Community Chaplaincy in London | Churches Criminal Justice Forum

Where to begin: useful contacts for London churches wishing to work with people coming out of prison

Community Chaplaincy in Wormwood Scrubs
The Community Chaplaincy in Wormwood Scrubs is part of the inter-faith Chaplaincy Department of the prison. Its aim is to help stop prisoners re-offending by giving befriender/mentoring support and encourage resettlement in the (faith) community after release. We are looking for more volunteers prepared to befriend offenders and help them to resettle.Currently we are searching to involve more closely the Faith Communities of West London by establishing a Steering Committee who will coordinate the activities and create a network of groups who can help ex offenders.
Ingrid Mayer
Ingrid.Mayer@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Wandsworth Resettlement Chaplain
The resettlement chaplain at Wandsworth seeks to encourage the links with all faith communities which support the resettlement of prisoners in the community. Based in the multi faith chaplaincy we refer prisoners to the Basic Caring Communities Project and other organisations such as Caring for Ex-Offenders and faith based hostels. We work closely with St Mark's Church, Battersea Rise, and are keen to develop links with other faith groups who are interested in supporting resettlement work. One area of work we are developing is among those who 'fall through the net'. Homeless prisoners are guided to the network of churches who support the homeless. The local Salvation Army provides a change of clothes and possibly a sleeping bag if one is available when they leave. Instead of feeling they have nowhere to go, prisoners can often be directed straight to a place where they can find a welcome and support. If your church or faith community houses such projects please let us know. We are aiming to build a network and provide a passport where they can get a meal, if not further advice. I also work with the resettlement of sex offenders (a broad range of offences) who wish to be within a faith community and help ensure that the correct proceedures are in place. I talk to prisoners who are worried about their release. In the future we aim to work more closely and more effectively across London and nationally with other Community Chaplaincies. An encouraging story was when we supported an offender with a disability to resettle in North Staffs by using our chaplaincy networks. If your church or faith community are interested please contact me. Revd Allison Waterhouse, Wandsworth Prison, Heathfield Road, Wandsworth, SW18 3HS.
E mail: Allison.Waterhouse@hmps,gsi.gov.uk
020 8588 4238.

Basic Caring Communities (BaCC), pact
It involves volunteers motivated by their Christian faith working together to support an ex-offender to rebuild his life on release from prison into South London BaCC provides support to men who are released from Wandsworth Prison. What is unique about this project is that a small community of volunteers (a total of 6) provide that support to one man. Volunteers are recruited from a variety of ways and majority are from a Christian faith community. They are trained to enable them to be-friend and support men, of faith or of no faith, who are returning to life ‘outside’. The role of the volunteer involves one of them contacting the ex-offender each day: to offer to walk in the park, have a cup of coffee, help with benefits or housing, accompany to probation or a doctor’s appointment, talk on the telephone. Once a week the whole group, including the ex-offender, meet together. The relationships begin inside the prison, where the ex-offender will meet one or two volunteers and eventually the whole group. He is met at the gate on release and then given daily contact and support for an agreed length of time. We are currently in the process of recruiting volunteers starting with a Taster morning on Saturday April 25th, 9.30 – 12.30. The Taster is designed to give an overview of the project and to help people decide if they wish to take things further. They are then invited to 4 evening training sessions which is part of the recruitment. All volunteers are asked to take part in a short interview and to have a CRB check. The next training sessions are Mondays, 7-9 pm May 11th, 18th, Tuesday 26th (Monday is a Bank Holiday) and June 1st. This is a 3-year pilot project which started in May 2007 and is being evaluated carefully. patricia.anderson@prisonadvice.org.uk 07976 284 355. Wandsworth Visitors Centre, 17 Heathfield Road, London SW18 3HRAllison Waterhouse – Resettlement Chaplain:
Allison.waterhouse@hmps.gsi.gov.uk.
020 8588 4238

Working With Ex-Offenders At St Mark’s Church, Battersea Rise
St Mark’s is a large evangelical church in South London and we have worked with our local prison, HMP Wandsworth, for more than 10 years, running Alpha courses three times a year, and also the Sycamore Tree Course, a 6 week restorative justice programme run by Prison Fellowship. This project started in Wandsworth in June 2005. Four members of our church assist the Chaplaincy team at Wandsworth on a voluntary and part time basis. We like to work closely with the chaplain and chaplaincy team and are grateful for the opportunity to share in the ministry of caring for ex-offenders, in and outside prison.Currently we have a number of ex-offenders actively involved within our church community. For example ‘A’ is part of a home group and pastorate, and helps the staff team 1 day a week. He attended the church Alpha course on leaving prison having attended Alpha and Sycamore in Wandsworth. He is now on the post-Alpha course and making friends and links within a larger group within the church. He has a mentor but also a group of 6-8 people who regularly support him in prayer, friendship, and practical support, over-seen by Tim Mayfield, our assistant minister. He is highly accountable to us.We are often visited by ex-offenders once they have left prison but they do not always remain within the church owing to accommodation being some distance away. We are also connected closely with the Stepping Stones Trust and over the last 20 years have been welcoming ex-offenders into our church community, offering pastoral support, and offering voluntary roles within the church under staff supervision. Where appropriate we provide mentoring and friendship, practical support and on-going pastoral care. Our objective is to help men keep from returning to their life of crime or addiction by involving them, valuing and supporting them. We like to see people contributing so they feel valued and part of the bigger picture. Over the past 10 years we have seen approximately 1 man a year turn his life around and stay away from his old life and criminal activity. We have welcomed various men into the church at various times, some of whom have kept in contact loosely with the pastoral staff.The Church runs a weekly Wednesday lunch and service for those who may not be working, ex-addicts/prisoners, the homeless and those reaching out to the community. This involves a hot meal, bible study, worship and prayer for each other. Tim Mayfield runs this service but involves various members to help lead, teach, cook, and share testimonies. St Mark’s, Battersea Rise, SW11 1EJ
020 7223 6188
office@stmarks-battersea.org.uk

Feltham Community Chaplaincy Trust
The Trust is a multi-faith organisation in which people of different faiths work together to help young offenders rebuild their lives. The Trust provides support to young men who are released from Feltham Young Offenders Institution. Volunteers are recruited from a number of different faith communities across London and are trained as mentors to enable them to befriend and support young men, of the same faith or of no faith, who are returning to their local areas. The work of our volunteer mentors covers a range of practical support for the young men such as advocacy (e.g. with probation services and Youth Offending Teams), family facilitation, accommodation and housing, and encouragement to access training, education and employment opportunities. The mentoring relationship starts in HMYOI Feltham, and is continued through the gate into the community for up to 2 years post release. We are currently in the process of recruiting volunteer mentors with a target of training them in May 2009, during days we will shortly announce. The training takes place on a weekend from Friday evening starting 18:30 to 21:30 through to Saturday starting from 10:00 am to 16:30 pm for two consecutive weekends. If you are interested, please contact us on the details stated below for us to give you further details. We will send you an application pack which you need to fill in and return to us before we interview you to assess your suitability before you are invited for training. We are keen on recruiting people from all denominational backgrounds. HMP Feltham. Bedfont Road, TW13 4ND
Tel: 020 8844 5585
Emma Rogers – Project Coordinator: emma.rogers@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
Arthur Gwagwa - Community Chaplain: arthur.gwagwa@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Resettlement Chaplaincy - Belmarsh
As Resettlement Chaplain at Belmarsh Prison, I am working to develop a network of churches in our catchment areas (Greenwich, Lewisham, Bexley, Newham, East Essex) who are willing and equipped to receive ex-prisoners into their community.

To link prisoner with a church / key person prior to release and to arrange for the key person (pastor/mentor/befriender) to visit the prisoner on a pastoral visit at least once prior to release.

To keep a database including issues of risk assessment etc, of all those who want to continue with our resettlement support and to continue to grow in their Christian faith on release.

“Bless Up”/Encouragers Group – currently held on a 6 weekly basis on a Friday evening in a flat near Belmarsh Prison. The programme includes sharing a simple meal (currently sponsored by the host church), welcoming new men (some recently released), fellowship, sharing of joys and difficulties, worship and prayer. Although a team of committed Christians (headed by Alison) oversees the event, we aim to encourage the men to care for each other and continue mutual support outside the gatherings, e.g. an ex-prisoner who is already becoming stable will talk to and encourage one who is less stable. We plan to start a second gathering in East London.

To hold bi-annual Celebration events (hosted by Christian Life Fellowship’s Prison Ministry Department) mid summer and near Christmas (as these are vulnerable seasons for the men). These are currently held on Sunday afternoon/evening and focus around a buffet meal with a largely African-Caribbean focus. There will be an opportunity for a time of testimony/thanks giving to God for his help. Partners and their children are invited to this celebration (unlike at the “Bless Up”).

Alison Smith: alison.smith77@googlemail.com

Other Useful Contacts

Changing Tunes
Changing Tunes is a registered charity that uses music teaching, rehearsing, recording, performance, improvisation and composition to aid the rehabilitation of prisoners and ex-prisoners. Each week they lead music sessions in 13 prisons and also work with ex-prisoners. Each session in prison is facilitated by a trained professional musician, able to play at least two instruments to a high standard, and coach in other instruments as well as singing. Most of the work involves guitar tuition and band rehearsals but other styles and instruments are encouraged. Changing Tunes Director is Tim Snowdon www.changingtunes.org.uk

Churches’ Criminal Justice Forum
This is a network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. Its purpose is to uphold Christian values in the field of criminal justice, to promote awareness of criminal justice issues in the churches and to make representations to Government on behalf of the churches. It advocates the use of restorative justice, supports Christians working in the criminal justice system, and promotes community projects to reduce offending. www.ccjf.org

Clinks
Clinks was established to strengthen and develop the partnerships between voluntary and community-based organisations and the Prison and Probation services in England and Wales, which now includes the new National Offender Management Service. It seeks to support and develop the work that voluntary organisations undertake within the Criminal Justice system. Among other activities it contributes towards the creation of ‘Voluntary and Community-Based Liaison Forums’ that network H.M. Prison establishments, community-based groups and others within particular prison establishments and maintains a national Directory of voluntary and community organisations providing services to offenders and their families. www.clinks.org

New Bridge
New Bridge aims to create links between the offender and the community. It offers a wide range of programmes to help prisoners keep in touch with the outside world and prepare themselves to rejoin it. It achieves its objectives by befriending men, women and young people in prisons through a national network of volunteers; by running projects in specific prisons focussing on resettlement needs; and by encouraging the public to accept the need to reintegrate ex-offenders into the community. New Bridge Foundation, 27a Medway Street, London SW1P 2BD tel 020 7976 0779 www.newbridgefoundation.org.uk

Pact
The Prison Advice and Care Trust (pact) has its origins in faith-based work to support people affected by imprisonment. It provides practical support to prisoners’ children and families, and to prisoners themselves. Working at a number of prisons across the UK, pact runs family-friendly visitors centres outside prisons, children’s play services in prison visits halls, and more. www.prisonadvice.org.uk

Prison Reform Trust
The Prison Reform Trust believes that the state of our prisons is a fair measure of the state of our society. It works to ensure that prisons are just, humane and effective. www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk Produced by Elizabeth Simon, Executive Officer, London Churches Group for Social Actionwww.londonchurchesgroup.org.uk