Abstract

Deeds Not Words is a new co-operative established for women who have had substantial mental health difficulties, coming out of prison and residing in an approved premises. Two important contextual dimensions have been influential. First, the co-operative is based in Preston, UK and its development has been supported as part of the broader development of the so-called Preston Model of community wealth building. Second, the women have been engaged with Psychologically Informed Planned Environments, a form of democratised therapeutic support. This article describes the context and process whereby the co-operative has been set up and some of the experiences of women who have been involved. We argue for the value of such initiatives as a form of transitional employment for a marginalised group and comment on the congruence between the care and treatment model and co-operative principles and practices.