01-05-2025
Glasgow prison officers get prestigious royal award
Officers Kevin Carberry of HMP Low Moss and Charlie Ross from HMP Barlinnie were commended by Princess Anne during this year's Butler Trust Awards.
The event recognises the extraordinary work of prison, probation and youth justice workers.
Kevin Carberry was honoured for his inspirational work in supporting inmates in their recovery journeys.
(Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)
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Having worked at the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) for 11 years, he recently became a recovery officer and the driving force behind the Bishopbriggs facility's Small Beans Cafe, a therapeutic space dedicated to supporting the men.
Employees work with partners such as Cocaine Anonymous, We Are With You, Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous, the Scottish Recovery Consortium and many others to help more than 100 prisoners who attend sessions every week.
One participant said: 'I was in a really bad place before the start-up of the Recovery Cafe.
"I would self-harm regularly, had a really strained relationship with my mum and thought life wasn't worth living.
"Attending the Recovery Cafe has been a lifeline for me. I have stopped cutting myself and thanks to Kevin's intervention, I now have a great relationship with my mum.
"Kevin has a heart of gold, really listens to what you have to say and goes out of his way to help you. I can't speak highly enough of him; he's changed my life.
"I have been in and out of prison for 17 years and I have never met anyone like Kevin. He deserves recognition for what he is doing.'
(Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)
READ NEXT: HMP Barlinnie launches world-first fathering programme
Charlie Ross, who works at Barlinnie, was commended for leading the delivery of Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids, a parenting programme designed to improve relationships and healthy behaviours in fathers and their children.
The East End jail was the first to deliver this program internationally, after the former physical education instructor adapted it to a custody setting.
Since its launch in December 2023, the successful initiative has been holding weekly sessions focusing on topics such as the importance of being a dad, raising healthy kids and positive parenting.
Children are also joined by their parents for activity sessions and enjoy a meal together.
Charlie Ross with Princess Anne (Image: Supplied) Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids prorgam (Image: Scottish Prison Service) (Image: Scottish Prison Service) (Image: Scottish Prison Service) One prisoner said: "Charlie was amazing with my children on the course, going out of his way to make them feel secure, wanted and showed them loads of skills in the gym.
"My kids would ask for him the second they came in and especially my daughter loved him. He made me feel human and broke the divide between prisoner and officer.'
The recipient, who has been with SPS for 36 years, said: 'It was a real honour to meet Princess Anne and a bigger surprise was being in the same room as the King, who doesn't normally attend this award, but had made a guest appearance.
"The whole event was very special for me and my wife, who was there as a guest with me. I have met some really good people during my experience, whom I will definitely continue to network with."
