Useful websites
Although we make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, we cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.
As well as links to UK web sites we have a comprehensive list of overseas websites.
UK organisations working with the families of prisoners
is the leading national organisation working with and for families affected by drugs and alcohol.
is an organisation for families and friends facing possible 'life'/long prison sentences.
Age Concern's Older Offenders Project
offers social care, advice and support to older offenders and their families, both in prison and within the wider criminal justice system.
is a Cheshire support group for the families and friends of the accused.
works with families affected by imprisonment in Scotland
HOPE (Helping Offenders' Prisoners' Families)
works with prisoners and their families in Scotland
NEPACS is a north eastern-based charity which works with prisoners' families.
Ormiston Children and Families Trust
provides support services to children and families in the Eastern Region. It is one of the partners for the Prisoners' Families Helpline.
'Out There' Supporting Families of Prisoners
'Out There' offers a free and confidential service for those serving the 'sentence on the outside'. It offers friendship, information and advice.
Pact (The Prison Advice & Care Trust)
supports people affected by imprisonment. It works with children and families of prisoners, and with prisoners inside and on release.
Partners of Prisoners and Families' Support Group (POPS)
provides a variety of services to support anyone who has a link with someone in prison, prisoners and other agencies. It is one of the partners for the Prisoners' Families Helpline.
is an online community giving support to those who have a loved one inside the British prison system.
Prisoners' Families and Friends Service (PFFS)
provides the families and friends of anyone sentenced to imprisonment or remanded in custody with advice and information, help at court, support and friendship.
offers information and support to anyone with a relative or friend in prison.
The Royal British Legion is working with SSAFA Forces Help on a prison in-reach programme. They offer advice and practical support to ex-service people serving a prison sentence and their dependents.
SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence)
This on-line resource guide brings together resources and research about the importance of maintaining family ties for children of prisoners. It highlights practice across the UK, has a literature review, and provides contacts and links to experts, organisations and materials for raising awareness and helpling professionals support affected children.
SHARP (Support, Help and Advice for Relatives and Friends of Prisoners)
provides confidential help, advice, support and friendship for the relatives and friends of those serving sentences, awaiting trial or facing the prospect of legal action.
offers support and information to anyone in Derbyshire who has someone in their family, or a close friend, who is using drugs.
is based at Dartmoor Prison. It uses digital technology to enable prisoners to record stories for their children on CDs.
is a group of people - some of whom have, or have had, a family member in prison which uses the arts to convey how a prison sentence affects the rest of the family.
Children, Parenting and Family Organisations
provides trained and experienced birth supporters who support pregnant women in detention, during labour and after the birth of their babies. It works mainly in Holloway prison although it is now expanding to provide support in the community to pregnant asylum seekers/refugees who have been released from detention.
is a national charity which aims to create a passion for learning that sustains people for life.
supports everyone who is affected by family separation and helps parents who are separating or divorced to put their children first.
promotes children's right in the UK and worldwide. It provides legal advice and representation to children, their parents, carers and professionals and publishes useful guides on a range of subjects.
This section of the website looks at the impact on father and their families of the father's incarceration.
is a national charity which promotes the vital role of grandparents and the extended family in children’s lives, particularly where parents are no longer able to care for their children.
Home Start is a charity which helps families with young children.
Match (Mothers apart from their children)
aims to offer non-judgemental emotional support to mothers all over the world who are apart from their child for one or many reasons including imprisonment.
runs an information service for lone parents and re-employment training.
is the national organisation for people who work with parents.
Its aim is to promote best practice in all parenting services.
is a national charity that works for, and with, parents.
is a new Scottish Charity created by the merger of Relate Scotland and Family Mediation Scotland. Its aim is to promote the delivery of counselling, mediation and family support for Scotland's people. It supports a national network of 23 local services and 32 child contact centres across Scotland.
educates prisoners and young people at risk in the community and runs Family Man and Fathers Inside courses in prisons.
Criminal Justice Organisations
The Butler Trust is an independent charity which recognises excellence and innovation by people working with offenders in the UK.
helps prisoners and ex-prisoners adjust to life outside.
CCJS (Centre for Crime and Justice Studies)
is an independent charity at King's College London that informs and educates about all aspects of crime and the criminal justice system.
Clean Break uses theatre for personal and political change, working with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system.
CLINKS
supports voluntary organisations which work with offenders and their families.
Howard League for Penal Reform
works for a safe society where fewer people are victims of crime.
campaigns against deaths in custody and provides advice and support to the families of people who have died in custody.
Inside Out is an on-line magazine for ex-offenders.
provides information for prisoners and their families. The booklet 'Outside Help' is free to prisoners and their families.
supports prisoners and families affected by imprisonment.
The work of Prison! Me! No Way! Trust aims to discourage young people from criminal activities.
provides information on prison life, rules and regulations and prisoners' rights. It give advice and assistance to prisoners and their families up to a 'casework level'.
The Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust is a charity which helps people with drug and alcohol dependence achieve and maintain drug and crime-free lives.
brings people and organisations together to create safer and stronger communities.
Unlock is the National Association of Reformed Offenders. Its aim is to achieve equality for ex-offenders.
Women in Prison (WIP) is a charity working with women at risk of going to prison, in prison and after release to promote their resettlement, personal development, education and training.
Writers in Prison Network
places writers and creative artists in prisons to deliver creative writing, drama, video, music, oral storytelling, journalism, creative reading and publishing programmes.
Government
Department for Children, Schools and Families
is the government department responsible for children and young people.
is the government department responsible protecting the public from terrorism, crime and anti-social behaviour.
has responsibility for courts, probation, prisons, criminal law and sentencing.
NOMS (National Offender Management Service) is part of the Ministry of Justice.
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman provides an independent investigation of prisoners' and people on probations' grievances. He cannot take complaints from the families of prisoners.
HM Prison Service website provides information on every prison establishment in England and Wales as well as other useful organisation for families.
HM Prisons Inspectorate provides independent scrutiny of the conditions for and treatment of prisoners and other detainees
Parole Board The Parole Board is an independent body that makes risk assessments about prisoners.
If you would like APF to consider a link to your web site please contact diana@actionpf.org.uk