Update – Tracy Harrison, Head of Reducing Reoffending summarises the year at Guys Marsh.
Covid Challenges – How FOGM helped support the prison during lockdowns.
A Year in the Life – Toby Langton-Gilks gives an insight into his year working with musicians.
Bobbie Primrose – A Founding Committee member reflects on 30 years involvement in Guys Marsh.
The Amazing Guys Marsh Sewing Beas – a positive covid story.
Celebrating Talent – Artists, poets and other creatives receive awards.
Music Award – Guts Marsh musician wins Platinum Award.
Help to Individuals– a summary of our help for individual men this year.
The Rugby Project – Residents help prepare ground for a rugby pitch.
Leavers’ Bags – A bag filled with essentials and given to men on release.
Barbado’s Family Role – Keeping families together.
Choices – A remarkable play written and performed by residents.
Grow Your Own Success – Guys Marsh residents develop a thriving garden with bushes, flowers and vegetables
Awards Celebration – The Achievements award celebration was well attended again this year with
nearly a hundred people in the chapel.
Chapel Garden – Volunteers transform a once neglected space behind the prison chapel into a safe, tranquil garden with a rockery and a pond.
The Growth Project – Keeps growing. The appetite for change and drive for continuous improvement remains undimmed
Giles Fearn – Giles joins Friends of Guys Marsh Prison as Chair following the departure of long serving trustee Jonathan Davies.
Noel Razor Smith – Tells a packed audience how “an innocent 14 year old boy” became a criminal.
FOGM becomes a CIC – Friends of Guys Marsh becomes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
The Growth Project – Dr Sarah Lewis of Penal Reform Solutions introduces two new projects to promote personal growth and a rehabilitative environment for staff and residents
The Governor’s Report to Friends – Prison Governor Paul Millet outlines the highs and lows of his work.
Joanna Kosubska – Joanna was an inspiring FOGM chair until she became tragically ill and finally died in August 2015.
A Family Day – FOGM trustee Kathie describes her visit to a prison Family Day.
Michael Gove visits HMP Guys Marsh – Mr Gove dropped in to see the Urban Beat Shop in action.
The inside view – A prisoner’s “snapshot” view of life in HMP Guys Marsh
Fay Weldon changes role – Giving us support in all we do, Fay is to become a Patron now she is retiring from being our President.
Christmas celebration of FOGM’s 10th anniversary – We were honoured to have several celebrities as guest readers at our celebratory Carol Service in Sherborne School Chapel, making the fund raising occasion extra special, where over £6,000 was donated to our work.
The Prison Barber’s Shop opens for business – Through an initiative by our committee and months of lobbying the disused Barber’s Shop is once again training men in the skills of Barbering to gain recognised qualifications for future employment. Read more here.
Prisoners raise money for children’s charity – An all-day Spinning Challenge organised by the men, and supported by staff and FOGM helped buy equipment for Ocean Ward in Southampton Hospital. Read more here.
Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers CVO DL has agreed to become a Patron – We are delighted that as a Patron Mrs Pitt-Rivers is extending the considerable support she has given us over the years.
An invitation to meet the Princess Royal – Princess Anne made an official visit to The Jailhouse Café at HMP The Verne to meet the Board of Expia CIC and requested that members of HMP Guys Marsh Café Steering Committee attend the function.
The Forgiveness Project – Funding raised to allow this valuable programme working with prisoners to continue for a further year.
Play Worker takes up her role – In partnership with Barnardo’s The Friends have engaged a Play Worker to engage with families during weekend visits.
FOGM takes on the Urban Beat Shop – previously being delivered through Education, we have committed to ensuring this effective music course continues to run.
Fun Jazz Evening Event – The Bell Street Jazz Band entertained at The Tithe Barn a lively crowd of supporters.
The Jailhouse Café at Guys Marsh – Exciting new venue for the community makes tentative opening for 2 days per week whilst plans continue for its expansion. Johnny Cash Event – An evening fund raiser held in the new Café is a great success
Restorative Justice – The Friends back the introduction of this practise throughout the prison and fund its training.
Guys Art Exhibition – A grand month long exhibition of paintings and craft work by prisoners and staff, held at The Exchange, Sturminster Newton, highlighted the talent inside the prison.
Help for PERC – A Debt Adviser has joined our PERC (Prison Effective Rehabilitation Co-ordinator) to assist prisoners with this problem.
Call My Bluff – Great amusement with laughter and heckling fun was enjoyed at the successful fundraising event held in Sturminster Newton.