Home Ground | Wellington is a transformative brand that focuses on collaborative creativity and wellbeing for women who have experienced incarceration or are engaged in the justice system. Through their four projects - Tahi, Rua, Toru, and Whā - they provide a safe and empowering space for these women to explore their artistic talents and discover their value and purpose. Over a period of 12 months, Home Ground delivers these projects in the Wellington community and Arohata Prison.

Each project runs full-time for three weeks and then one day a week for the following four weeks. They have recently received funding from the Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund (CARE) to provide three additional workshops in the Kāpiti coast, Te Tairāwhiti Gisborne, and Pōneke. This funding allows Home Ground to connect communities, support local arts, artists, and creative spaces, and grow their Home Ground whānau.

Home Ground utilizes creative arts practices such as theatre, photography, writing, and music as a non-threatening and strengths-based approach to self-empowerment, community connectedness, and wellbeing. They encourage artists inside and outside of prison to create art projects that address the issues women and whānau face within the justice system. With the support of funders like Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Creative New Zealand, and the Department of Corrections, Home Ground has successfully conducted various projects, including those supported by St John’s In the City: Edward Carter Fund, the Sonja Davies Peace Award, Heather and Brian Main, and the Ministry of Women's Affairs.

The vision of Home Ground is to empower women in the justice system, helping them realize their value, purpose, and potential through the power of creativity. They aim to create better lives for themselves, their children, and future generations by providing opportunities for artistic exploration and high-quality arts experiences. Home Ground's mission is to support women in developing healthy, happy homes by providing the space, opportunities, and resources they need.

The core principles that guide Home Ground are the belief that creativity matters, the commitment to do no harm, the conviction that nothing about them should be decided without them, the honoring of the wisdom gained from lived experiences, the understanding that strength comes from connectedness, and the trust in the creative process. Led by a passionate and dedicated team, including creative director Jacqui Moyes and clinical director Anita Grafton, Home Ground ensures a safe and supportive environment for its participants. The team consists of facilitators like Jacqui Moyes, who brings extensive experience in community development and navigating the challenges of the justice system.

It also includes participants-turned-facilitators like Roseanne Leota, who has found her passion in creative writing and uses her lived experiences to uplift her community. Anna Wooles, an online facilitator and creative producer, brings her diverse skills and experiences to the team, allowing her to shape-shift between different roles. And Peer Mentor (PM) provides invaluable support by listening and turning visions into reality.

While Home Ground mourns the loss of Anita Grafton, their beloved clinical director, her commitment to incorporating creative approaches to rehabilitation and recovery lives on. Anita's contributions, experience in mental health and addictions, and her dedication to helping others will continue to inspire the work of Home Ground. Home Ground | Wellington strives to create a supportive and empowering environment where women can safely explore their artistic talents, express themselves, and discover their worth.

Through their collaborative projects and the transformative power of creativity, Home Ground aims to cultivate positive change and build a brighter future for women, their families, and generations to come