Chester Quakers ask ‘Why Prison?’
The outreach event ‘Why Prison?’ was inspired by Quakers from North Wales Area Meeting, who hold a Meeting for Worship every week in HMP Berwyn
Chester Quakers shone the spotlight on befriending prisoners last month.
Christine Mander, from Chester Meeting, told the Friend that the idea for the outreach event ‘Why Prison?’ was inspired by Quakers from North Wales Area Meeting, who hold a Meeting for Worship every week in HMP Berwyn. ‘In addition a couple of members volunteer for the New Bridge Foundation which focuses on befriending individual prisoners. For this reason, we felt it would be a good idea to focus our most recent outreach event on this area.’
The event on 14 October featured Pauline Austin, one of the founders of the New Bridge Foundation, and Tom Brodie, the development and capability officer at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham. ‘Pauline Austin talked about the importance of the kindness of strangers and how befriending gives prisoners a sense that they do matter,’ said Christine Mander. ‘This often has a stronger effect than connection with family or professionals. She said thirty-one per cent of prisoners have no one to visit them, and re-offending rates are forty per cent higher for those without visitors. Pauline emphasised that they will accept applications from prisoners irrespective of the crime they have committed. From a Quaker perspective, there are no exceptions to “Answering that of God in everyone”.’
The other speaker, Tom Brodie, gave insights from within the prison service, outlining his belief that prisons are not a deterrent and rehabilitation is more important. ‘The ability to provide this is challenged because investment in mental health and social services has fallen,’ said Christine. ‘This means that the prison population has risen and there are not now enough spaces. As a country we imprison a higher proportion of our population than the majority of our neighbours. The strain on the service is telling. Training for officers is now down to six weeks and the work is no longer seen as a vocation. Retention has become an issue and there is not enough training in how to interact with prisoners, how to cope with trauma and self harm. On a more positive note, Tom saw the appointment of the new prisons minister as a sign that change may be coming.‘
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