This week, our group meet-up focused on preparing for our upcoming meeting with our project mentor, Samantha. We reviewed our progress so far and discussed the interview questions we had developed, working together to shortlist the most relevant ones while also preparing follow-up questions in case the discussion moved in new directions. The session was valuable in helping us reflect on our research progress, align our approach, and feel more confident and prepared to conduct the interview and gather insights that will support the next stage of the project.
Following our previous meet-up, we each prepared a range of interview questions to ask our mentor, Samantha, during our upcoming discussion on prison services. These were shared collaboratively on Miro, where we reviewed and consolidated them into a refined set of questions to move forward with. I found this process both beneficial and interesting, as it highlighted different perspectives within the group and helped strengthen the quality and focus of our final interview approach.
<aside> <img src="/icons/conversation_blue.svg" alt="/icons/conversation_blue.svg" width="40px" />
Sharing my interview questions with the group was helpful, as the feedback clarified which questions of mine would be most relevant and effective to use.
</aside>
Seeing how others in the group structured and framed their questions was really valuable, as it gave us a wider range of options to draw from. This meant we could be more flexible and approachable during the interview with Samantha, helping us feel more mentally prepared and confident.
The next stage involved a final review of our interview questions, where we assessed their relevance and importance in relation to each of our research topics. As a group, we prioritised the key areas we wanted to cover and selected two core questions per topic, alongside follow-up prompts to allow us to explore responses in more depth if needed. This process helped ensure our interview would remain focused while still allowing flexibility for deeper discussion.
<aside> <img src="/icons/conversation_blue.svg" alt="/icons/conversation_blue.svg" width="40px" />
Choosing my questions was straightforward, as they were short but open enough to encourage meaningful and detailed responses.
</aside>
With this in mind, our process leading up to the upcoming interview has been very beneficial. As a group, we have progressed well, particularly in refining and preparing our questions, which has helped build confidence and ensure we are ready to gain meaningful insights from the interview.
During my research, I came across a valuable document written by Ruth Gray that explored the Ask Him scheme, which closely aligns with our research focus. The report clearly outlined key objectives and outcomes, offering useful insight into what has worked in practice and why. I found this particularly helpful when considering how we might frame our interview questions for our group mentor, Samantha, as it provides relevant context and real-world grounding. This research will support us as we move towards developing a meaningful service concept and progressing our ideas further.
<aside> <img src="/icons/report_blue.svg" alt="/icons/report_blue.svg" width="40px" />
This research was beneficial as it provided valuable context for our project while also sparking potential ideas that we can build on when brainstorming our service concept.
</aside>
<aside>
</aside>
Understanding the background and core pillars of the Ask Him scheme has helped shape my mindset around what meaningful support for people in prison should look like. Seeing how the programme prioritises trust, accessibility, and practical guidance has influenced how we, as a group, can think about designing a service that is genuinely supportive, realistic, and centred on the real needs of people transitioning back into society.
<aside>
This week’s meet-up was highly beneficial and helped confirm that we are moving in the right direction as a group. Reviewing our research and interview preparation has left us feeling well-prepared for our upcoming meeting with our mentor, Samantha, which will be a key opportunity to gain real-world insight and progress our project further. Each group member is now at a strong stage in their individual research, and we have a clear understanding of our direction. By our next meet-up, we aim to consolidate this work and establish a solid foundation for our problem statement.
</aside>