COMMENDEE 2024-25

Initial Recommendation

This nomination followed an initial recommendation from Stuart Pomfret, Head of Offender Outcomes

I believe that Davie McKie is worthy of a Butler Trust Nomination for his exceptional commitment and support in his role at HMP Dumfries. His dedication to both the individuals in our care and to community projects throughout Dumfries & Galloway has been truly inspirational, offering encouragement and hope to aII who engage in these initiatives. Davie McKie supports, trains, and assesses prisoners in our Vocational Training Joiners Work Party. His efforts provide invaluable opportunities for individuals to gain Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) and essential life skills, which they can utilize upon their release. Many of the participants in the VT Joiners program start with little or no joinery experience and may have never worked with tools before. Davie’s approach treats everyone as an individual, acknowledging their unique learning styles and abilities. He fosters a positive learning environment that allows individuals to learn at their own pace until they are confident enough to take on more complex tasks.

Over the years, Davie has successfully built and maintained a network of partnerships throughout the local community. He collaborates closely with our Community Payback Team and various charitable organizations to support community initiatives. These initiatives vary in size and complexity, from providing bags of firewood for winter warmth projects supporting the elderly to creating activities and planters for children’s play areas. Notably, Davie recently partnered with a local school to design and build a pirate ship for children living with neurodiversity. This project required those in our care to study and gain a deeper understanding of neurodiverse conditions, using this knowledge to design and construct a structure that offers both physical and mental stimulation, as well as areas for sensory contemplation. The individuals residing in HMP Dumfries have, to varying degrees, offended against the community and its citizens. Through Davie’s work with community projects, they have the opportunity to give something back. This not only benefits the community but also provides the Individuals in our care with a sense of hope and purpose, facilitating their successful reintegration into society.

Endorsements:

“On behalf of our Rotary Club and the many schools and our local Rotary Community charities, could you please pass on a HUGE thanks to Davie McKie for all the fantastic help he and the team in the joiners workshop do. This is a fantastic relationship and without ALL the effort Davie puts in it would not happen, cheers and thanks from all at our Club.” – Bryan Woods, Immediate Past President

“Davie definitely deserves an award! He took our simple request for a boat for our Learning Centre, took the time to find out what our learners needs are, then adapted his design to suit and gave us a product which is really making a positive difference to the children.” – Sarah Armstrong — Calside Primary School -Learning Centre

“I have had the great pleasure of working with Davie McKie and his men making props for the celebrations of the 750 Anniversary of the Birth of Robert the Bruce. The various ‘ historic’ props, including thrones for Bruce and his Queen and sets of stocks, will be central to the celebrations in July 2024. The enthusiasm and commitment of Davie and his men have been amazing, and the finished articles are way beyond our expectations, no doubt because of the skills and leadership of Davie. The props are so well made they will be used for future events thus benefiting communities across Dumfries and Galloway. Davie and the inmates are justifiably proud of their efforts.” – Anne Simpson, Secretary of The People’s Project Dumfries

Supporting Documentation

According to the nomination, David McKie has worked in the sector since 2014 and the nomination covers their work over a period of approx. 12 months.

Testimonials

Statement from individual in our care.

Mr Davie McKie is an officer who has a very fair but firm approach and attitude towards the individuals within his care while at work. Since arriving at the joinery work party Mr McKie has continued to support the team within his work party through his guidance, patience, care, and professionalism. Mr McKie has moulded a group of individuals who not only did not know each other but also did not know how to create items using tools. Through his diligence he has created a ‘team’ who take pride in the projects we are given. The projects that Mr McKie organises and oversees are community-based projects that give the team not only joy but the feeling of purpose. This is important to us, the team, as it gives us a feeling of worth and Mr McKie promotes this fully. On a personal note, Mr McKie deserves acknowledgement and appreciation for the time, care and support that he continues to offer on a daily basis. This really is an officer who goes over and above for his work party team.

Additional Information

Davie McKie works within the Regimes area of HM Prison Dumfries. He is a motivated member of staff who is well experienced in the role of Offender Outcomes Officer. He has evidenced his desire to support and develop individuals in our care in order for them to gain Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ’s). He is an approachable member of staff who would be well thought of and placed in high regard and is dedicated to his role. He is keen to see others develop and better themselves whilst they are in our care, equipping them with the skills and qualifications which will support them when released. He has also forged strong relationships with external partners within the local area. He has had a lot of involvement in community projects. This positive engagement with these partners has been hugely beneficial to the establishment and external partners. Davie has shown a tremendous amount of dedication and commitment to his role to ensure that others in custody have the opportunities for their own personal growth. I would consider Davie to be a worthy nominee for the Butler Trust award and would fully support this nomination.

Sign Off

Officer McKie has fully supported the development of individuals in his care, providing training and support within the VT Joiners work shed. With Davie’s guidance, individuals’ confidence has grown allowing them to work on some fantastic prison and local community projects. Davie has personally developed these local partnerships which include Community Payback Scheme, Winter Warmth Project, schools, hospitals, Rotary Clubs and forestry commissions. These partnerships are essential to the work that Davie achieves and allows the individuals in his care to take ownership and responsibility of a project with a sense of giving back to the local community. Davie has shown great commitment and dedication in his delivery and understands the benefits to the individuals he works with which include improved self esteem and better management of their mental health issues. His compassionate outlook is clearly evident in his day to day management of these individuals and in the many projects delivered to those with diverse needs such as those who are elderly, neurodiverse and those in recovery at hospital.

Andrew Hunstone

Governor, HMP Dumfries