Sir Graham Smith Awards

Are you a probation or community justice practitioner interested in leading your own research project? Can you add value to the understanding of what makes for effective probation work?

information for applicants
 

The Sir Graham Smith Awards scheme was established in 2002 in recognition of contribution of the late Sir Graham Smith to leadership in the probation service and the development of evidence based practice. The Awards are an important and prestigious scheme supporting and mentoring short, accessible practice based research projects across the justice sector. We are pleased to offer small bursaries of £500 to successful applicants to support research expenses. 

The Institute calls for submissions to the Sir Graham Smith Awards scheme every 1 to 2 years. The next round of awards will be in 2025 and we are inviting applications by 28th February 2025. We invite applications from practitioners in Probation, and from the voluntary, community and private sectors. Applicants must have their employer support to undertake the research. 

The Probation Institute Trustees agree a panel to select candidates and give support to the successful candidates throughout the project; the research proposals must be approved by the HMPPS National Research Committee; the Probation Institute then provides a mentor from the Academic Advisory Network.

All the completed reports are published and launched by the Probation Institute. 

The current Sir Graham Smith Award Holder is Nicola Robinson from the Falkland Islands Probation Service. Nicola is researching the aims and benefits of voluntary engagement with the Probation Service in the Falkland Island.

To apply for the Sir Graham Smith Awards download the ‘Application Form’.

 
 
 

Published Reports

Here are the published Research Reports completed since 2016: 

  • Exploring the experience of men living in the Falkland Islands that chose to engage with probation services on a voluntary basis. Download the research report

  • A qualitative exploration of factors which influence rapport between participants and facilitators of the Building Better Relationships programme, in the community, from the perspective of participants - Download research report

  • Exploring probation practitioners transition to the new unified service - Download research report

  • Rebuilding Trust after Recall - Download research report

  • Impact of Training for Practitioners in Personality Disorder - Download research report

  • Peer Mentors under TR: the new Advise, Assist and Befrienders? - Download research report

  • Effectiveness of Sandwell Integrated Offender Management (IOM) – service user perspective - Download research report

  • Strengths, resources or controls? The assessment of protective factors in probation practice - Download research report

  • Reflective Practice: the cornerstone of what all do - Download research report