Role:
Sometimes we are called ‘ordinary people from all walks of life’. We are unpaid volunteers. We are not part of the inmate’s treatment or training. The strapline for our work is, ‘Bringing the Outside In’. For usually the inmate we visit will have no family or friends to visit him, and will have had no visit from the outside for possibly a number of years. There is no age limit. There is no requirement for previous experience. Common sense, compassion and a sense of humour are the prime qualities needed.

WHAT DO WE DO?
Having been allocated a prisoner we go and see him. All we are told is his name, age and prison number. All he is told is our Christian (or anonymised name if you prefer). And we know nothing of his offences, neither do we want to. At HMP Bure (at Coltishall) visits take place with all other family visits in a visiting hall (which smells agreeably of the excellent coffee and servery) and HMP Norwich visits take p...