Chris Parsons’ Blog

Hello, We have learned a lot over 12 years. Everyone who arrives here has much in common, but also, we have discovered the importance of listening to and understanding an individual’s story. Nobody is the same….

Hello, Essentially what we do at LandWorks is support people to re-discover who they were before getting into trouble (back then), and before they got involved in the criminal justice system. So many people coming here…

Hello, “Chris, surely it’s just all about employment, that’s the answer, just get these people working… simple”. Well, err I suppose in an ideal world, yes. But as Doris (LandWorks trainee 2022) said, “If you just…

Hello, Imagining what LandWorks could look like 12 years ago did take a bit of thought. Looking back now at our early plans and diagrams, it is interesting that the same core principles that we identified…

Hello, You know what’s it’s like, wee small hours, drifting in and out of sleep! Then I’m listening to the wild wind blowing. Then I’m worrying about an old oak tree at LandWorks. Not sure how…

Hello, Did you know that the arrival of an elephant on a Friday is thought by many communities to be of great significance? No, nor did I. These days there is little that surprises us at…

Hello, My name is Sam and I’m an employee and part of the team here at LandWorks tending after the Market Garden. I’ve been asked to write this week’s blog by Chris, and initially I was…

Hello, Christmas is coming and I am waiting outside the Totnes supermarket. Despite my disguise of looking old, grumpy and wearing a hat, festive folk surprisingly want to talk to me… “How’s LandWorks going?”, said a…

Hello, A few days ago, I went out and yelled at all the smokers, as they sat in exclusion, in the tiny damp smoking area. At LandWorks smokers are completely the majority (most days 100% of…

Hello, I opened the gates as usual. Still dark, the security lights flash on. I found my office, revved up my computer and got on with stuff. As the morning light came up, I started to…

Hello, Sometimes, as in right now, I look for hope, resilience, and the human spirit… A promised land. Very sadly, four young LandWorks graduates have died this year, all tragically. All graduates from over the last ten…

Hello, During our supporters’ event last month, a very pleasant, determined supporter took me to one side and said quite clearly, “Look Chris, there are many of your supporters like me who can afford to donate…