COMMENDEE 2024-25

 Initial Recommendation

This nomination followed an initial recommendation from Rachel Young, Officer

“This is an Officer who has taken the time to understand us and our culture, respect us, trust us and has earned the total respect and admiration of the GRT (Gypsy, Roma, Traveller) community at Whatton.”

These are the words of the GRT prisoner representative at HMP Whatton and they summarise the impact Officer Martin Yaxley has had on the lives of Gypsy Roma Traveller prisoners at HMP Whatton.

Officer Yaxley’s dedication and work in the Equalities department is exemplary.  Despite barriers he has faced in his own personal life, he has consistently delivered work to a truly exceptional standard. However, the true value of his work can be best measured by the eventual outcomes for the Gypsy Roma Traveller prisoners who are acknowledged to be a group of people who have faced discrimination and inequality both in and out of custody. His work has been recognised within the establishment with performance recognition as well as a regional award last summer.

This year has seen him build on this and he developed the GRT forums to include the vast majority of the GRT prisoners as well as organising the GRT celebration day almost single handedly due to staff sickness. Officer Yaxley ensured the logistics of the day were well managed, and ensured the event was well publicised and in a way which ensured non GRT prisoners would feel welcome. There was some initial apprehension from others about attending the event due to the misconception that the community was somewhat closed, but Off Yaxley and his GRT prisoner reps resolved those fears. This ensured more than 50 non GRT prisoners joined in with the afternoon’s events.   The day had several strands to it including celebrating the GRT lifestyle in an informative way which increased staff and prisoner understanding of the issues they faced. A band played music throughout which celebrated GRT culture in a positive and enjoyable way.  Traditional GRT pass-times such as horse shoe throwing and matchstick model making were demonstrated and a good time was had by all in the summer sunshine. A miniature model of a traditional caravan was also on display which had been painstakingly made by a GRT prisoner. Officer Yaxley invited representatives from the Traveller Equality Project from the Irish Chaplaincy who attended and were full of praise for the event, saying it was the first time prisoners had ever made them gifts in all the events they have been to!

However, the significant outcome of the excellent staff / GRT relationships at Whatton can be evidenced in the huge take-up of educational courses by the GRT community. This is a group who traditionally leave school at the age of 11 and pursue no further formal education. The GRT prisoners now have an inbuilt trust in staff which has replaced the traditional suspicion. In gaining these recognised qualifications, the GRT prisoners are in a much stronger position to achieve meaningful employment upon release which is a key factor in ensuring reduced rates of re-offending and in protecting the public. This is the lasting legacy of Martin’s work and he should feel very proud of his achievements.

Supporting Documentation

Sign Off

The GRT community at Whatton was very disjointed in that they were initially unwilling to engage as a group due to perceived differences within the GRT community itself.  Martin worked exceptionally hard to understand these perceptions and then worked to break these barriers and perceptions down enabling the GRT community to be willing to meet with each other and work together in building up their community, promoting their community and lifestyle to others within HMP Whatton.  Martin has gained their trust and respect and has been accepted into the GRT community which has enabled the GRT community to grow and be positively recognised and reducing negative perceptions by others.  Martin has worked extremely hard both at work and in his own time with this group of prisoners and engaged with external support groups which previously would not have worked at Whatton due to the previously low engagement by the GRT prisoner group.  I am proud of the work which Martin has achieved in a very niche area of the equalities field of work.

Caroline Vine

Governor, HMP Whatton