBE, CEO, Himaya Haven

17. Maggie Walsh MBE, A Fairer Chance CIC

18. Baljit Banga, CEO, Hibiscus

19. Indy Cross, Chief Executive, Agenda Alliance

20. Natasha Finlayson, CEO, Working Chance

21. Anna Herrmann, Clean Break Theatre Company

22. Sabrina Mahtani, Founder, Women Beyond Walls

23. Sarbjit Ganger, Director, Asian Women's Resource Centre

24. Laura Childs, Owner of Sāmya Studios, Islington

25. Kay Carter, Healthwatch Islington, Mental Health Partnership Coordinator

26. Margaret Bluman, former Chair of Trustees at The Maya Centre 

27. Nubia Cortes-Chivata, The Maya Centre

28. Claire McElwee, former trustee of The Maya Centre

29. Melanie Silgardo, former trustee of The Maya Centre

30. Lori Skerritt, Communications Officer, The Maya Centre

31. Koya C M Conteh, Specialist Counsellor, The Maya Centre

32. Brigitte, Psychotherapist and Counsellor, The Maya Centre

33. Dionne Wilson-Brown, Trainee counsellor, The Maya Centre

34. Nadine Hamilton, Islington resident and former service user of the Maya Centre  

35. Sophie Benedict, Co-founder and director, Holloway United Therapies

36. Niki Gibbs, Beauty out of Ashes, Blue Sunflower - Freelance Artist

37. Linda Clarke, Local resident and Emeritus Professor University of Westminster

38. Mischa Gwaspari, Contract manager, Together for Mental Wellbeing

39. Danielle Heron, Head of Development, My Life

40. Natasha Eeles, CEO and Founder,  Bold Voices

41. Rhia Canady, CEO, Fly Girl Foundation CIC

42. Faye Dunn, Partnerships Manager, Prison Radio Association 

43. Lisa Hughes-Mawby, Chief operating officer, New Dawn New Day

44. Emma Torr, Co-Director, APPEAL

45. Dr Emma Mastrocola, Women's Prison GP

46. Dr Caroline Stevens, CEO, The Footprints Project

47. Angie Airlie, CEO, Stay Safe East

48. Dr Shona Minson, University of Oxford 

49. Christina Line, CEO, Nelson Trust

50. Naomi Delap, CEO,  Birth Companions

51. Mollin Delve, CEO, Phoebe Centre

52. Ngozi, CEO, Sistah Space

53. Natausha van Vliet, CEO, PACT/Alana House Women's Centre

54. Martine Lignon, Trustee, Prisoners' Advice Service

55. Kay Nicolson, A Way Out

56. Ellie Jones, Bristol Women's Centre Manager, Nelson Trust 

57. Jessica Turtle, Director, Museum of Homelessness 

58. Roxanne Boothe, Specialist Probation Officer

59. Helen Willson, Director, Prisoner Support Services 

60. Niki Adams, LEGAL ACTION FOR WOMEN

61. Nina Lopez, joint co-ordinator, Global Women's Strike

62. Cristel Amiss, Coordinator, Global Women Against Deportations

63. Laura Watson, English Collective of Prostitutes

64. Lisa Longstaff, Women Against Rape

65. Ruth Bundey, Consultant, Harrison Bundey solicitors

66. Lisa Dando, Director, BWC (Brighton Women's Centre)

67. Harriet Morgan, CEO, Cambridge Women's Resources Centre

68. Sarah Johnson, Chair of Cambridge Women's Resources Centre

69. Joy Doal, CEO, Anawim – Birmingham's Centre for Women

70. Amanda Greenwood, CEO Trevi

71. Christina Kennedy, CEO, Greater Manchester Women's Support Alliance

72. Erykah Blackburn, Greater Manchester Women's Support Alliance

73. Abby Lewis, CEO, North Wales Women's Centre

74. Mayameen Meftahi BEM, BeyondTrauma Academy CIC 

75. Anne Burrell, Vice Chair, Probation Institute

76. Loraine Gelsthorpe, Chair, Probation Institute and Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge

77. Jane Ryan, Partner, Bhatt Murphy

78. Sophie Naftalin, Partner, Bhatt Murphy

79. Michela Carini, Solicitor, Bhatt Murphy

80. Phil Stevens, Chair of Board of Trustees, Disability Action Islington 

81. Sarah Le May, Retired Islington Education Social Worker

82. Samantha Singh, Learning Support Assistant, Ambler Primary School 

83. Dr Xandra Miguel Lorenzo, Senior Tutor, North London Foundation Trust Recovery College

84. Linda Yu, Mary Ward Legal Centre

85. Sudeshni Singaperoumal, former Islington Council employee

86. Dr Sonya Baksi, Retired Consultant Community Paediatrician

87. Michele Burman, Criminologist

88. Jane Jutsum, former director, Solace Women's Aid

89. Harriet Wistrich, CEO, Centre for Women's Justice

90. Tuesdae Moncrieffe, Trustee, Birth Companions

91. Christina, Female liaison officer for an addiction recovery charity

92. Farai Sharon Chirekeni, Support worker, Treasures Foundation

93. Kathryn Hodges, Director, PraxisCollab CIC

94. Professor Laura Abbott, Professor of Maternal Health and Criminal Justice, University of Hertfordshire

95. Dr Hope Kent, Research Fellow, University of Nottingham 

96. Jenny Earle, Former Women's Programme lead, Prison Reform Trust

97. Gargi Bhattacharyya, Director of Sarah Parker Remond Centre

98. Faustine Petron, Founder, Make it Mandatory

99. Tracy Edwards. CEO The Maiden Factor Foundation 

100. Angela Costetsos, Outreach Development Practitioner, Open Doors

101. Madeline Petrillo, Associate Professor in Criminology, University of Greenwich

102. Anna Brennan, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers 

103. Phoebe Minson, External Affairs and Communications Lead,  SHiFT

104. Amy Hatfield, Caseworker, Beam

105. Isabel Livingstone, Head of Development, The Women’s Centre Cornwall

106. Dr Rachel Seoighe, Senior Fellow, School of Advanced Study

107. Diane Rogan Sofer, Group Analyst and psychotherapist 

108. Nuala Ginty, Womens Irish Network UK

109. Chiara Capraro, Gender Justice Lead, Amnesty International UK 

110. Frankie Garnons Williams, Associate Director, The Advocacy Academy

111. Marisa Bate, Journalist 

112. Nicholas Cooke KC, Bencher, Middle Temple

113. Dr Danica Darley, Researcher, University of Sheffield 

114. Anjelica Finnegan, CEO, York Together

115. Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns, Howard League for Penal Reform

116. Hannah Wright, Lecturer, University of Manchester

117. Kate Pakenham, Producer, KPPL Productions

118. Alice Clifford, Islington resident 

119. Geraldine Bailey, Islington resident 

120. Tiff Barker, Islington resident
     Jane Wright, Islington resident 

121. Madeleine Bland, retired Probation Officer and  Member of Pembrokeshire Labour Women’s Group

122. Charlotte Curness

123. Nicola Griffiths, Deputy manager in female mental health services 

124. Pauline Ramsey, Medaille Trust Coordinator

125. Michelle Langston, Islington resident 

126. Anna Holman, Head of Operations, Coast to Coast Surf Centre Belhaven

127. Anne Pinkman, Scotland & NI Lead, Prison Reform Trust

128. Trina Driver, Counsellor 

129. Georgia Rigg, Human rights campaigner 

130. Michelle Dibble, Chair, Hilingdon IAG, and CMG.

131. Alexandra Pascal-Noël, Psychotherapist 

132. Pat Ramroop, Progression manager, Groundswell

133. Salma Ullah, SHEWISE, Co-founder

134. Sarah Carr, Therapist

135. Mary Lynne Ellis, Psychotherapist, Perspectives Psychotherapy

136. Selma Fiuza, Counsellor

137. Marie Bryant,  Women’s Outreach worker, Storehouse

138. Hawa Daboh Sesay, Hawatrust 

139. Dr Carly Guest, Assistant Professor, Northumbria University

140. Pamela Stewart, Psychotherapist

141. Charlotte Scott, Professor, Goldsmiths College, University of London 

142. Jordana Golbourn, Theatre Maker 

143. Pamela Stewart, Psychotherapist

144. Michelle Barrington, Director, Blown Fuse Theatre 

145. Sabina Cannell, Manager, Alana House 

146. Jennifer Walmsley, Co-founder and Executive Director, BearFace Theatre

147. Kayleigh Maker, Islington resident 

148. Zahra Bei, No More Exclusions

149. Sophie Compton, Filmmaker

150. Karen Horner, CEO, Tomorrow's Women

151. Sophie Lowe,  Pecan Women's Service

152. Naomi Davis, Women's Advocate, Pecan Women's Service

153. Doreen Davies, Community Engagement Officer, Pecan Women's Service

154. Jay Hall, Just Education Matters., Education Advocate

155. Rebecca James, Managing Director, The Feminist Book Club CIC

156. Nishma Jethwa, Programme Lead, Healing Justice Ldn

157. Jenny Halper, Maven Screen Media, EVP, Head of Creative

158. Aysen Dennis, Figth4Aylesbury- Founder and campaigner 

159. Sara Neiman, Director Women's Health (Stamford Hill) CIC

160. Aexandria Bradley, Senior Lecturer, Trauma Specialist, Leeds Beckett University

161. Minda Burgos-Lukes, Trustee,  Women in Prison

162. Alana Heaney, Community organiser 

163. Irene Priestnal, Islington resident

164. Hilary Salmon, Director, The Lighthouse Film and TV

165. Alyssa Reene, Services Admin, Pecan

166. Peter Moffat, Writer

167. Anna Pascoe,  Principal Planner, Make Me a Plan

168. Jodie Barrat, Inspire Caseworker, Brighton Women's Centre

169. Sena Cetin    

170. Ina Maha    

171. Koby Adjei    

172. Kiri Thayaparan, Voluntary and Community Sector Consultant

173. Simone Brown, Islington resident

174. Katie Jones, Director, Mint Fundraising

175. Sarah Marks    

176. Stacey Donovan    

177. Paula Kahn    

178. Devika Banerjee

179. Jacqueline Ogbeta, Young Adults Peer Support Worker, Richmond Mind

180. Ruth Simone    

181. Ruth Petrie

182. Sophia Raja, Trainee psychotherapist 

183. Christopher Brockwell    

184. Alasdair Murray    

185. Lesley Kazan-Pinfield        

186. Brian Hoskin

187. Sarah Le May,    Retired Islington Education Social Worker

188. Angela Starling, Starling Holistic

189. Bela Mongia    

190. Elizabeth Graham, Curator 

191. Zoe Richards    

192. Philippa Hibberd    

193. Aisling Leyne    

194. Bobby Baker, Artist, expert by experience of the mental health system 

195. Richard Berry    

196. Mike Humphrey    

197. Julie Bisset    

198. Timothy Mullen    

199. Janine, Psychotherapist

200. Francis Schott    

201. Jane Irving    

202. Anne    

203. David Shuck

204. Mike Hope, Ex-Holloway  resident

205. Sandra Dudley

206. Kit Tomlinson    

207. Claire Hazelwood    

208. Mark Hollinrake    

209. shalini    

210. Louis Northey    

211. Alicen Keeffe    

212. Joe Feely    

213. Sarah Lawrence    

214. Philip Hyde    

215. Petur Viktorsson    

216. Lucy Temple

217. Rosemary McNicholl    

218. Sarah Robinson    

219. Mark Taylor    

220. Margaret Dean    

221. Michelle Hayward    

222. Helen Canham    

223. Hannah Nunn    Nanny 

224. Melinda Salzke-Spurr    

225. Amanda Hawthorne    

226. Anna McIvor    

227. Andrew Buglass    

228. John Thompson    

229. Annabelle Byrne    

230. Anthony Dent    

231. Juliette Poynter

232. lisa marsh    

233. Emilie Aspeling    

234. Kate Kenzie    

235. Eleanor Lakew 

236. Elise Martin    

237. Annette Murray    

238. Adena 

239. Clive Jones    

240. Kate Snusher    

241. Mark Stewart    

242. Ross Thornton    

243. Julie Shaw    

244. Paula Brady 

245. Cath Smithston    

246. Jack Simons    

247. Sue Jones    

248. Carol Stevens    

249. Laura de Roux    

250. Michael Derbyshire    

251. Megan Davies    

252. Angela Stewart-Park    

253. John Francis    

254. Mike Phillips    

255. Estelle Cano    

256. David Landau

257. Steve Doone

258. Sophie lansiquot

259. Rona Topaz

260. Claire Marsden    

261. Ardavan Afshar

262. Jacks Bailey

263. Debbie McNally    

264. Caroline Domenech    

265. Fiona Banham    

266. Jun Nash    

267. Margaret Malloch, Professor, University of Stirling

268. Alpha Gougsa    

269. Isabel Markham, DA survivor and former Islington resident

270. Susan Findlay    

271. Charlotte Scott, Professor, Goldsmiths College

272. Jamie Fosbrook    

273. Emory Cunnington, Support worker

274. Ruth Bundey, Consultant, Harrison Bundey solicitors

275. Amanda Morris 

276. Carolina Beresford, Assistant Director of Grants and International Development at Getting Out by Going In

277. Chris Hunt    

278. Professor Clare McGlynn, Durham University

279. Blake Bennett    

280. Robert Jones    

281. Sarah Wigglesworth

282. Katharine Segal    

283. Victoria Rowe    

284. Cleopatra Glithero    

285. Ashie Nair    Teacher 

286. Kiku Aruba Basu    

287. Raje Ballagan-Evans, Policy and Impact Manager, Social Interest Group

288. Sharon Grace, Professor of Criminal Justice and Social Policy

289. Will Turner

290. Lee McFarlane, Runshaw College Education Support Worker 

291. Holly Turner    

292. Gill Turner, Former Islington resident

293. Stephen  Miley    

294. Jim McIntyre    

295. Boyuan Xiao, Senior Electronics Engineer, Mo-Sys Engineering

296. MC Ozsen, Former Islington Councillor

297. Amanda Bentham

298. Latifa Akay 

299. Liya Ngalam, Mental health nursing student, Middlesex University. 

300. Pipa Monjardino    

301. Clare Joseph, Former Hackney Councillor 

302. Isabel Potter, Senior Musician in Residence (Focus on Female Criminal Justice System), Changing Tunes,

303. Viktoria Szczypior, Islington resident