A north east charity, supporting over 137,000 visitors to north east prisons each year, is seeking new volunteers to help support families and children of prisoners at HMP Holme House and on Teesside.
Nepacs has worked across the north east region for over 135 years to help support a positive future for prisoners, their friends and families and has a fantastic team of volunteers working in all seven prisons and courts in the north east and in the community.
The charity are giving anyone interested in volunteering the chance to come along to their Volunteer Open Day at HMP Holme House visitors’ centre in Stockton on Tees on Monday 13 August 2018 from 1pm to 4pm. Those that attend will hear about the different volunteering opportunities available and be able to chat to existing volunteers. Those interested in volunteering will have the chance to sign up for volunteering on the day.
Emma Price, Nepacs volunteer coordinator, said: “Our team of volunteers are dedicated to helping prisoners’ families and children across the north east, but we need more volunteers to ensure we can offer the best support possible. The impact of imprisonment on children and families can be devastating and visiting court or prison for the first time can be quite difficult and sometimes distressing. Our volunteers offer a warm welcome and someone to chat to, which is particularly important for people who are going into the unknown and are facing a place and situation they may never have thought they would ever be.”
There are a wide range of opportunities available at Nepacs, including court support volunteers who offer advice and information to friends/families of defendants at Teesside Crown Court. Within HMP Holme House volunteers are needed to help in the visit tea bars, visitors’ centre, youth zones and play areas. The charity also need volunteers to support their family support programme which helps the family throughout the time their partner/relative is in prison, and within the tea bar, welcome centre and play area at HMP Kirklevington Grange, near Yarm.
Emma added: “Nepacs volunteers come from all walks of life. If you think you could support us by volunteering and would like to be part of a team who helps to make a difference to the lives of prisoners’ families please get in touch to register your attendance for our open day or find out more through our website.”
To book onto the open day please contact Emma Price, Nepacs Volunteer Coordinator by email eprice@nepacs.co.uk or call 0191 375 7278. Anyone interested must book a place.
Further details of all volunteer opportunities with Nepacs are on their website www.nepacs.co.uk