Championing the champions of prison reform
Kevin Pakenham (pictured above) took on the mantle of his father, the prison reformer Frank Longford, when he became the founding chair of The Longford Trust in 2002. Over 18 years, with unflagging energy and determination, until his sudden death in the summer of 2020, he worked to make sure that the Trust supported those who had been in prison towards a better future, while at the same time – especially through his active participation in our annual Longford Lecture – pushing prisons, prisoners and prison reform up the public agenda. In his memory, with the support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, we have established an annual Kevin Pakenham Prize to celebrate those, like him, who believed that prisons and what goes on in them should be a matter of national concern – and shame. The inaugural prize in 2021 went to the screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (see picture below).
Who is eligible?
Have you read an article or book in the past 12 months that has changed your view about prisons, or altered the public conversation about their purpose? Perhaps you’ve seen a drama, watched or listened to a documentary, or heard a persuasive speaker challenging stereotypes of prisoners? Help us bring them to a wider audience by putting them and their work forward to follow 2021 winner, screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (right).
Our 2022 Winner
The second Kevin Pakenham Prize was presented to James Timpson (right) for his leadership in encouraging other major employers to follow him in his 2000 plus Timpson high street outlets in training and employing those with prison experience, as well as by his passionate commitment on the national stage, with politicians and public alike, to second chances.
“an exceptional man and promoter of the Longford Trust’s message of hope, compassion and fresh starts..” Harriet Sergeant, friend of Kevin Pakenham, writer and anti-racism campaigner