Chris Parsons’ Blog

Hello, I thought it would be useful to provide a further update on some changes at LandWorks, as well as some upcoming events that we are involved in, which you may wish to support or join….

Hello, There is a real feeling of change around, not least through world events and the knock-on effects they have for all of us. So many of our young people are struggling. Anxiety and poor mental…

Hello, We thought you may like a heads-up about something coming… A few weeks ago, starting as a one to one in the market garden and then with all of us over a tea break, the…

Hello, Over the years, we have worked with a small number of men serving IPP sentences, and I thought I would try to describe some of the extreme difficulties this sentencing framework has caused. An IPP…

Hello, I thought you might find this quite interesting. We have drilled down into all our statistics from over the last 13 years and have found some interesting representations for an average placement here. Over the…

Hello, Mr Potato Head and Jessie think I’m more Woody than Buzz. These “which character are you” games often crop up after lunch – they’re good fun and can be surprisingly revealing. There’s a lot going…

Hello, So many people have been in touch over the last few weeks. It has been wonderful, humbling, inspiring, and motivating, and it has really helped build our enthusiasm for the year ahead. Thank you to…

Hello, Maybe it’s the time of year, the equinox almost upon us, Christmas just days away – but I’ve found myself doing a lot of reflecting. This year more than most. Alongside LandWorks running ‘normally’, we’ve…

Hello, “You have to find joy where you can.” Joe and I had been watching goldfinches on the teasel plants, swaying on the seed heads as they searched for food. He was sharing snippets from his…

Hello, Someone recently shared this reflection with us about LandWorks… “In many situations, we tend to judge the behaviour of others before trying to understand it.” One of our guys here, now 115 days clean, connects…

Hello, “Yeah, I’m not saying I want to go back inside, but I don’t really care, Chris. I’ve got f*** all in my life.” He pauses; he’s just finished a four-year stretch. I think we’re both…

Hello, Last Wednesday, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visited LandWorks – and yes, we were expecting her! It was a wonderful day. Barry, who has been on placement here for a few months, told me it…