Children’s Special Visits

In addition to staffing play areas within visits rooms, NEPACS facilitates special children’s visits at Durham and Low Newton where children enjoy one-to-one contact with their imprisoned parent in a relaxed situation. In Durham there are monthly morning Child/Father visits and extended family days during the school holidays. At Low Newton Child/Mother visits are held every week. NEPACS supplies toys, refreshments, and helpers. These visits provide vital contact time, and ideally we would like to make sessions available to many more parents and children.

Young People’s Project

In 2004 a unique two-year pilot project, financed by the Princess Diana Fund, on the needs of teenagers with a family member in prison, was based in Durham. One of the results has been the establishment of a Youth Activity Room at the Durham Visitors’ Centre, well-equipped with computers, play stations, games, magazines, television, etc. A part-time youth worker leads a small band of volunteers to make the room available at weekends and as far as possible during school holidays during the period around visits, supplying much needed diversion, information, support and advice for this very vulnerable and rather overlooked group. Meanwhile negotiations are taking place for a designated space for young people within the prison visits room.

A youth room is now also open at Low Newton, with computers, play stations, a snooker table, games and craft materials.

Durham Youth Room Opening Hours: Saturday (12.00 – 4.00pm), Sunday (12.00pm – 2.30pm)
plus weekdays where possible (especially during school holidays)

Low Newton Youth Room Opening Hours:Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays 12-2.30