Nacro annual review

home so we sorted out a place for him. Since thenhe’s got a flat and started work, and he’s slowlybeing eased back into the family through the mum.She’s impressed with us because four months downthe line, he’s still off the drugs.’‘Our resettlement work covers anything that willmake the prisoners’ release easier,’ says RebeccaColes, also based at Holme House. As well ascommon problems such as accommodation, thereare more unusual issues. One morning, she got aphone call from a prisoner’s brother saying that hecouldn’t afford to feed the pets. ‘It turned out theprisoner owned quite a few,’ she laughs. ‘Four dogs,three cats, seven gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs and abudgie.’ They spent the day calling around animalshelters. ‘Nacro resettlement: Pets R Us,’ grins PaulShaw. In the event, the prisoner was bailed andreunited with his menagerie.Resettlement support continues after release if theprisoner and staff feel that this would be beneficial.A resettlement worker will visit the prisoner andarrange to meet them after they get out. ‘It’s veryimportant to discuss things face to face before theyare released,’ says Kevin Gallagher. ‘People are nottreated very well in prison, they are just a number ina big machine, so they are quite surprised when youintroduce yourself and shake hands with them. Ifyou maintain that same attitude, and do what yousay you are going to do, they begin to trust you.That’s important because there’s more chance they’llkeep in touch when they get out.’The Pyramid Project runs a mentoring scheme as partof a painting and decorating course set up withinLow Newton women’s prison, near Durham. Asalways, the emphasis is on continuity of supportbefore and after release. Nacro’s co-ordinator DaveKing recruited and trained the volunteer mentors,and then took a group into the prison to meet thewomen inside. Avril Joy, the prison’s head of learningand skills, takes up the story: ‘We sat down aroundthe table in the painting and decorating area. A fewof the mentors said things, and a few of the womensaid things, and within 10 minutes, everyone wastalking. Something had clicked. I was delighted andso was Dave. Sustained support is a crucial factor intheir successful resettlement, and that’s what thisproject has offered.’ Are Nacro people good to workwith? ‘They are brilliant people to work with.’But the final word must rest with the women. Lynnsays that her mentor, Pauline, understands exactlywhere she’s coming from: ‘I’ll keep in contact with herwhen I leave because she’s helped me a lot.’ Christineagrees. ‘My mentor, Siobhan, is on my wavelength,’she says. ‘I can talk with her about things that Iwouldn’t talk about to other people. It’s like there’ssomeone there for me – I’ve never had that before.’ 19