Expert Group on Communication and Awareness-Raising

The first day began with a visit to Eden House, Approved Premises for Women, where the group was welcomed by Ellie MacCarter, Chief Officer for Operations, who provided an introduction to the service and guided the visit. During the visit, participants also had the opportunity to speak informally with three residents about their experiences of probation supervision, rehabilitation, and how probation services are perceived by the public.

After the visit, the group was joined over lunch by former BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw, who shared his experience of working with the media. He highlighted the importance of building long-term relationships with journalists, rather than engaging only in moments of crisis or when specific messages need to be delivered. Regular contact, he noted, helps to build trust, understanding, and more effective communication over time.

On 17 June, the Expert Group worked through its draft working document and discussed updates and proposed changes. The discussions focused on how to further share and disseminate the work, including through newsletters and webinars, as well as how to strengthen outreach to Directorates-General and other key stakeholders. The group also looked ahead and agreed on next steps for its future work and priorities.

The meeting in Bristol provided a valuable opportunity to combine practice-based learning, expert input, and strategic reflection, strengthening ongoing efforts to improve communication and awareness raising in probation and the wider criminal justice field across Europe.