Nepacs_campaigns

Campaigns

Visitors manifesto – families of prisoners call for change

Nepacs has launched a manifesto for change which sets out 16 priority areas where they feel the government could make improvements which would:

  • make it easier for children and families to visit their loved one in prison and help to maintain family ties during the sentence

  • give visitors and worried relatives more information about prison, procedures, and support that is available to help them survive the sentence.

NACRO Cell Street Repeat campaign

Nepacs helpline offers confidential support and information in the North East to individuals and their families/significant others at the point of arrest, at court, in prison and on release. The helpline often receive calls from men and women who have been released from prison with no accommodation.

The Helpline Team refer individuals to relevant services within their area including their local council housing team and NACRO teams, and offer emergency housing helplines such as Shelter for those who have nowhere safe to stay.

NACRO have launched a campaign #cellstreetrepeat to highlight this issue. If you would like to support their campaign please sign a petition on their website to call on the government to go further in their efforts to provide housing for those released from prison. https://www.nacro.org.uk/second-chance/

A common issue for those released is that they leave prison without suitable clothing, and do not have the money to buy new clothing. Nepacs can offer support to people on the day they are released from prison. We can provide suitable clothing, toiletries and basic dry food items, to help in the short term until they can arrange their finances such as a universal credit claim. If you would like to donate towards the items which are distributed you can contact our helpline or contact our departure lounge teams within our visitors centres. 

We can also take donations to help us provide clean, unused underwear to men and women arriving into custody who do not have the finances to buy their own.

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