The 2017-18 Butler Trust Award Winners and Commendees have just been announced. The Awards once again reflect some of the best – and often very moving – examples of the dedication, skill, and creativity found throughout the criminal justice system. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Patron of the Trust, will present our Winners with their Awards and Commendations at our Award Ceremony, to be held later in the year.
A huge congratulations to all of our Winners; click the links below to find out about their inspirational work!
Award Winners
Dot Coomber transformed education opportunities for immigration detainees in Campsfield House, while Jackie Smart has been ‘a shining light’ for the same group in Heathrow. Edwin Simon’s approach to Community Payback in Waltham Forest has made him ‘a legend’. Karen Laws & Laura Smillie are pioneering therapy for highly challenging women.
Ellen Hodgins’ remarkable probation skills help resolve complex cases, whilst Angela Auty is another amazing probation officer described as ‘a gem’. Eileen Whittaker created an amazing counselling service for women offenders. In extraordinary work for Yorkshire Prisons Group, Kerry Hirst has led dramatic reductions in self-harm and suicides. Laura Greenhill has forged a community hub bringing opportunities where they’re needed. Mark Brayshaw’s impressive printshop in HMP Parc helps prisoners find work and even run their own businesses. Paulette Staniec has improved the lives, self-respect, and clothing of women in HMP Styal.
Angela Auty (National Probation Service, South West & South Central)
[keywords: offender management, complex needs]
Mark Brayshaw (HMP/YOI Parc)
[keywords: skills training, employment]
Dot Coomber (Campsfield House IRC)
[keywords: education, learning and skills]
Laura Greenhill (Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC)
[keywords: vulnerable offenders, community engagement]
Kerry Hirst (Yorkshire Prisons Group)
[keywords: safer custody, violence, risk of harm, training]
Ellen Hodgins (National Probation Service, Midlands)
[keywords: complex needs, public protection]
Karen Laws & Laura Smillie (HMP/YOI Low Newton)
[keywords: female offenders, high-risk offenders]
Edwin Simon (London CRC)
[keywords: community payback, skills training]
Jackie Smart (Heathrow IRC)
[keywords: management, vulnerable detainees]
Paulette Staniec (HMP/YOI Styal)
[keywords: female offenders, vulnerable prisoners, skills training, volunteers]
Eileen Whittaker (HMP/YOI Styal)
[keywords: female offenders, counselling, volunteers, staff care]
Commendees
Claire Malarkey brings an innovative ‘think family’ approach to prisoners and children in HMP Askham Grange, while at HMP Belmarsh Reverend Trevor Jacquet epitomises great pastoral care for staff and prisoners. Difficult and challenging women on probation have benefited from a fresh model driven by Rachel O’Connor. In County Durham, Brian Kirkup has led a range of innovative interventions. Liam Mason has also been creative, using popular culture as a way to connect with young offenders.
At HMP Forest Bank, Samira Mohammed is changing education for vulnerable prisoners, while at HMP Grendon, with its unique therapeutic emphasis, Paul Johnson ‘carries the culture’ and deeply touches many lives. Also at Grendon, Tressa Vaill has imaginatively reinvented visits. Jason Edwards’ inspiring gifts as a carpentry instructor had young prisoners writing moving testimonials. Mark Barber’s deep empathy and skill as a horticultural instructor, meanwhile, is also helping vulnerable younger offenders.
Craig Mailer & Keith Mason have helped forge the pioneering research-led ‘Fit for LIFE’ project across the entire Scottish Prison Service. Ray Stuart’s bike workshop teaches industry standard skills while it refurbishes and donates bikes to charities. Wayne Lewis brings a phenomenal dedication to helping former offenders into good jobs. In HMP Maghaberry in Northern Ireland, John Bell and Neil Rippon bring hope, trust, and reconciliation to fathers and sons. Gareth Key’s skilled probation work completely turned around a family’s attitude to the service.
In HMP North Sea Camp, Andrew Wright’s prisoners are caring for rare breeds. In a career lasting 45 years, Chris Munn has helped spearhead lasting improvements to probation practice. At HMP Perth, Brian Cunningham has created and driven a wide range of diverse educational opportunities, while Ruth Cropper, in HMP Thorn Cross, has created an excellent peer-mentored programme for substance abuse.
Mark Barber (HMP/YOI Isis)
[keywords: young offenders, skills training, employment]
John Bell & Neill Rippon (HMP Maghaberry)
[keywords: families, children]
Ruth Cropper (HMP/YOI Thorn Cross)
[keywords: substance misuse, peer mentoring]
Brian Cunningham (HMP Perth)
[keywords: education, families]
Jason Edwards (HMP/YOI Parc)
[keywords: young offenders, skills training, employment]
Reverend Trevor Jacquet (HMP Belmarsh)
[keywords: chaplaincy, families, staff care]
Paul Johnson (HMP Grendon)
[keywords: staff/prisoner relationships]
Gareth Key (National Probation Service, North East)
[keywords: offender management, complex needs]
Brian Kirkup (County Durham YOS)
[keywords: young offenders, interventions, skills training]
Wayne Lewis (London CRC)
[keywords: young offenders, employment, resettlement]
Craig Mailer & Keith Mason (HMP Kilmarnock)
[keywords: health, wellbeing, education]
Claire Malarkey (HMP/YOI Askham Grange)
[keywords: female offenders, families, children]
Liam Mason (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland CRC)
[keywords: young offenders, complex needs]
Samira Mohamed (HMP/YOI Forest Bank)
[keywords: education, vulnerable prisoners, mental health]
Chris Munn (National Probation Service, South West & South Central)
[keywords: offender management, change management]
Rachel O’Connor (Cheshire & Greater Manchester CRC)
[keywords: female offenders, resettlement]
Ray Stuart (HMP Kirkham)
[keywords: skills training, employment]
Tressa Vaill (HMP Grendon)
[keywords: visits, families, children]
Andrew Wright (HMP North Sea Camp)
[keywords: farms & gardens, skills training, employment]
