At the heart of Liberty Kitchen are ‘the men’ - Pentonville prisoners chosen because not only do they love food, cooking and may want to work in catering, take on a Liberty Kitchen stall or set up their own enterprise because they want to change! Each team includes men from different London backgrounds enabling them to contribute to the design and flavour of the Ball no Chain range.

Day to day management of Liberty Kitchen is led by the Founder-Director, Janet Boston, who works closely with the Liberty Kitchen Chef and a multi-talented team including, Nicole Seitz a Caterer/Counsellor with 17 years chaplaincy caring experience in Pentonville, to deliver a 10 week training programme with up to 8 men in the staff canteen. Under this supervision each of the men learns the different street food recipes, develops a range of culinary skills, recipes and enterprise ideas. Street food stalls are run by a small team of Liberty Kitchen associates who happen to be prison leavers.

By the time COVID 19 struck, Liberty Kitchen had worked with over 50 men inside the prison. Fifteen known to have been released had gone on to work with Liberty Kitchen. Some for just a few weeks as they got back on their feet, some for a few months while they considered different options, some for longer as they decide whether they want to do their own street food, something else, or stick with Liberty Kitchen. Several years later the story has a similar narrative. The difference being that so many men are being held on remand and unsentenced …

Having seen how self-employment is a consideration for many leaving prison Liberty Kitchen has integrated a one to one enterprise component to help men think through their business ideas. Training is undertaken with the IOEE Institute of Entrepreneurs and delivered by Kiechelle Degale.

Lord Falconer, PC KC (Chair) - Former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Charlie Falconer has long been aware of the need to cut the UK’s burgeoning prison population. He is deeply concerned by the ‘revolving’ door syndrome and keen to support initiatives that can break this pattern by ensuring that those serving time develop skills to give them the best chance of rehabilitation.

Karen Barnes - An award-winning editor who now works as a freelance writer, consultant and mentor. For 14 years, until March 2024, she was editorial director of Delicious. magazine, one of the UK’s most respected and influential food publications. She has 20 years of experience in collaborating with chefs, producers, big stores, food campaigners, food writers and cause-driven food projects – experience that makes her ideally qualified to advise on creating and building a successful food social enterprise.

Catriona Fox - Co-Executive Director of One to One Children's Fund, Former Head of Fundraising for ChildHope and Fundraising & Communications Manager for Find Your Feet, Catriona provides a combination of strategic fundraising and communications advice and assistance to a range of different charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Lord Faulks KC - Edward Faulks is an experienced Barrister with a longstanding interest in the Criminal Justice System. He sat as a Recorder for 10 years. Until July 2016 he was a Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice and as the Department’s spokesman in the House of Lords, prisons were part of his portfolio. In this capacity he visited many UK prisons including Pentonville

Julia Killick, CBE - Julia joined the Prison service in 1998 and retired in December 2015. During that time then she became the number one Governor of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre and Guys Marsh Prison, a Cat C male training prison. Under Julia’s direction Guy’s Marsh became a Centre of Excellence. From 2010 Julia governed Europe’s largest female prison, Holloway, where her determination and drive saw it recognised for its safe, decent regime and transition into a resettlement prison delivering commercial contracts.

Phil King - Phil is an adviser specialising in enterprise development to a range of early stage social businesses which have included People Tree and Ubuntu. Phil's roles have included being Head of Strategic Finance at Ecotricity when turnover doubled over 2 years to £38m and Finance Director to Cafedirect when income tripled to £22m.

PATRONS Iqbal Wahhab and Gina Moffat.

Liberty Kitchen couldn’t happen without the help of its partners and supporters. Its principle partner is Pentonville Prison which provides the staff canteen kitchen facility within the prison, custodial supervision and a range of other support from selection to security clearance, logistics and lots more! It also would never have happened without the generous funding for our 6 month pilot programme. So a HUGE thanks to:

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