This page has links to family support and other organisations for prisoners, people with convictions and their families and professionals who work with them.

Family Support Links – England and Wales

Support for families

Affect – action for families enduring criminal trauma offering face to face or telephone counselling, telephone support, group meetings and befriending, court support, training and presentations. Tel: 0300 365 3651

Families & Friends of Prisoners Swansea – provides support to families and friends and ex-offenders who have come into contact with the criminal justice system in Wales.

Jigsaw – supporting families and friends visiting loved ones in prison at HMP Leeds and Wealstun.

Family Lives – offers support to families across the UK about any issue through their website and 24 hour free helpline on 0808 800 2222

Lincolnshire Action Trust – works with a variety of agencies within the criminal justice system to reduce re-offending by working with individuals to address some of the issues and challenges which have resulted in their sentence.

Nepacs – a charity based in the North East of England, supporting a positive future for prisoners and their families, and helping them to maintain family ties

Out There - Out There is a registered charity providing emotional and practical support and an information service for families of prisoners in Greater Manchester. Reach them on 0161 232 8986.

Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) – is the national charity providing support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. Pact supports people to make a fresh start and minimise the harm that can be caused by imprisonment to people who have committed crimes, to families and to communities

POPS – POPS provide information and support to the families of offenders from their earliest contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS), through to release and beyond

Halow Birmingham – providing support and information to families of prisoners at HMP Birmingham and HMP Oakwood

Prison Chat UK – an online community for anyone with a loved one in prison

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation – works with families that have been affected by sexual abuse including: adult male and female sexual abusers; young people with inappropriate sexual behaviours; victims of abuse and other family members

Stopso – provide support to a family member when there has been sexual behaviour or offences

Victim Support –  independent charity helping people cope with the effects of crime, by providing free and confidential support and information

Adfam – support for families where a family member is involved in drug and alcohol misuse

Turn 2 Us – financial advice and information for individuals with a partner in prison

Grandparents Plus – support, information and guidance for Kinship Carers who are looking after children while their parents are in prison

National Domestic Abuse Helpline – free 24 hour helpline offering support and information to anyone experiencing domestic abuse Tel. 0808 2000 247

Support for children and young people

Childline – targeted information and support for children with a parent in prison

Barnardo’s – children’s charity that protects and supports the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people, including delivering family support in prison visit centres.

Children Heard and Seen - Children Heard and Seen is a charity which provides support and interventions for children with a parent in prison. This support is primarily across Oxfordshire, but also Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

Home Start – helps families with young children deal with the challenges they face. They support parents as they learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children

National information centre on children of offenders  –  provides information and resources to professionals working with children and families of prisoners and offenders

Ormiston Trust – Ormiston Trust is a national charity which aims to improve the life-chances of children and young people. They also deliver family support in prison visit centres.

Spurgeons – a leading children’s charity providing support to children and their families. They also deliver family support in prison visit centres.

Young Minds – support, information and advice to support children and young people with their mental health and emotional wellbeing

Information about the criminal justice system

DoingTime – If you or your loved one are facing a criminal conviction and want help navigating through the minefield which is the British penal system this is the site for you

Inside Time – the monthly newspaper for prisoners. See Inside Time information on visiting prisons

KeyRing – e-Helpline for people with Learning Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System

Ministry of Justice – work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public

NACRO –  the crime reduction charity, dedicated to reducing crime and reoffending in communities across England and Wales

The Sentencing Council – the primary role of the Council is to issue guidelines on sentencing which the courts must follow unless it is in the interests of justice not to do so.

Support for people with convictions

Prisoner Advice and Information Service (Prison Reform Trust) – their service can provide prisoners with advice on 0808 802 0060

Prisoners’ Advice Service – charity offering free legal advice and support to adult prisoners in England and Wales

Unlock – assist people by empowering them with information, advice and support to overcome the stigma of their previous convictions

Birth Companions – support, information and advice for women who give birth while in custody

Women in Prison – support, information and advice for women involved in the criminal justice system and their families

Choices Consultancy Service - provide support, advice and information to prisoners, their children, families and significant others in HMPs Dartmoor, Channings Wood and Exeter.

Staying in contact with prisoners

Email a Prisoner – email service to contact a prisoner

Prison Voicemail – call to leave a voicemail for a prisoner

Prisoner Location Service – email to find the location of a prisoner in England or Wales

Family Support Links – Scotland

Circle – Circle improves the lives of our children in Scotland, through strengthening families

Families Outside – Families Outside is a national charity who offers an independent support service for families and friends of prisoners

The Lighthouse Foundation – Family support group for families affected by addiction

One Parent Families Scotland – supporting single parents

Parenting Across Scotland – Parenting across Scotland is a partnership of charities which offers support to children and families in Scotland.

Relationships Scotland – Counselling, mediation and family support

Sacro – Sacro provides a range of Criminal Justice, Youth Justice and Mediation services

Scottish Family Information Service – Information for parents and carers of children and young people

Scottish Sentencing Council – The Scottish Sentencing Council was established in October 2015 under The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and is an independent advisory body.

Victim Support Scotland  – the lead voluntary organisation in Scotland helping people affected by crime