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Local charity holds open days for potential volunteers to support families of prisoners

ByTina Young

Oct 15, 2020 #charity

A north east charity, supporting over 124,000 visitors to north east prisons each year, is seeking new volunteers to help support families and children impacted by the criminal justice system in the Teesside area.

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 is giving anyone interested in volunteering the chance to come along to their volunteer open days in Teesside.

These open days are specifically for anyone interested in volunteering opportunities with Nepacs at Teesside Crown Court or working with children and young people visiting HMP Holme House.

  • Monday 28 January 2019, 1pm to 3pm at the visitors centre, HMP Holme House in Stockton – for anyone who would like to support children and young people with a relative in prison
  • Tuesday 5 February 2019, 10am to 12noon in Middlesbrough for anyone who wants to support families of defendants at Teesside Crown Court.

Those that attend will hear about the different volunteering opportunities available, be able to chat to existing volunteers and if interested in volunteering they will be able to sign up for volunteering on the day. 

Emma Price, Nepacs’ volunteer coordinator, said: “The impact of imprisonment on children and families can be devastating which is why we feel it is important to support them every step of their journey – from the courts, during the time their loved one is in prison and prior to release.  Our team of volunteers are dedicated to helping prisoners’ families and children across the north east, but we are looking for more volunteers to join our team and help us to offer the best support possible during what is an extremely difficult time for families.”

*Lorna’s husband was sent to prison for two years and she told us that the worst part was telling her children. She said: “Everything is destroyed, your way of life, your security, your finances. You try to keep everything normal but it’s not normal. Listening to your children crying every night asking when their dad is coming home.”

Emma added: “Nepacs volunteers come from all walks of life. If you think you could support someone like ‘Lorna’ 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.

Details of all volunteer opportunities with Nepacs are on their website www.nepacs.co.uk