Local charity holds open day near Morpeth for potential volunteers
18th April 2018
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 Northumberland near Morpeth.
Nepacs has worked across the north east region for over 135 years to help support a positive future for prisoners, their friends and families.
Nepacs have a fantastic team of volunteers working across the region, but are particularly keen to recruit more volunteers at HMP Northumberland located at Acklington near Morpeth. HMP Northumberland is a category C prison that caters for male offenders.
The charity is giving anyone interested in volunteering the chance to come along to their Volunteer Open Day on:
- Monday 30 April 2018, between 2pm to 4pm, at the visitors centre, HMP Northumberland
Those that attend will hear about the different volunteering opportunities available and be able to chat to existing volunteers whilst enjoying some cake and refreshments. Those interested in volunteering will have the chance to sign up for volunteering on the day.
Nepacs is looking for volunteers in Northumberland to support families or friends of prisoners on the day they visit a relative in prison, providing advice and information in the visitors’ centre as well as refreshments in our tea bars and play facilities for children. Family support in the prison and family and parenting teams are also looking for volunteers to help offenders and their families throughout the time their partner/relative is in prison or serving a sentence in the community, and works with the family and the person in prison to plan for their release (through the Heading Home programme).
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 prison for the first time can be quite difficult and sometimes distressing.
“We would like to invite anyone interested in volunteering to join with us and share in our experience of providing a warm and friendly environment for families visiting loved ones in prison. We greet people from all walks of life from near and far so it’s important that everyone is treated with respect, and feel welcome in a place and situation they may never have thought they would ever be.
“Our team of staff and volunteers provide a friendly place to chat, have a cup of tea and can help to answer any questions or concerns that visitors may have about visiting prison or about their loved ones in prison.
“You may have wondered what goes on at HMP Northumberland? This is a chance to find out more and support families who are visiting their relatives in very difficult circumstances. Volunteering in a prison environment can be rewarding for all and is often a valuable experience for younger volunteers who may be considering a career in the justice system.”
The Northumberland visitors’ centre team are looking for people who have a few hours to volunteer on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday each week. The family support team are seeking volunteers to help out Monday to Thursday and the family and parenting team based in the community have opportunities Monday to Friday.
Emma added: “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 days 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
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