Previous
Criminon celebrates its 7th anniversary
Added: (Fri Jun 27 2003)
Criminon UK, an East Grinstead based national charity that changes offenders attitudes to drugs and crime in prisons all over the UK, celebrated its 7th Anniversary at the Meridian Hall, East Grinstead, in the presence of the Town Mayor Cllr Beverley Heasman and the Deputy Mayor Christine Mainstone along with around 120 other guests that included three Criminon graduates who are former prison inmates.
Speaking at the event were Bobby Cummines, Chief Executive of Unlock, The National Association of ex-offenders; Chief Inspector Nigel Thomas of Medway in Kent; Prem Masih, Project Co-ordinator for Prison Link; and The Rvd Melvin Brookes, who has a church in Birmingham and is a visiting prison Chaplain.
After a lovely buffet meal, Mrs Chalmers gave a short presentation on Criminon’s work in the UK. Criminon delivers every week to in excess of 100 inmates spread throughout the prison system from Scotland down to The Isle of Wight. The Criminon programme consists of eight courses all based on the works of humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard.
The courses address the key factors responsible for a person’s descent into crime.
The key course is based on the non-religious common sense moral code “The Way to Happiness.” Other courses address drugs, parenting, communication, personal integrity and study.
First to speak was Criminon graduate David Coop who has completed four courses with Criminon. He said, “It does rehabilitate you in a way that makes you stop and think….it gives you back some dignity in life.”
Mrs. Chalmers then pointed out that besides the public it’s the police that suffer most when offenders come out of prison unchanged or sometimes even worse.
Chief Inspector Thomas said, “Things like Criminon bring a different perspective to where people take responsibility for their own actions and actually go ahead and remove that criminal lifestyle which is absolutely crucial and helps us massively in our business. We wholeheartedly support the ethos and way Susan champions the Criminon cause…….there then being less victims of crime.”
Mr. Masih and the Rvd Brookes then related the success they had had with offenders using The Way to Happiness. Mr. Masih said, “This (Way to Happiness) book defines that this is a way of human life….everyone can grasp the idea…..whoever comes to Prison Link, we pass them the book.”
Rvd Melvin Brooks said, “Unless people in the prison learn to change their thinking, they won’t change and the Way to Happiness is a basic tool to bring them to a place of understanding and clarity where they can be more effective and I am determined to use your wonderful tool as a way forward……I want to get the churches involved.”
Finally Bobby Cummines spoke. Bobby, who is an ex offender himself said,
“This book is not just about changing minds it’s about changing hearts, it’s about being able to relate with each other on another level…giving people an investment in society because if you don’t respect yourself how can you respect others. This is the tool to train our people in prison to be better citizens and that’s what rehabilitation is all about. Let’s get the foundation of life right and the foundations of life are written in that book.”
Mrs Chalmers thanked the Criminon volunteers for their hard work and dedication. The Mayor presented each with a framed acknowledgement. In the UK, Criminon courses are run on a correspondence basis and it is the trained tutors who help the inmates.
Concerned individuals and businesses fund Criminon and Mrs Chalmers thanked all those who have given donations to the charity giving a special acknowledgement to the event sponsor, G.D.Parvin Painters and Decorators and Criminon’s major sponsor KeyMS of East Grinstead.
The celebration ended with an Auction of Promises that included a weeks’ stay in a chalet in the Alps. The total amount raised was enough to fund another 30 inmates through the courses.
For more information on Criminon contact Susan Chalmers on 01342 316042 or susan@criminon.co.uk