A PROJECT which supports prisoners and their families in the North-East is achieving its goals, according to the author of a new report.

Dr Christopher Hartworth, from the organisation Barefoot Research, was tasked with a three-year-long evaluation of the family support programme run by charity Nepacs.

The project, which is supported by the Big Lottery, has support workers in Holme House, Kirklevington Grange and Deerbolt prisons, along with two integrated family support advocates.

In the past three years it has provided support to 1,379 and 301 families – the aim being to maintain and strengthen family relationships.

Dr Hartworth said that as a result of the work a clear reduction in re-offending had been demonstrated among participating prisoners, once they had been released from jail.

He said: “Nepacs family support work has been instrumental in supporting and improving conditions for prisoners who are parents, delivering new or adding value to existing visiting opportunities such as parent child visits, delivering parenting courses and advocating for the needs of prisoners’ families at strategic opportunities with prisons and with partner organisations across the North-East.

“It also shows a number of beneficial impacts on prisoners, families and children. The children, in particular, had an exceptionally positive experience spending quality time on special visits with their family member in prison.”

Additional funding has now been made available from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities programme with the aim of developing new services at Durham and Northumberland prisons.

Helen Attewell, chief executive of Nepacs, said: “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.”