Beating Time

Beating Time was established by Heather Phillips in 2014. It is an award-winning charity that uses group singing to improve mental health in prisons through weekly singing groups. For over a decade, Choirs Beating Time has fostered social inclusion and hope for people in prison. In 2021, the charity expanded its impact by launching Inside Job, a peer-led employment programme that supports people during their sentences and after release, helping them into paid work and training. Today, both Choirs Beating Time and Inside Job operate continuously across 13 prisons in London, Kent, the Midlands, and the Northeast, in partnership with The Recruitment Junction. Our programmes help people reconnect with who they are – as artists, workers, parents, and valued members of the community. Choirs restore a sense of belonging and positivity, while Inside Job opens up employment opportunities for individuals who may have previously dismissed them.