Our journey
The Early Years
2005
Chris and Julie Parsons start to develop the idea of supporting prisoners within their landscaping company
2007
Funding is secured from a private donor, to provide sponsorship for three men (prolific offenders) to join Greenlands at the point of release from HMP. Scheme runs for 3 years
2011
Chris contacts Celia Atherton to discuss idea of a scheme for prolific offenders at The Dartington Hall Trust (Dartington had already publically expressed wish to be involved in work of this kind). Initial planning, preliminary meetings and discussions
Project Development
Landworks Officially Starts!
Funding, Grants & Partnerships
Market garden stall opens
An Independent Charity
New Ceramics enterprise allows increase of trainees
Future planning
January 2018
Giant log picnic tables for Dartington Deer Park Wall Project
February
Tony Everett walks across South America and raises £5,000
March
Tree planting to commemorate former trainee Jamie Symmons. £75,000 grant over 3 years confirmed from The Aurum Trust
100th LandWorks trainee
May 2019
Resettlement Surgeries start with Citizens Advice and Jobcentre Plus
May
Fin and Maria walk 100km from London to Brighton and raise £14,000
June
LandWorks awarded £150,000 over three years from the Henry Smith Charity
June
100th trainee placement starts
Pandemic response
March 2020
John Kiddey joins the trustee board
Lucy appointed as market gardener
ROTL placements suspended and community placements severely limited with the onset of the pandemic
Increased level of contact and remote support for LandWorks graduates
April
Steve appointed as charity manager
May
Funding received from the National Lottery and from MoJ/Clinks to make the LandWorks site more covid-secure
June
New community placements at LandWorks restart
July
University of Plymouth awarded British Academy grant to research impact of the pandemic on graduates
October
Sarah Wollaston joins the trustee board
November
Specialist housing advice surgeries start on site at LandWorks
New building funded by the National Lottery ready to use
Recovery and growth
February 2021
NHS drugs and alcohol support sessions start on site at LandWorks
March
LandWorks presented with a High Sheriff award from Gerald Hine-Haycock
£15,000 awarded from the Drapers Charitable Fund
April
New grants confirmed from the Aurum Trust, the Charles Hayward Foundation and the Mabel Cooper Trust
May
The Sir Halley Stewart Trust awards £60,000 over three years towards a new resettlement manager post at LandWorks
LandWorks’ written evidence cited in the Justice Select Committee report on the future of probation services
August
Over 100 people attend the Supporters’ Day event at LandWorks
The National Lottery Community Fund awards a new grant of £190,000 split over three years
October
2021 evaluation report published
University of Plymouth releases a film about LandWorks
November
LandWorks wins “Outstanding Local or Regional Organisation” award at the Criminal Justice Alliance Awards 2021
Coming of age
January 2022
Trainees restored and cleaned up second-hand tools to sell in our field-gate shop
February
Consultation response to the Prions Strategy White Paper
March
Rachel Billington visited and LandWorks featured in the Inside Time
May
Community bench created for inclusive Totnes at the mansion
June
Ted and Hils walked 100k and raised £4,700 plus match funding for LandWorks
Elli starts as our Resettlement Manager
Anthony Mangnall mentions LandWorks in his speech at Westminster hall
The Considered Ask award LandWorks with £34,358 funding over 2 years for new cook post and development
July
Film created by Graeme and Jennie Montgomery
August
Supporters Day
Chief Probation Officer, Sonia Flynn, visits LandWorks
October
Mike wins the Koestler Gold Audience Choice Award
November
Ambrook fundraising event raises £20,000 for LandWorks
December
Devonly Voices raise £500 at Winter Concert for LandWorks
LandWorks awarded £90,000 over three years from The Goldsmiths’ company
LandWorks awarded £150,000 for three years from the The Henry Smith Charity
10 Year Celebration
January 2023
Sam starts as an horticultural trainee at LandWorks, for a 1 year qualification
Djamila joins as our LandWorks chef and brings the garden into the kitchen
Monika returns to the market garden
February
Wood workshop extension is completed
LandWorks features on ITV West Country News
March
High Sheriff of Devon awards LandWorks £3,000
Jason Kew becomes a trustee
Gabe (probation officer) received the High Sheriff Award 2023-2023 at LandWorks
May
200th trainee placement starts
July
275 supporters celebrate LandWorks turning 10 years
LandWorks publishes book ‘Acceptance‘
Aroop Mozumder becomes a trustee
September
Dr Julie Parsons and Ellie (our Resettlement Manager) attend EuroCrim2023 in Florence
October
Steve pilots offsite landscaping and maintenance work to assess potential opportunities
November
Sarah Hocking becomes a trustee
Eye-catching new shops signs are erected!
Julie and Ellie share LandWorks’ resettlement vision with over 4,000 delegates at the American Society of Criminology (ASC) annual conference in Philadelphia.
