Volunteers wanted for prison family helpline

A charity is seeking volunteers for a regional service that will start in September.

A North East helpline for families and friends of prisoners is being established by Nepacs and if you are friendly, non-judgemental, patient and have good listening skills, its team would love to hear from you.

Volunteers will be trained sotheycanenablefamiliesand friendstofeelinformedasthey navigate their way through the criminal justice system.

Thefirstroundofthistraining will be on August 15 and 16.

Anyone interested in volunteering for the helpline can call 0191 3757278 or email volunteering@nepacs.co.uk

Meanwhile, a Nepacs service to support families and prisonersduringtheearlydays incustodyatHMPDurham(receptionprisoninDurhamCity) and HMP&YOI Low Newton (women’s prison) has received an additional funding boost to help offer support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Theprojectwasestablished in April this year. Now, thanks to the additional six months funding from the Government’s Coronavirus Community Fund, distributed by the National Lottery, the team is able to extend the offer of support.

Emma Price, Nepacs early days in custody co-ordinator, said: “This additional funding will enable us to offer support around alternative ways for families to keep in touch with their loved ones in prison whilst prison visits are cancelled, including the newly introduced video calls.”

The project received funding for three years to get it upand-runningfromtheNational Lottery Reaching Communities Fund and a legacy donated to Nepacs from the Newcastle and Northumberland Police Courts Mission Fund.