The Switchback Reception on 1st July at the Crisis Skylight Cafe was a huge success. 115 people came along: prison staff, donors, charities we work with and other supporters.
Leslie Morphy, the Chief Executive of Crisis welcomed everyone to the café and talked about our partnership with Crisis, Alice then spoke about her work with young people on Switchback. Lord Ramsbotham, the ex-Chief Inspector of Prisons, gave an encouraging speech about how Switchback fits into what he sees happening across the whole of the UK. The speeches finished with Nigel Haynes, the ex-Chief Executive of Fairbridge who encouraged everyone continue their involvement with Switchback.
The event didn’t cost Switchback a thing thanks to some incredibly kind donations of food, drink and glasses. The champagne was free-flowing and there was a mixture of food that the café normally produces and canapés provided by Sophia Macmillan (http://www.sophiacooks.com/).
There were three trainees who worked all afternoon preparing the food and then handed it round during the party. One of them had only come out of prison the week before and did incredibly well.
Thank you to all of those involved!
