BUTLER TRUST RECOGNISE MOORLAND STAFF AT AWARDS CEREMONY

14 Mar 2002 05:13 PM

The Life Sentence Group at HMP & YOI Moorland has won a prestigious Butler Trust Certificate Award for it's dedicated work with lifers.

Probation Officer Darrell Fisher and Prison Officer Karen Meek from the group will be among a number of Prison Service staff who will visit Buckingham Palace on Friday 15 March, to receive their awards from HRH The Princess Royal. In all, 34 awards are being given this year to members of staff in the Prison Service for England and Wales.

The Life Sentence Prisoners Group run a 30-week programme addressing offending behaviour in lifers by helping them to recognise their offence and understand their victims. The group has run successfully since October 1999.

The Governor of Moorland, Barry McCourt said:

"This year is a milestone year in that we are delighted that the work of our Life Sentence Prisoners Group has been recognised with an award from the Trust. The group is very much appreciated by the young prisoners within our care."

The Director General of the Prison Service, Martin Narey, welcomed these awards. He said:

"The Butler Trust ceremony is a big day for the Service where the excellence of many of my staff is celebrated. This year's winners are the most impressive I have seen and I am proud to have them as colleagues."

Notes to Editors

1. The Butler Trust was set up as a registered charity in 1985 to promote and encourage positive regimes in UK prisons. An independent Annual Award Scheme was established to recognise exceptionally dedicated and often creative work undertaken by anybody working in the Prison Service. HRH The Princess Royal has been patron of the Trust since its foundation.

2. A press photographer will be present at the ceremony, please contact the Press Association picture desk on 020 7353 7440.

3. For further information please contact either Graham Twarog at Prison Service Media Relations on 020 7273 4543 or Jackie Bienaime at The Butler Trust on 020 8688 6062.