COMMENDEE 2025-26: Maggie is a Personal Wellbeing Advisor with Ingeus in the West Midlands and gets a Commendation for the skill and compassion she brings to her role, and the trust and respect she inspires, earning her the title “Magnificent Maggie” and universal praise from colleagues and service users alike.

This nomination was drawn up by Louise Cheng – Senior Communications Executive, Ingeus; and signed off by Jeanette Williamson – Regional Manager, West Midlands, Ingeus.

Introduction

Maggie, affectionately known as ‘Magnificent Maggie’, joined Ingeus in 2021 and brings over two decades of experience supporting vulnerable individuals. Though offered leadership roles, she chooses to work directly with service users, where her passion lies. At 72, she remains tireless and deeply committed, especially in prison settings where she builds trust with empathy and respect. Maggie goes above and beyond—whether learning about Huntington’s disease to support a terminally ill client or rallying community donations for a family in need. Her dedication, compassion, and powerful network make her an irreplaceable advocate for reintegration and inclusion in the justice system.

Reasons for the nomination

‘Magnificent Maggie’ joined Ingeus as a personal wellbeing mentor in 2021. Quickly progressing to personal wellbeing advisor, she has chosen not to pursue managerial positions, preferring to work directly with the service users she loves supporting.

Her career began 23 years ago with a project helping sex workers in Birmingham. She found her calling and has an extensive past career supporting young people with criminal convictions. She was named Mentor of the Year 2019 while working for Talent Match.

Aged 68 she decided to retire – for two weeks! Realising she could still make a difference and pass on her decades of experience, she unretired and joined Ingeus. Now aged 72, she is exceptionally hard working and as passionate as day one.

Mobilising a new contract (CRS personal wellbeing in the West Midlands) can be challenging but Maggie was always the first to take part in new initiatives, promoting the work of Ingeus with local stakeholders and the probation service. She continues to do so and is often invited to speak at community and council events, always championing reintegration and inclusion for people in the criminal justice system.

Maggie’s favourite work is in-person, in prisons: HMP Hewell and HMP Winson Green. She doesn’t judge and believes that every cell has a story behind it. She knocks to enter a cell door and asks if she can sit down. That alone can be the start of building a trusting and respectful relationship with service users that often continues for years. Many keep her phone number and keep in touch with their progress. On her 70th birthday, all four landings on a wing of HMP Hewell sang her Happy Birthday.

With her extensive sector contacts, Maggie will always go over and above to give her service users whatever wraparound support they need. If she doesn’t have a contact, she will find one…

She is currently supporting a young man with terminal Huntington’s disease. With no knowledge of the condition, she contacted a consultant to learn more about it and how best to support her service user.

She is helping another person on probation in Selly Oak who is at risk of deportation. He has three younger siblings and a mother undergoing cancer treatment. Maggie met ‘mum’ and realised she was attempting to homeschool the three youngest children, with a broken laptop. The service user said all he wished for was for his brothers and sister to be able to go on bike rides to the park… Maggie is prolific on LinkedIn and uses her contacts to spread the real-life messages that concern the people she works with; she put a post out describing the situation. The response to her post was instant and astounding, with several companies offering new IT equipment and bikes. She also organised food vouchers and school books.

Keep being you Maggie. You are inspirational and a very special person to us and your service users.

Support for the nomination

Sixteen of Maggie’s colleagues and service users offered testimonials in support of her nomination. Here is a small selection:

“Maggie brings a breath of fresh air into our office with her bubbly, effervescent nature and can-do attitude. She is an asset to Ingeus, and us as a referring agency. We know that Maggie will go above and beyond to help and support those referred to her. Our service users are in good hands and will receive the best support available. Maggie is always smiling and doesn’t seem fazed by anything. She is the epitome of carpe diem and that seize the day attitude is infectious. She deserves to be recognised for the amazing person she is and her ‘you can do it’ work ethic.”
Jo Butcher, Prison Service Officer – Pre-Release Team, HMP Hewell

“I’ve been supported by Maggie for 18 months and she has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary level of dedication, professionalism, and genuine care. Maggie is truly amazing, fantastic, and awesome in her role. What sets her apart is her unwavering commitment to put herself out there to ensure that individuals receive the precise level of support they need. She went out of her way to ensure I was fully supported throughout my time in custody and prison. Beyond her professional diligence, Maggie is also an incredibly loving, caring, understanding, and loyal individual. These qualities shine through in her work, fostering trust and making a tangible difference in the lives of those she supports in a challenging environment.”
Damien Philips, Ex-service user

“Maggie is always willing to go above and beyond to help all individuals she comes in contact with and never likes to say no to helping anyone. She is a truly special individual and on behalf of my office I wanted to show our appreciation for her tireless work. I wish we could clone her.”
Michael Simpson, Probation Officer (NQO), South Birmingham – Team 3

“It’s clear that her work is more than just a job for Maggie and I can say with confidence that she is one of the most dedicated advisors I manage.
Maggie has an ability to connect with people that builds trust and meaningful relationships quickly. She advocates tirelessly on behalf of those she works with, ensuring they receive the resources, attention, and care they deserve.
What sets Maggie apart is her proactive mindset. She anticipates challenges and addresses them head-on with thoughtful, creative solutions.
Her work ethic is matched by her positivity and team spirit. Maggie is always willing to lend a hand, share her knowledge, and support her colleagues. She brings a sense of calm and confidence to the team, and her presence uplifts those around her. Even in high-pressure situations, she remains composed and focused, always keeping the wellbeing of the service user at the centre of her decisions.
She is a true asset to our organisation and a role model for others within the justice field.”
Rochelle David, Maggie’s Manager

Sign off

In these unstable times, the nation needs to know that Maggie, and others like her, are out there, in difficult and challenging circumstances, with a solid focus on social justice and doing her best every time.

Jeanette Williamson, Regional Manager, West Midlands