NEWSLETTERS

The Befriender Number 3 - July 2008

Annual Seminar - stars of TV's 'Banged Up' head for Manchester

Manchester's Luther King House will once again be the venue for our Annual Volunteer's Seminar on 18th & 19th October 2008.

Many volunteers have been hooked on Channel 5's 'Banged Up' series covering the journey of a group of young offenders 'imprisoned' for ten days and gaining the support of ex-offender mentors. We are delighted that Daniel and his mentor Bob will be speaking about their experiences at this year's seminar. This will be a great opportunity to hear their stories first hand and learn how mentoring has turned lives around.

'Banged Up' also featured New Bridge Vice President, Professor David Wilson as the prison's governor. David will be hosting the seminar again this year. It is not too late to book a place. Residential places are £60 (£30 concessions) including accommodation and the day rate for more local volunteers is £5.00 for Saturday and £15 for Sunday. Providing you choose the more economical option, all travel expenses will be reimbursed too.

In addition to speakers, the seminar will also feature the usual range of workshops. It is an excellent chance to meet volunteers from the around the country and share your views on befriending, prisons and criminal justice.

Booking forms were sent to volunteers in June. If you would like another copy, or more information, please contact Heidi at Medway Street on 020 7976 0779.

Befriending After Release
In the last issue of The Befriender we asked for views and experiences on befriending prisoners 'through the gate' and into their lives in the community. The advent of our 'London Through The Gate' project supported by Big Lottery Fund has further generated debate on the issue in group meetings.

Here are two of responses we received. The first explores the emotional help and support that newly released prisoners may need. The second offers some practical suggestions, based on years of experience. Of course, supporting a prisoner through the gate and on release is not an expectation for befrienders. There are no New Bridge policies and guidelines on this issue.

The views expressed here are those of the authors and not New Bridge.

"Talk of Pauline's new 'Through the Gate' project and some discussion in our group on the merits of 'follow up' after discharge, prompted me to examine my experience of working as a volunteer for ten years with an 'insider' with that of the contact we have maintained in the ten months since his release. Not only do I find it difficult to identify the angry individual I first met in Brixton all those years ago with the man who emerged from open prison ten years later, I have observed a further dramatic transformation during those recent months of freedom.

In the early months of friendship during visiting time I was aware that the person in front of me was extremely angry with the world in general but as the anger diminished and he began to trust me I realised that there was so much I did not know or understand about his personality. He was always welcoming, articulate and honest but it was as if he was wary and guarded. I have often been told by other prisoners that you do not set out to make real friends in prison, it is far too risky. For some inside it seems that "hell is other people" and that self-preservation dictates that one reserves an aura of secrecy and independence about one. However, surrounded by other people, prisoners and staff at least there is structure and company during the day. It is hard to envisage what it must feel like to re-enter the world again and take responsibility for one's own life. In this new situation my role has been simply to be there for him and to help him increase his confidence in the new environment.

As a volunteer the contact I have had with this man since his discharge has consisted on a day exploring the city together he now finds himself living in, chatting and eating. We have also maintained regular phone contact. I am reminded of a butterfly appearing out of a chrysalis. The defences of the prison days are shed and the bright colours determination, humour and intelligence now seem to have full reign. Communication seems to be easier for us both. I suspect this contact has been helpful during some of the painful experiences that have taken place since the date of his discharge. He tackled those setbacks with incredible fortitude and maturity. I feel that this contact will gently diminish with every month that goes by and as his reintegration into the community is completed. I am left wondering if the years of visiting an inmate were as important as the lighter contact we have had since. He is the only person who can answer this question"

"I always offer to meet my correspondents on their release and I allocate 2 days to do this. They often refuse the service at first but most change their mind. Release after several years in prison without any access to the outside world often creates a feeling of 'intoxication'. They are often quite high! The nearest experience that I can recall was when I was released from National Service. On day one I take them to Probation and then to their accommodation, or start searching for accommodation, whichever is appropriate. I give them a good lunch without alcohol. Some have to observe a curfew and it is important to make allowances for this.

On day two I take them to the Job Centre and often go through jobs with them. On one or two occasions I have taken them to job interviews. Although it costs £65+ to get a passport, I encourage all my mentees to open a bank account and get a passport. One was unable to work on a building site because he had no means of identity. Another could not find accommodation for the same reason. I encourage all my mentees to take up a pastime or sporting activity. Two have expressed interest in amateur dramatics. Others have been encouraged to take up part-time courses. This can become a social activity.

At first I communicate with them two or three times a week until I am happy that they are fairly well set up. I then indicate they should contact me rather than the other way round. If this does not happen, I might give them a ring after four weeks or so. I give them my mobile number but not my private landline number. I never give my home address.

Avoiding becoming a person's prop is something to bear in mind. The mentee has to live his/her life and it is better they make mistakes. Often mentees lack confidence to do things. Encourage them to do it for themselves and they gain the confidence they need."

Best Prison to visit?
Visiting prisoners can be stressful and difficult at times. On other occasions at certain prisons it can be a joy.

Last year, we awarded HMP Grendon our first 'Best Prison to Visit' Award. Where have you had a good visiting experience? Where have you found helpful staff, eager to ensure your visit goes well?

Contact us at Medway Street and tell us which prison you think should be awarded the prize in 2008. The winner will be unveiled at the Volunteer Seminar in October.

Mileage rate increase
Following recent increases in the cost of petrol and diesel, the mileage rate for volunteers has been increased to 25p per mile. This rate will remain in force until at least 31st December 2008.

Family Matters
The Family Matters parenting programme is an accredited course, specifically designed for offenders and tackles the issues of being a parent in prison. The course can act as a catalyst for change in the attitudes of participants to family life. New Bridge has been running this course since the early 1990s.

We are looking for volunteers to train to run courses in prisons around the country. The following are prisons which are running courses or have expressed an interest:

HMP & YOI Holloway, London
HMYOI Portland, Dorset
HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes
HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire,
HMP Whitemoor, Cambridgeshire
HMP Holme House, Dorset
HMP Bronzefield, (women) Surrey

If you would like to find our more about courses and how you can help, please contact Lesley on 020 7976 0779.

HELPING NEW BRIDGE
Everyclick.com is a fundraising tool that enables any charity to raise additional funds. Every month 'everyclick' gives 50% of its gross revenue to charities listed on their website.

Go to http://www.everyclick.com/uk/newbridge and set 'everyclick' as your home page, selecting New Bridge as your charity, every time you search the web New Bridge benefits. There is no cost to us or you.

Bmycharity New Bridge now works in partnership with Bmycharity, which makes raising money very easy by giving supporters the chance to donate on line and set up events to raise money. Call the office for details or click on http://www.bmycharity.com/new-bridge

Classic Tours more energetic volunteers can help by taking part in sponsored treks or cycle challenges organised by Classic Tours, the originators of worldwide charity challenges. Call the office for details or log on to www.classictours.co.uk We are specifically looking for people to take part in the London to Paris Cycle Challenge, 26 to 29 June 2009

In the next issue.....
Visits to prisons are an essential part of your role as a volunteer. We want to hear more about your experiences, good and bad. Already, we have tales of first visits and tales of strange things happening! What has been the best or worst of your experience? Send us a letter or e-mail to the usual address.

We will also have a full-round up of this year's Annual Seminar in Manchester.

The Befriender Number 2 - April 2008

All Change at Medway Street
Recent months have seen a couple of changes at Medway Street, with the appointment of Heidi Allemeersch as our Befriending Supervisor and Pauline Austin becoming the Project Director of the new 'London Through The Gate' Big Lottery funded befriending service for short term prisoners.

Heidi has introduced herself in a letter to volunteers further down this page. After starting at Medway Street in early February, Heidi has already been on her travels attending group meetings.

When New Bridge advertised for someone to lead the new London Through The Gate project, we received many strong applications. After a tough round of interviews, Pauline Austin was appointed to this role and started early in March after helping to introduce Heidi to the world of befriending.

Pauline will be based at Medway Street but her new role will rarely take her outside London. Pauline tells us more about her new role and the new volunteer opportunities it creates further down the page.

Prisoner launches petition to highlight insurance problems
The offender's charity UNLOCK has recently promoted a petition on the 10 Downing Street website to highlight the problems faced by ex-prisoners in getting household insurance on release. The unnamed prisoner wrote this open letter;

Hi, I am currently a serving prisoner at HMP Downview in Sutton. I'm at the end of my sentence, residing on a resettlement wing and undertaking voluntary work at the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

I've had several friends recently leave prison, who have found it very difficult to get insurance. As you probably know, there are a very limited number of insurance companies who will consider ex-offenders, even when their convictions are totally unrelated to fraud. When they do, the rates are high; this just encourages ex-offenders not to get insurance and therefore the risk of re-offending is high also. I'm fully aware that this issue has already been highlighted in the press, but I would like to try and help in my own small way to getting things changed.

I have created an e-petition on the 10 Downing Street website: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/exoffenderinsure/
where people can electronically sign if they agree that things need to be changed with regards to this matter. I'm now looking for ways to advertise this, so am writing to you now to see if you would add a link to your website and/or publications. Anyone can add their name - the only details are that they are living in the UK and are willing to provide a name and address, so the more friends, families and colleagues the better.

Any help, guidance, inspiration gratefully received!

Kind Rgds (Name withheld)

Is this a worry for prisoners you are in contact with? Are they coming up to release but have not thought about the issue?

If you share the concerns of UNLOCK and this prisoner, please 'sign' the petition.

Letter from Heidi
Dear volunteers,
In our autumn newsletter this space was reserved to promote the role of New Bridge Befriending Supervisor and to call for eager applicants. This time the column has been given to me to let you know that the seat has been taken and the supervisor - being me - is launched.

Some of you, members of the Manchester and Liverpool groups, have known me for a while now, ever since I became a prisoner befriender in March 2007. Others have met me during the last week or will soon find me attending their group meetings too.

Getting to know all of you in person is at the top of my list of priorities. In the next few weeks I want to establish the beginnings of what should become a fruitful relationship. Most of you have been with New Bridge far longer than I and there can be no doubt that I will learn quite a bit from your experience which, in turn, will enable me to offer you more and better support.

One of the things that I would like to bring up at the next group meetings - and that you may already want to have a think about - is this newsletter. Imagine what a wonderful instrument this could be to strengthen the ties between New Bridge volunteers across the country; to share stories; to provide a bit of inspiration and, basically, make it into anything and everything you feel a newsletter should be. Your ideas and input will be much appreciated.

To top up our ranks we have got a training weekend for new volunteers planned on the first weekend in April. Three more will be organised later in the year. Meanwhile I hope you will keep on writing with the same zeal as you have shown in the past. With your help I am sure I will have a marvellous time, both as a befriender and as Befriending Supervisor.
Be in touch, Heidi

London Through The Gate
Project Director, Pauline Austin tells us more about the new project

The Through the Gate Project is targeted at short-sentenced prisoners and will build on the work that New Bridge's Befriending service has been delivering for over 50 years - providing links to the community when family and friends have gone away or can't be depended on. The project aims to demonstrate that befriending can have an impact on reducing re-offending and an evaluation will be embedded in the project from its inception.

The numbers of prisoners serving 12 months or less have more than doubled in recent years, rising from 18,500 in 1992 to nearly 48,000 in 2002. This group of prisoners receive no statutory support or supervision on release. Unsurprisingly they have a particularly high re-offending rate (over fifty per cent) and are estimated to cost the Criminal Justice System £80,000 per year -which is more than double the average annual cost of keeping a person in prison.

During the course of our research in setting up the project three quarters of the prisoners we spoke to said that they were on their own and had no one to support them on release. They felt that without help they had little chance of successfully resettling back into the community and would be coming back through the revolving door into prison.

Offenders who participate in the scheme will be those who for one reason or another are unable to make the necessary changes to their lives without any support or encouragement. Because of the brevity of their sentence short-term & remand prisoners are often unable to access education, work skills; or complete offending behaviour programmes. Our service will aim to motivate them to make the most of any opportunity; both in prison and following their release.

They will be encouraged and supported in accessing education, finding accommodation, making contact with health services and addressing their substance misuse.

We recognise that befriending shorter-term prisoners will present new challenges as there will not be time for prisoner and befriender to gradually build up a trusting relationship, but we hope to explore different ways of working with prisoners for instance by having a befriending circle rather than one to one support. The circle of friends will be a group of people who will meet together on a regular basis to help the offender reach their full potential. Ideally three to four volunteers will work with each prisoner and the circle will act as a community around that person.

A minimum commitment of one year will be expected from all volunteers. This type of volunteering could be attractive to younger volunteers whose motivation for volunteering might be to develop and enhance their career, as well as those volunteers who fit within New Bridge's usual volunteer profile.

Look out for more reports in future issues of The Befriender

Best Prison to visit?
Visiting prisoners can be stressful and difficult at times. On other occasions at certain prisons it can be a joy.

Last year, we awarded HMP Grendon our first 'Best Prison to Visit' Award. Where have you had a good visiting experience? Where have you found helpful staff, eager to ensure your visit goes well?

Contact us at Medway Street and tell us which prison you think should be awarded the prize in 2008.

The winner will be unveiled at the Volunteer Seminar in the autumn.

Longford Award for Outstanding Volunteer
Since 2003, New Bridge have recognised the contribution of an outstanding volunteer through the Longford Award. It has been bestowed on the winner at the Annual Open Meeting, held each year in May in London.

There will be no Annual Open Meeting this year. Trustees have decided that after falling attendances in recent years, we will have a break in 2008 and return in May 2009 with a bigger and better event. The Longford Award will be given at the Volunteer Seminar in the autumn.

Is there an outstanding volunteer in your group? Someone who frequently goes the extra mile for the prisoners they befriend? If so, write us at Medway Street telling us who deserves the award and why.

2008 Volunteer Seminar
The annual volunteer's seminar will be held in the autumn. We are currently negotiating dates with the venue and will get details out to volunteers as soon as we can.

Visit a Magistrates Court
A London volunteer and member of Group 2/6, who is also a serving Magistrate with many years experience on the bench.

Following a successful visit with volunteers in March, would like to offer more volunteers the chance to look behind the scenes at their court and gain an insight into how things work.

If you would like to register interest, please let Heidi know on 020 7976 0779 or heidi@newbridgefoundation.org.uk

After release: Should we keep befriending? What is your experience?
Offering the hand of friendship to the 'newly released prisoner' was the founding work of New Bridge. Notes of early meetings talk of the frustration in not being able to work with serving prisoners because of resistance from the Prison Service. There are tales of volunteers in the early years, taking ex-prisoners into their homes and leaving them to baby-sit!

At some (unknown) point in the last 50 years, the emphasis shifted to befriending prisoners and the volunteering stopped when the prisoner was released.

There has been much debate in groups on whether we should keep befriending a prisoner once he/she has been released. Your commitment is to befriend until the point of release. Volunteers can and do continue and we recommend continued discussion in the group for support and advice if you want to keep up contact. More frequently, whilst the prisoner seems keen to maintain contact on release, they are not heard from again.
If you are still befriending after release, we want to hear about your experiences. How often do you keep in contact and meet? How do you ensure your safety? What if you want the befriending to end?

Please send your thoughts to Chris Thomas at Medway Street, or e-mail chris@newbridgefoundation.org.uk We would like to compile your experiences to formulate guidelines and if there is interest, run a workshop at the seminar.

FEEDBACK FROM PRISONERS
Volunteers have received a number of letters from prisoners recently, telling them how much they value the friendship and support they have found through New Bridge. Here is a selection of their comments;

"Thank you so much for being there for me and not giving up on me"

"I thank God everyday for having you in my life, I don't know how I'd cope without anybody being there for me cos everybody need's someone in there life, so thank you"

"I don't know wot i'd do if I never had you I think I really would of killed myself by now cos life's hard on your own."

"I want to take this opportunity to thank you from my heart for your persistence, your unfailing loyalty to what you do for us and your friendship. Not once have you looked down at or belittled me, but instead you ceaselessly encourage me which tells me of the strength of courage that you possess"

Chris Thomas
Chief Executive

To donate now, please follow this link:

www.bmycharity.com/new-bridge