Winter appeal

We are excited to today launch our winter fundraising campaign, encouraging donations to support the cost of prison visits by our amazing volunteers. We support our volunteers to visit the prisoners they befriend by reimbursing them for the costs of their visit. We encourage our volunteers to visit each of their prisoners up to four times a year.

We know that people who receive visits while in prison are less likely to reoffend on release. However, 31% of prisoners do not have any visitors while in custody and we know what a huge difference they make to the prisoners we support:

“Visits act as an incentive to remain positive, following prison rules instead of being troublesome to the authorities. Visitors help to remind one that we are not monsters, but human beings. They give us hope, a purpose for living in this hell waiting for that next visit. Their ‘positivity’ helps to keep me sane.”

“I get visits once every three months which makes me feel a bit normal while being in prison as I not got family coming to visit me or friend and partner.”

“It’s reassuring that a person would be willing to befriend me and give up some of their valuable time to write to me and visit me. It helps me feel less hated and discarded and gives me hope that there may be similar people on the other side of the fence.”

“we have food and drink and really good chats & laughs. She makes me feel human and accepted.”

“my befriender is awesome, she is kind and offers advice when I need it. I look forward to her visits when we can chat about anything.  I feel a lot more hopeful and de-stressed since having a befriender and promote it to others.  It helps normalise my behaviour and makes me certain I won’t offend again.”

Help us to continue supporting our volunteers to visit their prisoners by donating £10 towards snacks during a visit, £25 towards a train fare or £60 for a tank of fuel.

Donate now!