Posts Archives - Page 2 of 3 - The Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund

2025 Annual Report Published

2 July 2025

Our 2025 Annual Report was published today.

It was an exceptionally busy year and another record breaking one, with grant expenditure hitting an all-time high for the second year running of £242,000. With income from donations remaining largely static at just under £200,000, this increase in grants meant that grant expenditure exceeded donation income this year by £47,000.

This income deficit has been steadily rising over the last few years, so we have become increasingly dependent on fundraising income to bridge the gap and ensure that we can CONTINUE to fund all eligible applications AND increase the value of grants to keep pace with the cost-of-living AND support some rehabilitation projects that are so important in the challenge to reduce re-offending.

Fortunately, this year we benefitted from some fantastic fundraising efforts by the Sheriffs, the Recorder and other sources which raised £175,000. This bridged the income gap and enabled us to support eight rehabilitation projects.

Please click below to download a copy of the latest Annual Report.

https://sr-fund.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SRF-2025-Annual-Report-26-Aug-25-website.pdf

02/07/2025/by Hal W

Posts

Three New Rehabilitation Projects Funded

1 July 2025

Thanks to the fantastic fundraising efforts of the Sheriffs, the Recorder and members of the Advisory Council over the last two years, we have been able to continue to support some excellent rehabilitation projects in the London prisons, including three new projects: the StandOut project at HMP Wandsworth, Onwards & Upwards’ XO Barbers project at HMP Brixton and 3 Pillars’ Rugby Academy programme at HMP YOI Feltham. This means we are now supporting rehabilitation projects in six of London’s prisons.

To read more about these projects please go to the Rehabilitation Projects section of this website or our most recent Annual Reports.

01/07/2025/by Hal W

Posts

Online Applications Now Live

1 May 2025

I am pleased to be able to report that grant applications to the Fund can now be made online. This should make the application process more accessible to probation officers and expedite the grant making process so that we are able to reach beneficiaries quicker, when they are most vulnerable and their needs are greatest.

For further information, please go to the Guidelines and FAQ section of this website.

01/05/2025/by Hal W

Posts

Positive Impact Assessment

13 January 2025

I am delighted to report that an independent evaluation of the impact of the Fund, specifically the grants made to prison leavers, has confirmed the positive impact that these grants have. Of the probation officers and other practitioners researched, 71% say the Sheriffs’ & Recorder’s Fund’s grants reduce the likelihood of reoffending, 67% say the grants increase the chances of employment and 67% say the Fund’s grants enable access to education and training.

Our thanks to Bean Research who undertook the research and to all the probation officers and other practitioners who were interviewed or responded to the survey.

13/01/2025/by Hal W

Posts

Chess In Prisons Visit

12 December 2024

We were very grateful to the Governor of HMP Wormwood Scrubs for inviting us to see in action the Chess in Prisons project that we have provided some funding for. Chess is a readily available, low-cost, purposeful activity that offers inmates critical skills for life on the outside. It is a game of consequences that trains people to think before acting and can help prisoners to think logically and solve problems.

In the stunning surroundings of the Prison Chapel, we saw International Master and CEO of the CSC Prison Program, Malcolm Pein, simultaneously challenge and, not without a few scares, ultimately defeat all 20 members of the E Wing Chess Club.

12/12/2024/by Hal W

Posts

Christmas Carol Service

11 December 2024

The fabulous Old Bailey Choir treated us to another feast of Christmas Carols to a packed audience in the Grand Hall of the Old Bailey. Once again, thank you to the Choir and to everyone who attended and donated so generously for the benefit of the Fund.

11/12/2024/by Hal W

Posts

New Advisory Council Member

5 December 2024

I am delighted to welcome the Reverend Jo Davies as a new member of the Advisory Council. Jo is an ordained priest in the Church of England and has been involved in Prison Ministry for over 27 years, most recently, but now retired, as Managing Chaplain at HMP Pentonville. She is a Trustee of The Recovery Course and Chance For Change Foundation and has for many years been a mentor for those who have lived experience of addiction and imprisonment.

05/12/2024/by Hal W

Posts

New Trustee

29 October 2024

I am delighted to welcome Kate Fenwick, who has brought such enthusiasm and energy as an Advisory Council member over the last three years, as a new Trustee of the Fund.

29/10/2024/by Hal W

Posts

Welcome

28 October 2024

At the beginning of a new shrieval year in the City of London, we would like to welcome Sheriff David Chalk and Alderman Sheriff Gregory Jones KC as Presidents of the Fund. We look forward to working with them during what will be a very busy year for all concerned, especially after the recent prison early release programme which is likely to lead to an increase in grant applications to the Fund.

28/10/2024/by Hal W

Posts

Thank you

28 October 2024

A big “Thank you” on behalf of the Fund and its beneficiaries to the two outgoing Presidents of the Fund, Alderwoman Dame Sue Langley and Alderman Bronek Masojada who, as Presidents of the Fund during the 2023-24 shrieval year, raised in excess of £100,000 for the Fund from a variety of events. This is exceedingly significant income for the Fund to help us bridge the funding gap between donation income and grant applications for the coming year.

28/10/2024/by Yuliia Velychenko