Jo Wilkins, Head of Prison Healthcare Services on Inspiration, Determination and the Journey to Team GB
This summer, Jo Wilkins stood on the start line of the European Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Istanbul wearing the Team GB kit. For someone who only took up triathlon a couple of years ago, it was a surreal and exhilarating moment. Against a fiercely competitive field — including two ex-elite athletes — Jo finished 13th in her age category and 8th among the British athletes.
Her journey to that international stage is as much about community and inclusion as it is about grit and determination.
“It’s amazing how one shared interest can bring so many people together — people from completely different backgrounds who otherwise might never have met.”
From Prison Voices to Head of Service
Away from the field of sport, Jo is ABL’s Head of Service for Prison Healthcare. She joined the company in 2022 as a Senior Engagement Officer, gathering feedback from people in prison about their healthcare experiences.
“Our role is about making sure service users are heard,” she explains. “It’s not about assessing — it’s supporting providers to gain insights to help shape future services.”
By October 2024, Jo had stepped up to Head of Service, a progression, she says, that was made possible by the culture at ABL, where staff are encouraged and supported to build their careers. For Jo that encouragement has extended to her triathlon training.
“My team have been so supportive — messaging me before races, checking in afterwards. It’s lovely to be somewhere people genuinely care.”
A Lockdown Spark
Jo’s sporting story began not with a grand plan, but a need to be active during lockdown. Living in a small flat, she took solace in her permitted hour of daily exercise, rediscovering a love of running.
Soon came a £100 second-hand road bike — “in reality probably third or fourth hand” — and a sense of momentum. “I didn’t fully know why I bought it, but I got out there and just enjoyed it. It snowballed from there.”
Running, cycling, sea swimming — it all led to joining a local triathletes club, where Jo found not only training partners but also a sense of community.
Breaking Barriers and Finding Community
Turning up to that first club race was daunting. “I thought they’d all be these crazy elite athletes,” Jo admits. Instead, she discovered a warm, inclusive environment where ability and background mattered less than enthusiasm.
“There’s a complete range of ages and abilities. Some haven’t done a triathlon in years but come along to swim or volunteer. It just wasn’t the stereotype I feared.”
Support came in small but significant ways: a fellow member offering to service her bike, advice on the daunting world of wetsuits and clip-in cycling shoes and a steady stream of encouragement.
“It was exactly what I needed to get started.”
Resilience and Strength
Qualifying for Team GB was never part of the plan, but once the possibility emerged, Jo set her sights on it. Coaching, structured training and sheer determination paid off — but not without setbacks.
She recalls a race where the heat and lack of nutrition nearly ended her day.
“By the run I thought I couldn’t finish. But something inside me said, No — you’ve come this far, you’ve got to keep going.”
Moments like that, she says, revealed a resilience she didn’t know she had.
“I’ve learnt I’m mentally stronger than I thought.”
Inclusion as a Driving Force
For Jo, the thread running through both her professional and sporting life is inclusion — breaking down assumptions and embracing diversity. At ABL, it means colleagues who celebrate her achievements and create a space where people can bring their whole selves to work.
“When you’re in an organisation where people take the time to ask about you, it makes a difference,” she says. “It’s about feeling seen, feeling supported and knowing that your whole self is valued.”
Advice for Taking the First Step
Asked what she’d say to anyone considering joining a sports club, Jo is clear: don’t let self-doubt win. “Try to remove those assumptions that you won’t fit in or aren’t good enough. Bring a friend if you’re nervous, but once you’ve got that first session under your belt, it feels different.”
And if one club doesn’t feel right?
“Try another one. There are so many out there, and when you find the right one, it can change everything.”
Chasing Dreams, Together
From a £100 bike to the European Championships in Istanbul, Jo’s story is proof of what can happen when you take a chance.
“A couple of years ago, I never would have thought this possible. I just threw myself into it and look where it’s taken me. You never know what can happen until you give something a go.”
Her achievements may be remarkable, but at their core they rest on something deeply human: the strength of community, the power of inclusion and the courage to pursue a dream.
As Jo puts it: “Just go for it, enjoy it — and you might surprise yourself with what you can achieve.”
