FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON
TRUSTEES’
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
for the period
01 APRIL 2024 to 31 MARCH 2025
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON IS REGISTERED WITH THE CHARITY COMMISSION
REGISTRATION NUMBER 1168102
Registered and principal address: Lovells Mill, Burton Street, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton DT10 1JJ
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON Report of the Trustees for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON (FOGM)
OBJECTIVES
The Objectives are as set out in our Charity Trust deed dated 21 April 2017. They may be summarised as:
- To promote and support for the benefit of the public in Avon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire and the public at large (in partnership with the staff and Governor at HMP Guys Marsh) viable programmes and initiatives aimed at the rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders who are or who have been inmates at HMP Guys Marsh.
BANKERS
The Charity’s bankers are Lloyds TSB of Gillingham Dorset. The Investment Savings Account is with CCLA Investment Management Ltd in the COIF Charities Deposit Fund.
PATRONS, PRESIDENT, TRUSTEES & COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Patrons: Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers CVO DL Mr Simon Hoare, MP President: to be appointed Lifetime Presidents: Mr Derek Ross; Mr Terry Francis
Trustees: Giles Fearn – Chair; Ann Davis-Penson – Treasurer; Annie Henschel – Secretary; Stephen Penson (Vice Chair); Shaun Bracey; Mary-Ann Newson-Smith; Jane Gibson
GOVERNING BODY
Friends of Guys Marsh Prison (FOGM) ends the year managed by the committee of seven trustees, although an active recruitment drive is underway to enable a robust succession plan. We currently have 2 patrons although we are still looking to invite additional well-known local personalities to join us and further improve our visibility and impact.
Our meetings are held monthly, attended by trustees for information, discussion and decision making. Our meetings are usually held early in the month within the prison, making it easy for prison staff and representatives of the prisoners to attend. All trustees share the responsibility for decisions taken and their agreed actions. Sub-committees meet to plan the detail of some activities. Occasional meetings are held off site to enable our patrons to attend and Extra-ordinary General meetings are arranged as necessary. The Annual General Meeting is held in the autumn or as soon as the accounts have been audited and verified. We work closely with the Governors and staff and are part of the Network of charities and organisations who visit regularly to provide advice and support to prisoners.
2
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON Report of the Trustees for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
FINANCIAL REPORT
Our financial position remains stable although we are subject to the pressures of the cost of living increases, along with everyone else. We have completely separated the funding of Friends of Guys Marsh from that of the Urban Beat Music Workshops (UBM). Whilst the funds are separate, we do administer the UBM account, hence their activities are noted in this report.
Our accountants are Simon John Christopher Ltd, Chartered Accountants, based in Sturminster Newton.
The charity’s assets, including the UBM funds to which we have no access, stand at £xxxxxx at the end of the financial year. This can be broken down as £xxxxxx in the UBM account, making the FOGM balance £xxxxxx. A proportion of our assets are held in our income bearing deposit account whilst a working balance is maintained in the current account. Donations given to FOGM to cover specific projects are accounted for as individual “restricted” entries. Open donations cover all other projects and administrative expenses.
Total Asset Comparisons between 2023/2024 and 2024/2025
This year shows an increase of c. £xxxxx in the value of assets held. This is due, in the majority, to the interest paid on the money held in the CCLA account as a result of the money gifted to us last year. In addition, the final settlement payment of the bequest once the estate was settled was forwarded in June and amounted to an additional £19,898 – a huge boost to our funds.
Sources of Income and Publicity
Our ongoing work is supported by grants from charitable trusts, the generous annual subscriptions donated by our ‘Friends’, and our fund-raising activities. It is also supplemented by small amounts donated from the prisoners themselves via their card shop and from one off donations received. Whilst some income streams have dried up we continue our proactive search for support from community trusts and other concerns.
The annual newsletter is compiled during the year for publication in the summer. This year, to save postage costs, it was distributed via email ‘Friends’, donors and associated organisations with an option for them to receive a printed copy if requested. No requests were received so we will repeat the email circulation this year. Articles are still submitted for inclusion in a local, quarterly magazine, The Spreadeagle, with these articles being circulated to our Friends, again via email, to keep them updated and aware of ongoing activities.
URBAN BEATS MUSIC PROJECT
The Urban Beats Music project (UBM) is run by Toby Langton-Gilks working for TLG Music Ltd. This is a totally self-funded project with a separate bank account and funds distinctly apart from FOGM however the accounts are administered by the FOGM Treasurer and Chair, hence this is reported as a section of the FOGM Annual Report.
Toby Langton-Gilks is engaged by the UBM Project on a self-employed basis as an independent contractor and is therefore expected to account for his own income tax, Class 4 National Insurance contributions and VAT returns. Friends of Guys Marsh Prison do not
3
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON Report of the Trustees for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
consider him an employee, worker, agent or partner of the charity and he shall not hold himself out as such.
The Urban Beats Music course has over 40 prisoners enrolled on the list which equates to about 10% of Guys Marsh Prison’s total prisoner population. It remains very high in demand and is currently running 5 afternoons per week in the prison’s Chapel Area despite various challenges mainly due to the construction work now started on the estate and the need to change venues at short notice.
The assets of the UBM at the end of the financial year stand at £xxxxxxx. Expenses are drawn monthly from this account against regular invoices with occasional expenditure submitted for upgrading of equipment and additional supplies.
Once again, several submissions have been made to the annual Koestler Arts awards and this has been recognised with another "Platinum Arts Establishment Award" being won by HMP Guys Marsh purely on the basis of the number and quality of annual submissions.
DIRECT PRISONER SUPPORT
The prison has been able to run more normally during this period due to better staffing and reduced occurrences of communicable diseases. This has been due to an increase of trained staff and has had a consequent impact on the movement of prisoners about the estate, opening up of industry workshops, visit schedules and the usual socialisation enjoyed by prisoners. To go someway to mitigate the effects on long periods in their cells without appropriate or helpful mental stimulation we have provided in-cell activities such as art materials, jigsaws, matchsticks for model building and so on.
We have been able to support PACT in providing additional items to enhance the visit activities for the children and families and we continue to provide Leavers Bags to those in need. although we have modified the contents and no longer supply masks, hand gel and a cagoule. We have also received a significant number of requests for clothing on release for men going through the gate into approved accommodation, hostels or – fortunately only on rare occasions – with no fixed abode.
The new and improved 12 week process prior to release which has been implemented by the prison management has started to prove efficient and effective in providing the necessary support and foundation to the men. Dedicated in-house staff are now providing accommodation support as well as a more robust search to secure employment.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Keeping families together and strengthening bonds is crucial to satisfactory resettlement and our support in this area deservedly is a focus of our work.
The monthly Wellbeing Days are all themed and overseen by different departments each time.
Along with the usual Christmas and Easter gifts we supply, we also provided a number of pumpkins for carving in time for the October visit. This was a great success and much enjoyed by all who took part – this is another fixed annual highspot on the calendar now! Other themes included Carnival, Sports Day and Cake and Biscuit decorating.
Additionally, we provided photo backdrops along varying themes which can be reused throughout the year and enables families to have up to date pictures taken, which are treasured by both family and prisoner alike.
4
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON Report of the Trustees for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
The taxi system is working well and is mostly administered by the prison who pass through the requests to the taxi firm. Transfers are only requested when needed and deemed appropriate by the prison so it is virtually a bespoke service for far less financial outlay than our previous system. We will continue to monitor this but for now we will retain this service for those families who would otherwise find the taxi costs prohibitive.
STAFF SUPPORT
We usually meet many staff during the year, listen to their concerns and praise their successes to support them in their work. As a token of our appreciation for their often difficult work we distribute tins of seasonal biscuits to the departments at Christmas. We also look for other means of acknowledging their dedication.
EVENTS AND PROJECTS
Once again we were invited to organise and run a bar at a local Flower Show, which this year was a victim of horizontal rain and high winds not conducive to hanging around enjoying a drink in the open air! We will try again next year!
Through connections with one of our Trustees, we have been able to set up some sessions of badminton, greatly enjoyed by the prisoners, who welcome the opportunity to play against someone different, and the members of a local club. These sessions have been fairly regular on a monthly basis, although suspended once or twice due to staff shortages/sickness.
Another local club, this time table tennis, heard about the sessions and approached us to start up something similar if there was interest. There certainly was so we purchased a couple of tables to be stored in the gym and again, this has been an enjoyable and successful socialising event for the men.
Both these sporting initiatives have helped develop the men’s self-esteem and given them something different to look forward to and is particularly welcomed by the gym staff as both are played in a friendly but competitive manner and make such a change from the endless pumping weights!
INDUSTRIES & EDUCATION
Despite the various challenges of lockdowns and staff shortages, work has been continuing behind the scenes to install or upgrade the Industry offerings and we look forward to working closely with the Industries Manager in supporting the new initiatives in the pipeline.
The Attendance Rewards supplied to the Education department for distribution to the men who actually make it into education have proved extremely successful. The Rewards generally take the form of sweets and drinks, which are given at the end of a week or month for 100% attendance. Again, we try and theme these to fit in with the particular month or subject the Education Department are focussing on so, for example, January would have Granola bars and an energy drink (representing a healthy start to the New Year!), April would feature Crème Eggs and so on.
FUTURE GOALS
Our goal remains to seek new possibilities for rehabilitative projects whilst continuing our existing activities. We will explore fresh ideas, aided by our networking with other charities
5
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON Report of the Trustees for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
and voluntary organisations and work as closely as possible with the prison management to help maintain the family structure, thus improving the chances of a successful rehabilitation into society on release.
We are continuing to work in close collaboration with prison management, particularly as the expansion work is underway. The additional numbers of prisoners the new wings will accommodate will inevitably lead to further calls for support from both staff and men alike so we will continue to weigh carefully any requests to ensure we maximise the allocation of our funds to promote and abide by our objectives.
WORKING STRUCTURE
Trustee committee meetings are normally held monthly.in the prison library led the Chairman and attended by the Trustees, representatives of the prisoners, prison management and a representative from the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).
When permitted, members attend some internal prison meetings and ceremonies. Trustees undertake training courses and informative meetings when appropriate ones are available. Members officially attend local events when invited to give talks to publicise our charity. The Annual General Meeting is held in the autumn or when the accounts are prepared for approval.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Trustees wish to thank the following for their generous financial and/or voluntary support, many of whom have donated over and above their usual amounts to cover any shortfalls in these unusual times:
The Valentine Trust Tom’s Field Anonymous Donors Salisbury Diocese Mothers Union Shaftesbury Society of Quakers P J R Lane Pitt-Rivers Charitable Trust FOGM ‘Friends’ & Volunteers H. H. Charitable Trust G.M. inmate’s charitable donations Grassroots Garden & Aquatic Centre Simon John Christopher Ltd Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Charitable Trust
For partnership working:
G.M. Chaplaincy team; Dr Sarah Lewis (Prison Reform Solutions); The Independent Monitoring Board PACT
Signed on behalf of the Trustees:
Giles Fearn (Chairman) …………………………………………
6
FRIENDS OF GUYS MARSH PRISON Report of the Trustees for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Date: …………….………………
7