A Spalding man’s initiative to improve mental health for those who have worked in the prison industry continued recently.
Former prison officers and custodial staff Mark Le Sage has launched the Big Screw Brew to encourage current and former staff to get together and talk about their lives.
The second such event locally took place last at The Sugar Mill in Bourne.
Mark said: “It was a wonderful event organised to support retired and former prison officers and custodial staff.
“Everyone was very excited to see each other and the two hour meeting soon flew by.
“It was so great to see my former colleagues getting on so well, chatting like they’d just finished a shift at HMP
Stocken rather than having not seen each other for over 10 years.
“Im particularly pleased to see the impact its had on their well being, giving them something to look forward to every couple of months.
“People tend to forget working in prisons is a dangerous and hazardous occupation and that disarming and de-escalating incidents was often a daily occurrence let alone weekly.”
The group will next meet on Friday, January 30, 2026