The purpose of the project is to provide advocacy and support to the older prisoners at HMP Gartree whilst they are serving their sentence. This could be advocacy support to assist older prisoners in improving their conditions and access to services. Advocacy could also help to reduce isolation by helping them build links with their families where appropriate, increase the physical health and mental well being of older prisoners, and assist older prisoners back into the community when needed.
There is a co-ordinator based in the prison who is responsible for contacting the prisoners who fall within the criteria (prisoners who are 50 years and over). The co-ordinator is also responsible for maintaining the group activities set up.
The project is not only there to work with prisoners, it is hoped that the project can be a support to families of prisoners as well. It may be that you are an older person who has a family member in prison and you have concerns about them. You may need some assistance in getting to visit them due to mobility or health issues. The project may be able to help you too.
There are other organisations who may be able to help you if you have concerns about an older prisoner please see the links below.
The Prison Service website gives links to the Home Office and other Government departments. It also has an extensive section on the voluntary sector and community sector
Nacro is the leading crime reduction charity - dedicated to making society safer. They aim to reduce crime by giving offenders and those at risk a positive stake in society.
The Resettlement Plus helpline can give advice about practical resettlement matters, particularly the implications of having a criminal record.
The work of The Prison Reform Trust is aimed at creating a just, humane and effective penal system. They do this by; inquiring into the workings of the system; informing prisoners, staff and the wider public; and by influencing Parliament, Government and officials towards reform.
Restore50plus is founded on faith-based concepts of responsibility, reconciliation and restorative justice. It is a voluntary peer-led support network, founded by a group of older prisoners in 1996 at HMP Bedford. It has since supported over 350 older serving or former prisoners offering befriending and support throughout the UK, but also some serving prison sentences in other countries.