As the prison system faces unprecedented pressure, LandWorks opened its doors to offer a powerful reminder of what effective resettlement can achieve.

More than 150 supporters, partners, stakeholders and volunteers gathered at the Dartington-based charity’s annual Supporters Day to celebrate the progress of people who have rebuilt their lives after prison − and the community behind them.

Guests, including Totnes and South Devon MP Caroline Voaden, explored LandWorks’ carpentry workshop, market garden, pottery, and health and wellbeing yurt, while meeting members of the team, current trainees and graduates.

Thanks to generous prizes kindly donated by local businesses the raffle raised £860 – a new record.

Sales from the LandWorks shop, including wooden gifts, ceramics and fresh produce, raised a further £1,400.

A fundraising campaign launched ahead of Supporters Day also secured more than £5,000 a year in new regular donations from supporters signing up in the run-up to and during the event.

In his welcoming speech, Project Director Chris Parsons listed many of the charity’s achievements over the past year.

These included a visit from The Princess Royal; recognition from the Ministry of Justice Data Lab that LandWorks’ low reoffending rates are statistically significant; Sandridge Park Open Garden weekend, which raised more than £14,500 for the charity; and the magnificent efforts of the LandWorks team and trainees in the Plymouth Half Marathon.

Recently appointed Chair of Trustees Dr. Sarah Wollaston went on to thank the trainees and graduates, as well as the individual LandWorks team members whose effort, commitment to, and belief in LandWorks are so central to its success.

Since LandWorks opened its doors in July 2013, it has helped more than 300 people leaving prison, or at risk of going to prison, to find a route back into the community and employment through a combination of vocational skills training, practical living support and counselling.

Some 93 per cent of former trainees seeking employment are in work, while fewer than six per cent go on to reoffend within a year.