A NORTH-EAST charity supporting more than 200,000 visitors a year is seeking new volunteers to help support families and children of prisoners on Teesside.

Nepacs, which has worked across the region for more than 130 years, has a team of around 180 volunteers who provide a wide range of services in all seven prisons in the north east and in the community.

However, they are now calling out for more to help provide support to children and families at a number of facilities across Teesside.

Volunteer coordinator Emma Price said: “Our team of volunteers are dedicated to helping prisoners’ families and children across the north east, but we need more volunteers to ensure we can offer the best support possible. The impact of imprisonment on children and families can be devastating and visiting court or prison for the first time can be quite difficult and sometimes distressing.

"Our volunteers offer a warm welcome and someone to chat to, which is particularly important for people who are going into the unknown and are facing a place and situation they may never have thought they would ever be.

“At this time of year it is especially important that we help children and families maintain ties with their relative in custody.”

  • Anyone interested in volunteering can email volunteering@nepacs.co.uk or telephone 0191-375-7278. Further details are available at www.nepacs.co.uk