Prison & Ex-Prisoners

The Bristol crime rate is almost double the national average. Many of those crimes involve ex-offenders reoffending. Ex-prisoners are also some of the most vulnerable. They are 32 times more likely to be homeless and 30 times more likely to suffer issues around mental disorders.

Through Church and volunteering schemes, Christians can provide relational support that breaks isolation issues and helps ex-prisoners build new meaningful and constructive lives.

How you or your church can help

Government support for this type of work had been drastically reduced over the last decade but many prisoners want to lead lives free from crime. They need support to do this - particularly in the community, to do this.

Prison & Ex-Prisoners Groups & Initiatives

Changing Tunes is a charity that uses music to aid the rehabilitation of prisoners and ex-prisoners. www.changingtunes.org.uk
Julian House supports vulnerable and socially excluded people by providing specialist housing support services, social enterprise projects, and community outreach. www.julianhouse.org.uk
Nilaari is a Bristol wide Black & other Minority Ethnic led organisation providing counselling and one to one support. www.nilaari.co.uk
Prodigal Arts provides opportunities for talented prisoners and ex-offenders to produce and sell artwork as part of their ongoing rehabilitation. www.prodigalarts.org
Sixty-One helps churches and Christians reach out to people in the criminal justice system. They run projects such as MentorMe, but also help initiate new projects and signpost people to other rehabilitative organisations. Contact www.sixty-one.org to explore how you or your church can help an offender live crime free meaningful lives.