Sarah Port, a probation officer from Essex, is sharing her words of wisdom as part of a national campaign for HMPPS. She is one of five probation staff from across the country, who have
inspired a new range of greetings cards, encouraging people to share meaningful messages with loved ones at this time of year.
The limited-edition cards, Festive Reflections, have been launched by HMPPS and feature words of advice from probation staff, in collaboration with artwork commissioned by Prodigal Arts – a charity that helps people in prison and ex-offenders unlock their creative potential to help reduce the likelihood of re-offending. The words of advice are examples of support and guidance the probation staff have given to offenders they have worked with – but could be relevant for anyone looking to make a change or seeking motivation ahead of the new year.
With more than two thirds (67%)* of UK adults admitting that the festive season can challenge their health and wellbeing, the cards come just in time for those who would like to share messages of support with their nearest and dearest. They also highlight just one of the many important skills probation staff put into practice every single day – and those involved hope they will raise awareness of the opportunities and prompt people to consider exploring this as a career route.
Speaking about her involvement in the campaign and what inspired her to kickstart a career in the Probation Service, Sarah says: “I always knew I wanted to help people, which is why I joined the Probation Service. It’s not an easy job, but it’s certainly rewarding and provides you with a real opportunity to make a difference.
“I fundamentally believe that people can change which is why rehabilitation is important. In the criminal justice system, rehabilitation helps keep the public safe and reduce reoffending – and that’s what the Probation Service is all about.
“For someone that’s looking to make a change in their life, I would always say don’t try to do it alone. Think about who can support you and feel empowered to ask for that support. Change takes time, but we’re all capable of it.”
Shirley Grant, Head of Probation Resourcing at HMPSS says: “Everyone will go through challenges in their life – big or small – and guidance and encouragement from others can help support them. As probation staff, you play a vital role in the criminal justice system, supporting offenders through their rehabilitation journey and ultimately helping to reduce the risk of reoffending.
“Our probation officers work closely with all kinds of people, some of whom may have complex needs, including those who’ve committed violent and sexual offences or are struggling with their mental health or substance misuse.
“The role requires you to have good emotional intelligence and resilience as you navigate often quite challenging situations. It’s a unique yet rewarding role as you help offenders pursue a more positive path and, in turn, help protect the wider community. Our ultimate goal is to inspire more people to consider a career in the Probation Service. It’s a career unlike any other.”
With lots of vacancies available throughout the year, and HMPPS committing to recruiting at least 1,000 new trainee probation officers by the end of March 2025 earlier this year**, this campaign is encouraging those considering a career change to explore the wide range of roles available – in particular, probation officer and probation services officer roles.
There are five cards in the Festive Reflections collection, each one inspired by a different individual working in the Probation Service, and the artwork designed by artists at Prodigal Arts. The cards are available to order free of charge via the Prodigal Arts website at https://www.prodigalarts.org/
Speaking about the collaboration, Elliot Ellison, Creative Director & Project Coordinator at Prodigal Arts says: “We’re proud to play a part in this project. With more than 10 years’ experience supporting ex-offenders who have been through the criminal justice system, we know how important proper rehabilitation is. It’s why probation officers play such a vital role in society – and every artist we work with would have received support from probation officers at pivotal moments in their lives.”
To find out more about the Probation Service and explore the roles available in your local area, visit https://prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk/.
