In just over three years trainee prison officers from Feltham Prison and Young Offenders Institute have raised £40,000 for the children’s wards at the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust and, to top it all, they have just  made another special delivery of £941, two TV and DVD sets and stacks of Easter Eggs!

The cash for the eggs, the 19ins and 14ins televisions and the £941 was raised by a group of 40 student prison officers during their six week training at Feltham.  Every year 240 trainees aged 18.5yrs – 62yrs take part in the prison officer entry level training before moving to job throughout London.

Said senior officer Larry Stone: “In their free time each group organises various fundraising events.  Some of the lengths they go to in order to raise money includes chest-waxing, sponsored runs, car cleaning and a big charity night, including a huge auction.  Many of them ask their old employers to donate to the auction, which helps it to go well.  And Woolworths at Ashford gave a 25% discount on the Easter Eggs and chocolates for the children’s ward staff, which is appreciated.”

The support from the Feltham staff and trainees has gone into the new Young Persons Unit on Ash Ward, opened by Chris Tarrant in late 2005, and the “Little Oaks Shared Oncology Unit” on Oak Ward where children with cancer can be treated close to home, while still sharing their care with the Royal Marsden Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. The Unit was officially opened in 2004 by the then Governor, Andrew Cross.