ROBIN CORBETT AWARD

If you are a charity, social enterprise or CIC who supports re-integration in local communities for returning citizens, then we want to hear from you!

Applications for the 2024 Awards opens on 1st March 2024 and closes on May 17. If you have a good story to tell about supporting people both inside prison or after release, you stand a chance at winning one of three prizes: £5K, £3K or £1K. And obtaining national and local publicity which aids future fund raising. Plus a day to remember with a tour of the House of Lords and cream tea in the Peer’s Dining Room.

Thank you to all applicants who took the time to share your story and give an insight into your work for the 2022 Awards. It is always inspirational to see so many positive projects and organisations taking innovative and considerable steps in supporting returning citizens in life after prison. Though your project might not have won, do think about reapplying as in past years unsuccessful applicants became winners. Please consider your answers carefully on the application form – tell your story in a way our Judges can visualise.

The awards honour the work of Robin Corbett and his passion for prison reform which you continue to honour every day in your work.

Sifting through the applications, judges find it inspirational to discover so many positive projects and organisations taking innovative and considerable steps in supporting those released from prison. The Awards honour the work of Robin Corbett and his passion for prison reform which you continue to honour every day in your work in the CJS . Note: When applying, consider your answers carefully on the application form – tell your story in a way our Judges can visualise.

The prize fund of £10,000 is shared between three charities who support re-integration in local communities for returning citizens. The money is important but more so is the publicity which winners achieve both nationally and locally.

Presentation of the Awards is at the House of Commons and winners are our guests at a delicious cream tea in the House of Lords Peers Dining Room, then a short tour of the Lords before going to the Presentation ceremony where they receive beautiful glass plaques donated by the Timpson Group.

Thank you to all applicants who took the time to share your story and give an insight into your work for the 2022 Awards. It is always inspirational to see so many positive projects and organisations taking innovative and considerable steps in supporting returning citizens in life after prison. Though your project might not have won, do think about reapplying as in past years unsuccessful applicants became winners. Please consider your answers carefully on the application form – tell your story in a way our Judges can visualise.

The awards honour the work of Robin Corbett and his passion for prison reform which you continue to honour every day in your work.

MEET OUR JUDGES

– Lady Val Corbett (Founder)
– Chair: David Apparicio MBE, JP (CEO The Chrysalis Programme)
– David Gauke (former Secretary of State for Justice)
– Eoin Mclennan-Murray (Former Prison Governor/former Chair, Howard League for Penal Reform)
– Geoff Dobson OBE (Trustee Prison Reform Trust)
– Ian Bickers (former Head of London Prisons, Founder Unlocking Justice)
– Jonathan Freeman (CEO The Charity for Civil Servants)
– Dr Kameel Khan (former Tax Judge, Founder ReMake)
– Nicholas Dear (Robin’s son-in-law, RCA Publicity Director)
– Pia Sinha, (Director Prison Reform Trust)
– Polly Corbett (Robin Corbett’s daughter)
– Tom Wheatley (President of Prison Governors Association)
– Wendy, a returning citizen

THE PRIZES

The winner receives £5,000; Highly Commended winner gets £3,000 and Commended winner receives £1,000 (thanks to our sponsor the Chrysalis Foundation).

The presentation is at the House of Commons, the three winners plus one colleague have a short tour of the House of Lords then have a delicious cream tea in the Peer’s Dining Room then attend the presentation ceremony.

Apart from the prize money, winners are then presented with an impressive glass plaque donated by James Timpson and a book about Lord Corbett written by Lady Corbett. The Award ceremony at the House of Lords precedes the meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Penal Affairs Group.

Our Publicity Director then sends a press release about the work of the winners to national and local media.

  1. The winner receives £5,000; Highly Commended winner gets £3,000 and Commended winner receives £1,000 (thanks to our sponsor, the Chrysalis Foundation: www.chrysalisprogramme.com )
  2. In normal times, when the presentation is at the House of Lords, we provide fares for the three winners plus one colleague each to travel to London. They then have afternoon tea at Member’s Dining Room in the House of Lords hosted by Lord Ramsbotham (Chair of the RCA Judges and Co-Chair Parliamentary Penal Affairs Group) and Lady Corbett.
  3. This is followed by a short tour of the House of Lords conducted by Lord Ramsbotham
  4. Winners are then presented with the prize money, an impressive glass plaque donated by James Timpson and a book about Lord Corbett written by Lady Corbett. The Award ceremony at the House of Lords precedes the meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Penal Affairs Group.
  5. A press release about their work is sent to national and local media.

During the pandemic the above is not possible so plaques and books will be sent by courier. We hope that when things go back to normal, future winners will be able to have their prizes presented at the Houses of Parliament.

Help us continue Lord Corbett’s legacy by reaching our goal of raising £50,000 by 2023. Please donate today as every penny helps. Thank you for your support! Bank details: Robin Corbett Award; sort code 200774; account no: 00275107

other benefits include

Raising significant awareness of the work the winners do. Not only will it highlight the example of good practice, but will also broaden their Brand reach.

Winners will get the chance for potential for new partnerships and developments. It will also increase their profile for future funding opportunities.
Nick Dear, the Award’s publicity director, will work with winners to create a press release to draw attention to their success in national and local media.

HEAR FROM
SOME OF OUR WINNERS

Our bike recycling project has had a hugely positive couple of years since winning the Robin Corbett Award. We’re about to move to a new, bigger workshop inside the secure area of the prison. We have hired an assistant for John (our wonderful workshop instructor, whom you met) so we can open 50 weeks a year, and we’re looking to launch a follow-on work placement scheme for ex-offenders servicing bikes for the public early next year. All this progress was kickstarted by the positive media coverage we got from the Award in 2017. So thank you!

Ed Norton
Development Manager Life Cycle UK
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DOING MORE: Growth Fund

We launched the Growth Fund in 2020, in order to help even more charities in their mission to support the re-integration of ex-offenders into society.

Each year we will aim to award further prizes of up to £10,000 to charities delivering on this mission.

Are you a charity helping the re-integration and support of returning citizens? Then we want to hear from you. Apply and see if we can help you.

Special thanks to the Barrow Cadbury Trust for their support in administering this Award.

get in touch

For more information on the Robin Corbett Award or the Growth Fund, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!

Help us carry on Lord Corbett’s legacy by reaching our goal of raising £50,000 in 2025, by donating today. Every penny helps. Thank you!

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