Currently, Guildford Cathedral is hosting an extraordinary and thought-provoking exhibition.
“Transformations” shows the artwork created by men in HMP Coldingley exploring the transformative power of art and its ability to inspire hope, reflection, wellbeing, and personal change.
All the artwork was created within HMP Coldingley which presented its fair share of challenges, not least because many art materials and/or tools are not readily available or permitted in a prison environment. However, Theresa Chambers-Blaney, the former Deputy Education Manager and Art Tutor at HMP Coldingley, said that the works in the exhibition demonstrate the possibilities that emerge when people are given opportunities for creativity, reflection, and self-expression.
By bringing these works into the Cathedral, the wider community is invited to encounter the artists through their creativity and to reflect on questions of human dignity, forgiveness, hope, and transformation. The Very Reverend Bob Cooper, Dean of Guildford, said: “The exhibition reminds us that every person has inherent dignity and the capacity for change. Art has a remarkable ability to open conversations, encourage reflection and inspire hope.“
I do encourage you to visit if you can. The exhibition runs until 19 October 2026 and is open from 8am to 4.30pm every day and until 7.30pm every Thursday.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HMP-Coldingley-Transformation-Exhibition-1-14.09.26.jpg6681000Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-09-17 18:25:132026-09-19 12:52:21“Transformations” – An exhibition by HMP Coldingley at Guildford Cathedral
For most people the thought of a prison conjures up a vision of high walls, numerous tall and heavy metal gates and small bare cells. However, behind those walls, gates and doors, many UK prisons run active programmes designed to genuinely change lives. They run courses, workshops and often small businesses aimed at reducing reoffending by equipping their inmates with valuable knowledge and practical skills.
Over the past few weeks, I have visited a number of Surrey’s prisons and have been encouraged – and often impressed – by learning what is being done to rehabilitate individuals; helping them to gain recognised qualifications, develop practical skills and build a route towards employment on release.
At HMP Coldingley, a Category C men’s resettlement prison in Bisley, inmates work in sign-making, printing and engineering workshops; in the gardens or the laundry, or as cleaners keeping the communal areas neat and tidy. They earn (small) wages and develop skills for life after release. They do so often alongside courses in numeracy, literacy, bookkeeping, business enterprise or IT. The Forward Trust, a social justice charity, runs family services, including a “Relationships Matter” programme that helps residents rebuild bonds with loved ones, and supports inmates to recover from addiction. The prison runs a substance-free living wing for those continuing their recovery.
HMP Coldingley has strengthened its focus on rehabilitation in recent months following a critical inspection report earlier this year. As a result, the prison has implemented a new drug strategy and an attendance bonus scheme to encourage more consistent attendance at work and courses.
HMP Send, a closed women’s prison near Ripley where most of the women serve long sentences up to and including life, takes a different, more therapeutic approach. HMP Send hosts one of the UK’s few democratic therapeutic communities, combining psychotherapy with communal living to help women reshape their identity and move toward long-term desistance from crime. Women in the therapeutic community live in single rooms with their own keys, in a more domestic setting than the rest of the prison and have a shared budget for hobbies and group activities. The prison also allows for some of the older inmates to live together.
There is a positive learning culture at the prison, which – alongside the amount of time spent unlocked – has helped to make sure that the women are engaged in the work and education based on their needs and what they might experience outside prison. Both the range of learning on offer and the array of recreational activities have expanded over recent years. There is a popular hairdressing salon; the charity Fine Cell Work provides opportunities for paid, professional craft projects and the Watts Gallery Trust runs weekly art workshops, which culminate in the very successful annual art exhibition “Our Time”. Many of the women work in the extensive gardens and polytunnels, where they grow vegetables and fruit either for their own consumption or for use by the Clink Charity in its events catering business. In turn, the Clink provides accredited horticultural training.
Support to encourage women to maintain and rebuild family ties is also strong, for instance family engagement workers run a course focused on the impact of addiction and childhood experiences on parenting.
Another closed women’s prison in Surrey, HMP Downview, in near Sutton and Banstead, hosted the UK’s first intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme back in 1992. Today, it continues that focus, alongside a well-regarded offender personality disorder pathway offering individual and group therapy for prisoners with complex needs, and a bereavement and loss service that has reduced anxiety and depression among women who complete it.
HMP Downview offers a series of industry-backed vocational training and qualifications in beauty therapy, business administration, catering, customer services, functional skills, and hairdressing. On my joint visit with the High Sheriff of Greater London, Dhruv Patel CBE, we visited The Clink’ Charity’s professional kitchen which caters for its events management business; the highly impressive “Making for Change” sewing studio which allows women to gain qualifications in Fashion and Textiles in partnership with the London College of Fashion; the Upcycling Workshop launched in partnership with SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, which processes discarded furniture from community recycling centres for re-use shops; and the Fine Cell Work workshop where the women learn how to embroider cushions, Christmas decorations and art works for sale.
The prisons work hard to create an environment of structured activity and routine, thereby creating stability for their inmates. All inmates are encouraged to participate, and the vast majority do, which has a noticeable positive impact on prison life. Despite serious issues of shortage of prison staff and probation officers and an increase in the prison population, the staff I met all had highly positive attitudes and a firm determination to improve people’s lives on release, thus preventing them from returning to a life of crime.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/HMP-Downview-scaled.jpg13652048Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-09-12 13:00:002026-09-15 11:59:14Visiting Prisons: What rehabilitation looks like in practice.
Three years’ ago, the Chief Constable of Surrey, Tim de Meyer, launched the Surrey Police Chief Constable’s Awards. These awards are presented annually and cover a range of categories. The awards seek to recognise and celebrate Surrey PoIice’s officers, staff and volunteers, who have completed exceptional work to prevent crime, solve problems, relentlessly pursue criminals or provide outstanding victim and witness care. Movingly, a number of the awards were awarded in the memory of Surrey Police officers who had died whilst in service.
I had the honour and pleasure to have been invited to the inspiring ceremony at Loseley Park, where I met many of the highly deserving recipients of the awards and their – rightly – immensely proud guests. On hearing the citations being read out, one could not fail to be in awe and moved by what had been done by the officers and civilians who were nominated.
Huge congratulations to everyone. Surrey is a safer place thanks to you.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Chief-Constable-Awards-2-10.09.26-scaled.jpg13652048Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-09-10 11:00:002026-09-19 12:55:00Making Surrey a Safer Place.
In a beautiful service in Guildford Cathedral led by the Dean of Guildford, The Very Reverend Bob Cooper DL, on Sunday 6 September, those present celebrated and gave thanks to Surrey’s outgoing Lord-Lieutenant, Michael More-Molyneux CVO KStJ, and welcomed Surrey’s new Lord Lieutenant Neelam Dharni Devesher MBE.
As His Majesty’s representative in a county, the Lord Lieutenant serves the Sovereign and connects the communities of the county. It is the Lord-Lieutenant’s chief duty to uphold the dignity and position of the Crown by assisting and representing it in all aspects of county life. The Lord-Lieutenant follows the example of HM The King by encouraging voluntary service and benevolent organisations, and taking a deep interest in the commercial and social life of the county.
The Surrey Lieutenancy supports the values the Crown represents by celebrating, inspiring and promoting the value of exemplary service and endeavour in Surrey; and using the convening capability of the Surrey Lieutenancy to strengthen the links between the various communities. This will encourage teamwork, co-operation and mutual respect; which in turn will help to build community cohesion and common purpose.
The role of the Lord-Lieutenant is strictly apolitical, similarly to the role of High Sheriff. However, unlike the role of High Sheriff which is merely a year, a Lord-Lieutenant fulfils the role until their 75th birthday.
Michael More-Molyneux has served as Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey for 11 years. Together with his wife Sarah, Michael has carried out the role with complete dedication and a genuine love for Surrey. It has been a great pleasure to work alongside Michael in the first six months of my Shrieval Year and a huge honour to have served as one of Michael’s Deputy Lieutenants for the past five years. A heartfelt thanks from me and everyone in Surrey.
Michael & Sarah at his farewell reception.
The new Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey – Neelam Dharni Devesher MBE.
Simultaneously, Surrey warmly welcomes Neelam Dharni Devesher. Guided by the belief that strong communities are built when rights and responsibilities go hand in hand, Neelam is committed to unity and to the values of fairness, respect, liberty, responsibility and the rule of law. Three guiding principles will shape Neelam’s fulfilment of the role of Lord Lieutenant: (i) opening doors for Surrey’s next generation; (ii) bringing together all of Surrey’s communities irrespective of background, faith or walk of life; and (iii) celebrating the county of Surrey for all it has to offer. Neelam, I look forward to working with you!
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Farewell-to-the-Lord-Lieutenant-048-scaled.jpg13652048Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-09-06 19:00:002026-09-11 14:46:41Unity in Service.
In the warm September sunshine, over 530 Royal Air Force Air Cadets and 90 dedicated adult volunteers from Surrey Wing gathered at the historic Brooklands Museum for a day of competition and activities. The historic Weybridge site — famous for its aviation and motorsport heritage — provided the perfect backdrop for a day that brought the Surrey Wing’s squadrons together in force.
The annual “Field Day” is the flagship event for Surrey Wing, with cadets competing in competitions from archery to music, banner drill to aircraft recognition. In addition to the more traditional cadet competitions, the day also included more recent additions such as the STEM, robotics and Space challenges and an Escape Room.
The RAF Air Cadets motto is “Venture Adventure” which couldn’t be more apt. The cadets I spoke to, were all prepared to step forward to “embrace challenges, explore new experiences, and actively pursue personal growth”.
2026 is a landmark year for the RAF Air Cadets, since it marks the Cadets’ 85th anniversary. The RAF Cadets have trained and inspired generations of young people since its formation in 1941, and the turnout of hundreds of cadets and volunteers was a clear reflection of the organisation’s enduring appeal. Many long-serving staff and former cadets took the opportunity to reflect on their experiences, while newer recruits got a taste of the camaraderie that keeps cadets and volunteers coming back year after year.
It was a fantastic day which culminated in the Final Parade by all 531 cadets present under the watchful eyes of the Reviewing Officer, Group Captain Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB DL and Wing Commander John Machin DL. There was not a step out of place!
It is often said that “Music unites”, but it is wonderful to actually see it happen in practice.
My two Police Cadets and I joined Intergenerational Music Making.(IMM) at their monthly “All Ages Community Hub” at the United Reformed Church in Guildford for a morning of music-making, singing and – if you felt so inclined – dance. Through music, IMM succeeds in creating a welcoming space where generations can come together, build relationships and feel part of their community, thus reducing loneliness and social isolation, improving people’s wellbeing and confidence, as well as strengthening connections between the different ages.
It was a very joyful and – at times – noisy morning. Dylan and Husam discovered hidden talents for the tambourine and maracas, and we all sang about the colours of the rainbow; the whole world being in His hand, and warning people that “she will be coming round the mountain” wearing pink pyjamas.
We all left with a huge smile on our faces and a spring in our step. IMM clearly brings a lot of sunshine into people’s lives.
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IMM-1-04.09.26-scaled.jpeg15362048Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-09-04 11:00:002026-09-09 12:06:50You are my sunshine!
On Thursday 3rd September, the Hale Community and Youth Centre in Farnham threw open its doors for its annual Big Lunch. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Centre’s community and share the delicious food provided by Joyful Greens, a plant-based community cookery school based in Godalming.
The Hale Community and Youth Centre is a community hub for all who live in Hale and particularly those on the Sandy Hill Estate. It provides a warm, welcoming space and seeks to give a voice to those in an area where there are deep levels of deprivation, helping them integrate with the wider community.
The Centre is located in an area of significant deprivation, but the overriding impression within the Centre is of an inclusive, warm and friendly environment. All of its services and activities are aimed at reducing loneliness and isolation; improving lifestyle, diet and health (both mental and physical); developing new skills and strengths; providing advice, help and support; building confidence; and giving a sense of purpose and worth to individuals.
Many of the initiatives offered are entirely led and run by volunteers, e.g: a community fridge and cupboard; “Stay-and-play” sessions for parents with pre-school aged children; a clothes bank; an art club or a weekly “Sing for Joy” adult choir. A large number of volunteers first came as beneficiaries and the great majority come from the immediate neighbourhood. Since they understand the needs of local people, they are able to initiate new services and activities to meet those needs and to adapt them to meet changing needs. This has been particularly evident with the arrival of migrant families on the Sandy Hill Estate where initial tensions have been greatly reduced through opportunities to meet socially at the Centre.
It was very uplifting to meet both the outgoing manager Melissa Salisbury and her successor Jonny Marshall, as well as the Chair of Trustees John Lewis and a great many of the wonderfully dedicated and energetic volunteers. My tummy felt rather “uplifted” too after all the delicious food…
The Amber Foundation seeks to help young people aged 18 to 30, who are unemployed and homeless, sofa surfing or struggling with where they are living, to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives. The charity operates four centres across England — in Devon, Wiltshire, Kent and Surrey — with a focus on health and wellbeing; personal development; independent living; education; and employability. Residents typically stay for six to nine months, moving through three stages: “Induction”, “Development” and “Move-on”, with the goal of leaving Amber with both a job and a home arranged.
I enjoyed a hugely informative visit to Farm Place, Amber’s supported homeless housing service in Surrey, which is based in Ockley near Dorking. Louise Cheung, Amber’s Senior Fundraising Managerin Surrey, showed Hazel Watson, Vice-Chair of Mole Valley District Council; John Milne MP for Horsham and his wife, and me around the main house and the various outbuildings. We admired the allotments which seemed to overflow with beans and herbs, as well as the new outdoor covered space for the residents to enjoy, which was funded by a recent grant from Your Fund Surrey.
Louise explained how at Farm Place up to 27 young people live and work together in teams under Team Leaders. They take part in community projects, leadership courses, fitness sessions and creative activities. Referrals come from local authorities, social services, probation and prison services, homelessness hostels, and drug and alcohol teams, or young people can self-refer.
We met several residents who spoke openly about their lives and the fantastic support that is helping them to turn their lives around. Daily life includes shared cooking and cleaning rotas, maintenance projects, and practical workshops on budgeting, banking, writing CVs and tenancies. Fundraising provides just over half of Amber’s income, and remarkably, 92p of every £1 donated goes directly to front-line support.
The atmosphere was warm, relaxed and full of quiet confidence. About 80% of young people at Amber’s four sites report mental health as a challenge, and a similar proportion say they have maintained or improved their mental health during their stay. This is a testament to the Foundation’s impact.
It is not very often that one sees 13 multi-coloured sheep dotted around the Surrey landscape and the chairman of Mole Valley District Council with a Dorking cockerel named Charles under his arm… However, that is exactly what was on show at Denbies Wine Estate this afternoon!
Denbies Wine Estate hosted the official opening of “The Sheep Parade” – a colourful art project with a serious message organised by the Surrey Hills National Landscape team in partnership with local sheep farmers.
The project celebrates the vital role sheep play in shaping and maintaining the Surrey Hills landscape. Their grazing helps manage vegetation naturally – it supports wildflowers, insects and birds and reduces the need for more intensive land management. Protecting sheep therefore plays an important role in supporting nature recovery. An important way to protect sheep is encouraging responsible dog ownership and keeping dogs on leads around sheep. This is not only to prevent physical attacks on sheep, but also to reduce the number of other stressful interactions, such as a dog running close to sheep, chasing them, or barking at them. Such brief interactions can create significant stress for sheep. In some cases, this stress alone can lead to injury, ewes becoming separated from lambs, or longer-term welfare impacts.
The organisers hope that spotting the colourful flock of life-sized sheep sculptures, each uniquely decorated by a Surrey artist, will remind people of the simple message to keep dogs on leads around sheep. It will prevent both distress and harm and will ensure that farmers, walkers and animals can share the countryside safely.
The sheep will “parade” across the Surrey Hills throughout the year. Please visit the Surrey Hills National Landscape website for further details: https://surreyhills.org/
Whilst the current hot dry summer is enjoyed by many, it also comes with risks. A small spark can set the tinder dry fields, heathlands and woodlands alight. The Surrey Fire & Rescue Service crews have been busy over the past few weeks, but yesterday’s Open Day showed that they are fully equipped and prepared for anything.
It was very impressive to see all the equipment, the training, and the sheer readiness as well as passion of the crews. It makes one realise how much skill and preparation sits behind every emergency call, and in a summer like this, this work matters more than ever.
Fire fighters demonstrated rescue techniques, showed the various different pieces of firefighting equipment and explained how they worked, and answered a steady stream of questions from curious visitors. For me the most exciting thing was being able to sit in a real fire engine – a childhood dream come true!
Days like this do more than entertain. They build trust, spark interest in future recruits, and remind everyone just how much we rely on the people who are there when things go wrong – often at a cost to their own wellbeing. If you have a moment, please watch the short powerful film made by the Fire Fighters Charity in the below link:
https://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Surrey-Fire-Rescue-Service-Open-Day2-22.08.26.jpg12001800Andy Newboldhttps://www.highsheriffofsurrey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TheHighSheriffofSurrey-weblogo.pngAndy Newbold2026-08-22 11:00:002026-08-24 08:05:54Sparking enthusiasm – Surrey Fire & Rescue Service Open Day.
