Prison charity wants help so families stay connected

A charity has appealed for more volunteers to get involved with its transport scheme, to help families of prisoners maintain contact.

Demand for the free service from the Friends of Erlestoke Prison is growing and volunteers pick up visitors from Westbury Station and Devizes Market Place and drive them to and from the prison.

Located south of Devizes Erlestoke is a category C male prison and young offenders institution, housing more than 500 men, some serving long or life sentences.

Eve McBride, a trustee and volunteer driver, said enabling friends and family to visit helps with a prisoner's rehabilitation and also supports the family through a very difficult time.

She explained when someone is handed imprisonment their family can often feel they are "being punished too" and may also be struggling on a low income and unable to afford taxis.

Volunteer driver Mary Wood said she had no doubt of the value of the help the scheme gives visitors to the prison and recently helped one woman who had not seen her son in 10 years.

"When he was moved to Erlestoke she was able to see him and she was like a kid at Christmas, she was so delighted," she said.

Volunteers are able to claim expenses and collect visitors, often family groups including children, from either the station or Devizes Market Place.

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