A NORTH-East charity working in prisons across the region has been given funding to extend its projects following success in reducing reoffending.

Nepacs, a charity providing a family support programme in North-East prisons, is extending its work to HMP Durham and HMP Northumberland following research into its success in other centres.

Dr Christopher Hartworth, from Barefoot Research, found prisoners who took part in Nepacs’ integrated family support project had reduced rates of reoffending after their release.

The Big Lottery funded project has had involved three family support workers based in Holme House, Kirklevington Grange and Deerbolt Young Offenders’ Institution and two integrated family support advocates.

It has now been given additional funding of £300,000 to provide the service in all five prisons.

During the last three years the family support team has provided support 1,379 prisoners and 301 families in the community and has trained 594 professionals in community venues and prisons.

Helen Attewell, chief executive of Nepacs, said: “The family support project has been growing and developing for over five years and we are thrilled with the most recent evaluation report. Not only has the project demonstrated real benefits for prisoners and their families, in terms of strengthened family relationships, improved parenting skills, and better mental health but for the first time, we are able to show how our project has helped reduce reoffending on a regional level.”