Friends of HMP Bronzefield

“I had been surprised to find out how rewarding it was working not only in the prison, but with the families of the prisoners as well as the staff.” — Volunteer

In 2004, the Friends of HMP Bronzefield (an all-female prison based in Surrey) set up a refreshment centre with the aim to produce a variety of snacks and drinks for the families of the prisoners who come to visit, as well as for the staff of the prison. The centre was advocated with the objective to create a more positive and welcoming experience for visitors and to increase interaction between the prisoner and their family. Volunteers of the Friends welcome, serve and interact with visitors.

Insofar, the centre has been beneficial for the visitors with the single biggest achievement being that they provide a service that helps bridge the gap between prisoners and their families. Over time, the centre has also allowed prison staff and visitors to develop a great working rapport with one another which has aided the creation of a less stressful and less hostile environment.

In the future, the Friends would like to secure funding for a paid officer to maintain volunteer management as well as oversee, with the help of the board of trustees, the daily operations of the group. There are many more areas of need that the Friends seek to cover, including helping prisoners become more proficient with both literacy and maternity issues. The group is also currently looking to provide better play facilities for the children of the prisoners at the visitor centre.

Quotes

“[My advice for prisoners and prisoner’s families is to hang in there. The waters will certainly be rough at the beginning; however, it is important to see the project through, not only because an individual's life be impacted, but also because it is extremely rewarding.” – Volunteer at the Centre

Created 15th January 2013

The Friends of HMP Bronzefield wereformer members of  Attend. For more information, or to join, please click here.