My Story – Rhia Canady
My name is Rhia Canady, and I walked out of HMP Eastwood Park in December 2023 with more than a release date—I walked out with purpose.
But my journey didn’t start there. My life has been shaped by experiences of knife crime, county lines, gang culture, and grief. I know first-hand how trauma traps you in cycles that feel impossible to break. I know what it’s like to feel forgotten, labelled, or misunderstood. And I also know what it takes to heal, grow, and change.
That’s why I created Fly Girl Foundation CIC—for women and girls like me. Women who have been written off. Girls who’ve had to grow up too fast. People society often calls “hard to reach.”
Since leaving prison, I’ve rebuilt my life with resilience, support, and a deep belief that I could be more than what I’d been through. My passion is now fuelled by that same lived experience—by the lessons I’ve learned and the strength it took to transform my story.
At Fly Girl Foundation, we take a trauma-informed approach to connect with women and girls who need it most. We create spaces where they feel safe, seen, and empowered—using creativity, conversation, and healing as tools for transformation.
This isn’t just about supporting women in prison. It’s about breaking cycles before they begin. That’s why we’re delivering our workshops in prisons, schools, and community spaces across the city—because change must happen on every level.
Fly Girl Foundation is more than a project. It’s a movement rooted in truth, lived experience, and the belief that every woman deserves a chance to fly.
Photo taken at HMP Eastwood Park, returning after release. Not as a prisoner but as the CEO of Fly Girl Foundation CIC.
