I am pleased to be able to provide the foreword for the Hardman Directory again this year. It has been another busy year for us all working in and within the prison estate. We have now moved towards our 'Living with COVID-19' approach as we continue to build on what we have learned across an unprecedented two years.
The Hardman Trust’s work has continued to support men and women preparing to leave custody and plan for their future, undeterred by the challenges the system has faced as we continue to recover from the pandemic. Their aim to support and empower individuals upon release remains at the heart of their work.
The Directory continues to provide free to access advice to people in custody, people upon release, ex-prisoners and their families – both through hard copies available in establishments, but also via the digital version. This is also a great tool for the staff who work in both prison and probation roles, to support them in supporting those in their care and pursuing our aims of reducing reoffending.
I wish to relay my thanks to the Hardman Trust and their donors for their continued hard work in delivering the Directory and to those funders and employers who are listed in the Directory for the support they provide to people leaving custody and building towards positive, crime-free futures that when achieved have such positive impacts for them, those close to them and their communities.