Tricia Bradbury shares news of a special event at Selly Oak Quaker Meeting House on Friday 2 June 2023:

Probation Areas throughout Britain have been given beautiful wooden benches made by prisoners which commemorate the Coronation of King Charles.  Each Probation Area had to select an organisation that they have worked with in partnership to donate the bench to them.  West Midlands Probation Area chose Quakers because of the long-term association over providing food parcels at Christmas for prisoners’ families and those in most need, known to Probation.  

Over the years Unpaid Work Teams, supervised by Probation staff, have helped with the shopping and stacking of food, as well as collecting packed bags to take around the area to deliver to probation offices.  Then, each Probation Practitioner is allowed a few parcels to take to those known to them.

This year the Community Payback scheme is celebrating its 50th year, hence the shovel with the inscription, and Quaker Christmas Parcels is entering its 60th year!  The beautiful cake was made by a Selly Oak Friend and much enjoyed by everyone with drinks following the installation of the bench.  Probation has promoted the event on its website and twitter feed, celebrating the long-term relationship Central England Quakers has with West Midlands Probation Service.