Visitors' Centres
Category: Working with Prisoners, their Families and Children
NIACRO staff based at Magilligan and Hydebank Wood prisons offer services for people visiting prison. These include supervising children in the play area and serving food and drinks for visitors.
Staff provide refreshments, childcare and games for teenage visitors, as well as a sympathetic listening ear and support to individuals and families who may find visiting a difficult and upsetting experience. Staff also support child centred visits (which a father spends one to one with his child) by helping fathers make the best use of the time and providing lunch for mothers. In the 2008/09 Visitors' Centre survey, 89% of visitors to Magilligan and 88% of visitors to Hydebank Wood, rated the overall facilities as either good or very good. The staff at the Magilligan Visitors’ Centre were awarded a “Crystal Heart” by the Partners of Prisoners & Families organisation, for their work to help families maintain relationships with relatives in prison. The centre was also commended by the NI Criminal Justice Inspectorate. NIACRO also provides transport to and from all three prisons, for people who would otherwise be unable to visit a relation in custody. In 2008/2009 we carried almost 3000 passengers. |
|
Magilligan Hydebank Wood Links |
Contributing to the