Our Founder, Belinda Southwell
31 August 2023

At the end of May 2023, Belinda Southwell, our founder, ex-Chair and Trustee stepped down from our Trustee Board. The charity, as it is today, emerged from Belinda’s vision from 12 years ago when the charity was born. Its growth, development and successes are founded on Belinda’s passion to support the men of HMP Erlestoke and their families

Change of Charitable Status
7 March 2023

The Trustees recently reviewed our charitable status and have changed it from being an Unincorporated Trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). We are still a registered charity with all the benefits that brings but now, as we are incorporated, we can employ staff or enter into contracts more easily.

New Transport Scheme Co-ordinator
22 December 2022

The Friends are delighted to announce that we have appointed a new Co-ordinator for our Transport Scheme. We feel extremely lucky to have engaged Les Drage who has a wealth of experience working with people and has top notch organisational skills. He has already launched himself energetically into the role

WELCOME TO OUR NEW TRUSTEE
14 December 2022

We are pleased to welcome Nick Crean to our Trustee team. Nick brings a wealth of experience to the Friends. He is Vice President of Contact, a charity which works with families of disabled children and also Director of The October Club, the City of London’s foremost annual fund raising

Welcome to our new Patron
9 April 2022

We are pleased to welcome Sir Charles Hobhouse to the Friends as our newest Patron. Charles has recently stepped down from the role of High Sheriff of Wiltshire. He has a long standing interest in criminal justice, particularly prisons and mental health and was a keen supporter of the Friends

NEW CHAIR APPOINTMENT
9 April 2022

At the end of the 2021/22 financial year Angela Hughes stepped down from role of Chair after 3.5 years. From 1st April 2022, Primrose Campbell, who joined the Friends as a trustee in July 2019, was appointed Chair. Angela has remained on the Board of Trustees.

Robert Gordon Fundraising Event – “Shackleton and the Endurance”
31 December 2021

Thank you to everyone who attended the excellent talk given by Robert Gordon in October. We are pleased that this finally happened despite several postponements due to Covid.

Lockdown 21 Auction
30 November 2021

Thank you to everyone who bid in the Lockdown21 online auction which raised just over £2,300 and is a great boost to our funds. Congratulations to the winning bidders!

New Trustee Appointments
30 November 2021

We are pleased to announce the appointments of Sue Weber and Charles Atterton who have joined our trustee team. Sue has a wealth of experience in managing accounts in professional service organisations and in the charity sector. Sue has taken over from Mark Mangham as our Treasurer. Charles is a

Transport Scheme restarted
31 August 2021

Our Transport Scheme restarted on Monday 24th August following HMP Erlestoke’s reintroduction of social visits. The scheme will run with fewer volunteer drivers as many have vulnerabilities to the Covid-19 virus. However, we are now recruiting for new drivers so that we can meet demand for lifts from prisoners’ families.

Wiltshire Life Awards 2021
31 March 2021

We were proud to be one of the 3 groups shortlisted for the Wiltshire Life Awards ‘Community Group of the Year’ and it was an honour to come 2nd. Congratulations to Seeds 4 Success in Mere who won the award. Thank you to Wiltshire Life for selecting us for the

Fonthill Fundraiser Sponsored Walk
30 September 2020

Thank you to everyone who supported our Fonthill fundraiser on the 26th September and thank you to all the trustees, friends and dogs who completed one of the 3km, 10km or 20km walks! We raised just over £2,200. The money will boost our funds in preparation for restarting and maintaining

Cartes Postales
31 March 2020

Thank you to the array of leading and local artists, writers, actors and musicians who created over 300 unique artworks on postcards. Thank you also to all of you who purchased a voucher to win a postcard. The random allocation of postcard vouchers to postcard artworks took place on the

Christmas 2019 Auction
31 March 2020

Thank you to all who bid in our Christmas Auction and congratulations to those who were the highest bidders. The Auction raised just over £2,500 and will contribute to the continuation of our programmes currently running in the prison.

In-prison programmes and the Transport Scheme stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic
19 March 2020

All Friends of Erlestoke Prison programmes within the prison and our Transport Scheme stopped as from mid-March 2020. We await further guidance from HMPPS as to when they can recommence.

Two New Trustees
31 January 2020

We are pleased to announce the appointments of Eve McBride and Fran Bishop who have joined our trustee team. Eve is a semi-retired GP and will be overseeing our Transport Scheme. Fran is a Commercial Lawyer and will be overseeing our Origami Workshops and managing our contracts with our service

Trustee Retirement
30 October 2019

Judith Squarey, who has been a Trustee with the Friends for over 5 years, retired from the role at the October 2019 Trustee meeting. Judith worked closely with RECOOP (resettlement and care of older ex-offenders and offenders) and the older prisoner group in HMP Erlestoke and organised many speakers for

Bridge and Lunch Event
19 October 2019

Thank you to those who joined us on Wednesday 18th September at Chitterne Village Hall to play bridge and enjoy a tasty lunch. The event raised a fantastic £1,900!

Jailbreak 2019
31 July 2019

Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances we had to cancel our Jailbreak event this year. We hope that we will be able to launch the event on another date in the future.

New Trustee Appointment
31 July 2019

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Primrose Campbell who has recently joined our trustee team. Primrose has had a varied career in politics, education and overseas charity/voluntary work. She is currently Head of Classics at Godolphin School in Salisbury. Primrose will be the lead trustee for new Friends

Thank you to the Lions Club Devizes
30 June 2019

Thank you to the Lions Club of Devizes who donated us £250 at their 2019 presentation evening. We were proud to be recognised as one of their chosen charities.

Sharing the work of the Friends with pupils at Marlborough College
31 May 2019

Our Chair, Angela Hughes presented to 400 Marlborough College pupils to share the work of the Friends and to give some insight into prisons in England and Wales.

Comedy Night, Dinner and Auction
30 April 2019

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Dauntsey’s School, West Lavington on Saturday 30th March for a joint fundraiser with Erlestoke & Coulston Cricket Club. Great night of food and comedy. The Friends of Erlestoke Prison benefited from a share of the profits based on ticket sales and we

Jonathan Aitken Talk and Supper
31 March 2019

Thank you to those who joined us on the 11th March for supper and to hear Jonathan Aitken’s talk entitled ‘From Power to Prison to Peace’ at Sarum College in Salisbury. Over 70 people attended and we raised the fantastic sum of just over £5,000; this will contribute to our

New Chair Appointment
31 January 2019

At the end of 2018, Belinda Southwell stepped down from the role of Chair after 7 successful years. Angela Hughes, who supported Belinda in founding the charity in 2011 and has been a trustees since then, was appointed Chair in November 2018. Belinda has remained on the board of Trustees.