Action for Prisoners' Families: Need for help rockets as prisoners’ families are left to cope

Figures released by Action for Prisoners’ Families (APF) reveal the extent of the need for help and support generated by rising levels of imprisonment.

The national prisoners’ families helpline, managed by APF, received just under 17,000 calls in 15 months. Most callers needed help with maintaining family contact and with navigating the prison system.

The number of visitors to the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website has also rocketed in recent years, rising from 12,350 in 2004 to 43,430 in 2007.

Lucy Gampell, APF Director, said: “These are staggering numbers, which indicate the high level of need experienced by prisoners’ families. Families and children are left in a state of shock and confusion when someone close to them is sent to jail. Most of them receive no help to guide them through the complex prison system and the psychological, financial and social upheaval that follows the imprisonment of a parent, partner, child or other family member.”

Lucy Keenan, APF Development Director and manager of the Helpline, said:
“Each month we talk to over 1,200 family members who call the Prisoners’ Families Helpline because they need information, advice or support. Many more try to get through to our lines. Around 3,000 a month visit our website. Our national, free helpline provides an indispensable and unique service. An external evaluation has shown an ever-increasing demand, and most of the users surveyed said they could not imagine how they would have coped without the Helpline”.

‘Make sure it doesn’t disappear!’ said one of the many callers, reflecting a common sentiment about Helpline users.

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Notes for editors:

1. Between January and December 2007 inclusive the Prisoners’ Families Helpline received 13,200 calls. The previous year 12,414 calls were received.

Between January 2007 and March 2008 the Helpline received 16,892 calls.

2. The number of individual visitors to the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website within the last four years are as
follows:

2007: 43430
2006: 27545
2005: 20525
2004: 12351

3. The Prisoners’ Families Helpline External Evaluation Report (May 2008) found ‘extremely high’ levels of satisfaction among users. It concluded that the Helpline is ‘an extremely valuable and effective service which is meeting the needs of a disadvantaged and vulnerable group of people.’

4. The Prisoners’ Families Helpline was set up in January 2003 and provides a free and confidential service for people who are affected by the imprisonment of a close family member or friend.
The Helpline is delivered by a consortium of three organisations; it is co-ordinated by Action for Prisoners'
Families (the national federation of services supporting families of prisoners), and the Helpline services are provided by the Ormiston Children & Families Trust in Cambridge and Partners of Prisoners’ Families Support (POPS) in Manchester. The free Helpline number is 0808 808 2003. The Prisoners’ Families Helpline website, which provides a range of information and factsheets, is at www.prisonersfamilieshelpline.org.uk

5. APF is the national membership organisation representing the needs of families affected by imprisonment.
Imprisonment damages family life and separates children from parents. APF supports the development of services, promotes good practice, provides information and raises awareness of the impact of imprisonment on children and families.

For more information please contact APF on 020 8812 3600 or visit www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk. To contact Lucy Gampell, APF Director, please email lucy@actionpf.org.uk