Didn’t you do well?
Although Spring took her time turning up, she arrived in some style – with the early-May Bank Holiday the warmest since the holiday began in 1978. With the World Cup getting closer, temperatures climbing, and long Midsummer nights, we started to wonder if the famous – in our office, anyway – last minute rush of nominations would happen this year. England were headed for the Round of 16 by the time our deadline was reached and once more, you did us proud: cheering along the best and brightest people working around you, from all four corners of the kingdom, you only went and broke the record for the most nominations ever – 383 in total!
Now you might think that with the difficulties in the sector over recent years, a lot of deep experience leaving the game, and a large influx of new recruits coming on board, that this would dent your enthusiasm for looking around at what your co-workers and team mates are up to, nodding approvingly as you notice the people doing the really good stuff, day in, day out. But as our Director, Simon Shepherd, never tires of pointing out: you are not like other professions. You get little praise in public (which was why we were set up in the first place), and no matter what happens, you still come in to work the next day and start over again. So thank you, once more. Without your support, the nominations – and the Awards – would never happen.
Do you know someone who goes ‘above and beyond’? There’s still time to nominate them for a Butler Trust Award, but you’ll need to get a wiggle on because nominations close on 30 June.
A distinguished audience of over 200 delegates gathered at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London on November 6th for ‘Parole, Probation and Prisons – Past, Present and Future.’ Organised by The Butler Trust and supported by HM Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS), the conference marked the 50th Anniversary of The Parole Board. An exceptional roster of speakers included The Rt Hon David Lidington MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; Nick Hardwick, Chair of The Parole Board; and Michael Spurr, CEO of HMPPS; as well as leading academics and representatives of victims and service users.
Her visits always give a real boost to staff and help further our mission to give credit where it’s due.
