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Family Links is offered to the families of all prisoners in Northern Ireland. It provides both practical advice and emotional support in coping with what can be a lonely and difficult experience. Children especially can suffer real trauma.

Family Links staff contact each family within 24 hours of receiving a referral from PBNI staff based within the prisons. If a family member wants to take up the offer, they’ll be given an information pack, and, depending on what they need, they can have:

• One-to-one ongoing support for adults, children and young people.
• Telephone support.
• Home visits.
• Information on other agencies that can offer help, and how to access them.
• Advice and information on benefits, housing, debt etc.
• Transport to any of the three prisons.
• Help with childcare.
• Links to visitors’ centres and prison visit staff.

In 2010/11 we sent out 1130 information packs, made 705 home visits and on 1258 occasions put families in touch with other relevant sources of help and information.

In the most recent survey of the Family Links service, 98% of users were satisfied with the overall service they received from Family Links. All of the people surveyed found Family Links staff to be friendly, helpful and reliable. We will continue to carry out user surveys to ensure that Family Links is relevant and effective.

Contact Details

Donnie Sweeney
Tel: 02890 320 157
Email: here

User Experiences

Margaret

Sam