Officer Kevin Carberry of HMP Low Moss has been awarded a Butler Trust Commendation for his inspirational work in supporting those in our care with their recovery journeys.
The Butler Trust Awards are the only UK-wide awards specifically for people working in custodial and community justice settings.
Kevin has been a Prison Officer for 11 years and in March 2023, he secured the new role of Recovery Officer. Since then, he has been the driving force behind the creation of the ‘Small Beans Café’ within HMP Low Moss, a therapeutic space dedicated to supporting individuals on their recovery journeys.
Kevin has worked tirelessly to bring in different outside agencies, giving residents the opportunity to find out what works to create change for them. Starting with existing partners Cocaine Anonymous (CA) and a 3rd sector partner, We Are With You (WAWY), this has now grown to include Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous, the Scottish Recovery Consortium and many others. He also worked with Sisco to launch the ‘School of Recovery’ and has encouraged a range of other interventions such as Anonymous Drama, facilitated by the Creative Change Collective.
He has organised various events such as quizzes, comedians, and The Cube to name a few. In doing so, he has sought to raise awareness of mental health by reducing stigma and promoting a culture of wellbeing and recovery for everyone.
The Small Beans Cafe now has in excess of 100 individuals attending sessions per week. And while each group offers something different, the one constant feature is Kevin. He welcomes all individuals into the area and does everything in his power to get them the support they need.
A testimonial from a serving prisoner demonstrates just how much of an impact Kevin has had on others:
“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 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.”
Reflecting on his experience, Kevin said: “It was a great honour to receive a Butler Trust Award and be recognised for the work I am doing with regards to recovery in HMP Low Moss. Since being in post, my focus has been on creating a welcoming environment which offers a wide and varied programme of activities, aimed at encouraging, involving and supporting people in recovery."