The Hardman Trust is among a few charitable organisations that recognises the need to supplement the efforts of the Prison Service in providing resources for lower risk prisoners in the latter stages of a sentence of 10 years or more (male) or 7 years or more (female) who wish to equip themselves to lead a crime-free life upon release.
The Trust is governed by members of a management committee. It is the management committee that selects award winners twice a year. Currently one third of the committee members have themselves served custodial sentences and have shown exceptional commitment to the rehabilitation process. The Award Scheme is managed on a day to day basis by the Secretary.
The Trust is unique in that it majors on personal contact with individual prisoners and interview prior to selection. Financial awards are made at the April and October selection meetings, primarily for the purposes of specific educational or vocational training as well as for the provision of books, computer software, trade tools and equipment, in recognition of some special commitment on the part of the applicant to the process of rehabilitation. Presently individual awards are in the region of £250-£800.
Award winners are invited to a ceremony at one of H.M. prisons where a certificate is presented. Previous presenters of Hardman Trust Awards have included: Lord Woolf, Mr Phil Wheatley, former Head of the National Offender Mangement Service and Ms Anne Owers CBE, former H.M. Chief Inspector of Prisons. Where an award winner is unable to attend the main ceremony, the Governor of his or her prison is asked to make the presentation.
On the anniversary of receiving their awards, award winners are asked to report back, giving a brief summary of how they have benefited.
