Annual Review
2023 - 2024
Message from the Chief Executive
Include, inform, inspire…
These are the three words our team at Nepacs settled upon when creating a strapline to support our new three year strategy - the development of which has been a significant part of 2023-24.
Following my first two years of CEO at Nepacs – a time when we were presented with many challenges and new opportunities which meant we diversified, grew and, in many ways, changed – this year seemed the right moment to think about our focus and strategy for our future.
This process was not one we undertook alone. We were lucky to be invited to join the Pilotlight programme with Garfield Weston whereby charities work alongside a team of business entrepreneurs to work through a particular project which would be helpful and meaningful to the organisation.
The programme gave us some breathing space to really consider all that we are as an organisation and prompted us to reflect on what more we want to be, and how does all of what we do complement existing provision and work together. It was a long journey which involved consultation with staff, volunteers and Trustees; we are all in this together and the strategy developed needed to be meaningful and most importantly deliverable. We were really pleased to launch our new strategy at our AGM event last year in which we shared our commitment to achieving what we have set out to do. It is the start of more exciting times ahead.
Last year was also an extremely successful year in terms of business development and growth. We have been privileged to deliver new and exciting services for children and young people, taking a new focus on prevention and anti-social behaviour. We also delivered new specialised services to those most vulnerable members of our society, facing significant issues of social isolation and exclusion. We have also expanded delivery of services which we know are much needed and are working really well in prison settings - ensuring those who come into prison have first hand support at the start of their journey, and those being released
from custody are supported with their resettlement needs.
Our focus is that people who find themselves in contact with social care or criminal justice have support throughout their whole journey so that they stand a better chance of reintegration within their own local communities.
Nepacs has always offered a grant-giving service, providing essential items to people facing hardship. This year has seen us partner with other grant giving organisations, distributing grants on their behalf, which has enabled us to significantly increase the amount of support we offer and the numbers of people to whom we can give it.
Our staff remain our biggest asset and a proud achievement was to be awarded Silver in Investors in People. This really meant the world to me as we continue to strive to be not just a good employer, but, the best employer we can be.
We also remain grateful to our amazing volunteers without whom, we really could not extend our reach and deliver all that we do!
It has been a truly positive year, not without any challenges, in fact quite the opposite. But again, we have embraced those challenges, we have remained pragmatic and sensible in our approach, and simply asked the same of those who work alongside us.
Looking forward to the next year ahead.
Amanda Lacey Chief executive
Chairman’s report
This year has been another year where Nepacs has continued to successfully deliver services despite rather than because of government policy. The criminal justice system creaks at the seams and it’s probably time to say it’s broken rather than breaking.
Families can hardly make head nor tail of the huge waits for court space followed by sudden and unexpected imprisonment. Prisoners arrive in reception mentally and practically unprepared for the demands of overloaded and under resourced institutions, often in chaos. Prison inspections paint an increasingly bleak picture. This is our world of work! Our staff and volunteers stand out as islands of calm and care, and long may it remain so, well done to all of you!
Nepacs remains on a sound financial footing and we look forward to the future with optimism on many fronts. We will be here to help with the rebuilding of a rehabilitation focused system. In our particular arena it’s essential that commissioning in the criminal justice system recognises the needs and strengths of small organisations operating in the sector. Partnership working with commissioners, not line by line contract adherence works brilliantly with us, if not the large commercial contractors. Our flexibility and core strengths are not being utilised to best effect at the moment.
Despite all this Nepacs remains on a sound financial footing and continues to be trusted to deliver high quality services. We continue to diversify both our area and type of operation in order to ensure that we protect the long term viability of the organisation. We have still managed to grow in terms of turnover, we have extended our service provision and we have reached more people than ever.
Our people strategy achieved good results in relation to retention, development and succession planning. All in all another good year for Nepacs and the work we do to support some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
Mark Weeding Chairman
Our trustees
Board of Trustees 2023/24
Chair – Mark Weeding
Vice Chair – Jenny Mooney
Treasurer – Sareth NainbyLuxmoore
Secretary - Margaret Smith
– resigned 21/3/24*
Vacant - due to be filled in 2024-25
Membership SecretaryLinda Lovell – resigned 14/5/23
David Abrahams
Jim Black
Rev Katherine Brooke
Kath Ogilvie – resigned 16/4/23
*Amanda Lacey, CEO took on role of Secretary
Roger Statham
The Baroness Maeve
Sherlock OBE
Richard Phelan – appointed 25/01/24
Sheila Seacroft
Margaret Stockdale
Chris Tague – appointed 25/01/24
Elizabeth Thompson
Nepacs – What we do
In January 2024, we were excited to launch our new three year strategy - along with our new vision and mission - reflecting the ambitions of our ever-growing charity.
Our bold strategy is themed around three words which we believe fully encapsulate what we do and who we are - include, inform, inspire. They reflect our approach to all those we work with. They represent what drives us. And, importantly, they underpin all that we want to do in the future.
Find out more about our strategy and priorities for 2024 to end 2026 on our website.
Our values
Our vision Our mission
Every person impacted by contact with the justice or social care systems should be heard and feel empowered to make positive change happen.
To support and enhance the lives of people as they navigate the justice or social care systems, ensuring they always have someone trusted by their side, aiding understanding, facilitating wellbeing and promoting positive choices.
numbers 2023/24
2,988 individuals supported during the court process
1,536 prisoners and families were supported by prison based family support workers
£35,487 in grants were awarded
82,792 visits to north east prisons, including 18,214 child visits
737 people supported by the Nepacs helpline
1,233 individuals supported on the day of release through departure lounges and 777 Prisoners and families supported prior to release through our Heading home re:settle intervention
310 individuals and 216 of their family members supported during the early days in custody at HMP Durham
150 active volunteers* across the region
133 new young men in HMP Deerbolt with care experience supported
48 young people with a parent in prison received on-going one to one support
273 visits by Independent Visitors took place with young people living in care
Support for families from the point of arrest
Nepacs provides immediate support and information for families or friends of those involved in the criminal justice system from the point of arrest, prior to and after sentencing.
Families can experience isolation and stigma when a loved one is involved in the criminal justice system which can affect their emotional, physical, financial and social wellbeing. Our helpline and support at court teams play a vital role in supporting these families when a loved one is first arrested or attending court.
Support at Court
Our court-based volunteers, in Teesside, Durham and Newcastle Crown Courts, offer support, reassurance and advice to families and friends of those attending court, remanded or who have received a custodial sentence.
“Staff are always friendly and helpful. They will always do the best they can for any individual that is referred to their service. They give helpful and practical advice to those who are facing prison and also invaluable support to their families.”
Annie Lopez, Probation officer, Durham Crown Court
2,988 people supported at court - an increase of over 61% on the previous year
“It must be a very frightening time for those families and Nepacs helps to bridge the gap between court and prison for all concerns.”
Pauline
Lyonette, Acting Delivery Manager, Newcastle Crown Court
The team also provide a telephone listening support and information service which is particularly vital for families attending courts where we do not have a volunteer presence.
We have seen a significant increase in self referrals at each court this year from defendants and their families. The teams also receive referrals from the Probation Service, liaison and diversion teams, Police (through their Paedophile Online Investigation Teams (POLIT)) and Nepacs helpline. There has also been an increase in referrals from the Cleveland and Northumbria POLIT teams thanks to co-delivered awareness sessions for their staff and we look forward to building on this relationship in the future.
Nepacs north east helpline
Our helpline supported 737 individuals last year
Over the last year the helpline project, delivered by our dedicated team of volunteers and led by our helpline coordinator, has expanded and now supports anyone impacted by the criminal justice system from the point of arrest, throughout the court process, prison sentence and on release. The team have also continued to develop strong links with other Nepacs services and make referrals or signpost to a wide range of external agencies.
Usually those who contact the helpline by phone, email or text are family members, partners or friends of a loved one who are trying to navigate through the criminal justice system. However, professionals such as social workers, teachers, support workers, NHS and police also contact us for support when working with a family or client affected by imprisonment, and the team often signpost and refer to other external and internal support services when needed.
The helpline covers predominantly the North East area; however, the team have seen an increase in out of area enquiries this year and continue to liaise with visitors’ centres and prisons in any part of the country.
The team never turn anyone away and pride themselves on ensuring families never feel they are on their own.
“Thank you so much for listening to me and ringing me back, I really appreciate it, thanks from the bottom of my heart.”
“My nephew is so much better now since the last time that we spoke, thanks so much for everything that you have done for us. He has since moved wing and has now made new friends.”
The visit experience
82,792 visits were supported to north east prisons, including 18,214 child visits
When people go to prison it can have a devastating impact on their families or friends, particularly children.
Our visitors’ centres and refreshment services provide a vital role in providing a warm welcome for visitors who may be finding visiting a prison a daunting and stressful experience. Last year we greeted more children and families visiting their loved ones during the year than the previous year, guaranteeing a warm, friendly and knowledgeable welcome each and every time.
Our staff and volunteers have gone to great effort to create a warm, friendly and colourful environment for visitors, with themed noticeboards and activities for children. Here are some of the highlights from 2023/24.
Christmas celebrations at all sites including visits from Santa
Visitors’ centre staff and volunteers are available at the end of the phone or face to face to answer any questions or concerns that visitors may have, and to offer support and a listening ear to new visitors and those who are finding it hard to cope when their loved one is in custody.
Our team also signpost visitors to support in the community to help them with any issues they may be facing and offer follow up wellbeing chats with anyone who has been on a first visit and would like some support.
Around 5,200 first time visitor chats took place
our centres
77 special family days and 172 visit enrichment events (including parent child, family learning and new dad visits) took place
HMP Durham visitors centre celebrated 10th birthday in August 2023
New quiet area at HMP Durham visitors centre opened July 2023
Visitors Voice
92% of visitors thought the atmosphere in visitors’ centres was warm and welcoming
98% said that Nepacs visits service staff and volunteers were friendly or very friendly
84% thought Nepacs helped reduce the stress of visits
97% said that Nepacs visits service staff and volunteers were helpful or very helpful
“We have always been a very close family, the impact of what happened on that awful night has been so traumatic to us all. I as his sister have had trouble with neighbours. I have to take time off work. I am on anti-depressants. We are now a broken family. Being on the accused side of things we have had not help or support of any kind, we are victims as well. To a certain extent we have lost a love one as well.”
Families and loved ones of individuals in custody in north east prisons continue to have their say on support for visitors through our Visitors Voice peer support groups. 258 visitors also gave us their feedback in March and April 2023 through our annual visitors satisfaction survey:
92% of visitors felt that their experience of visiting made a significant difference in helping maintain family ties
68% of visitors who were initially unsure about visiting for the first time, said they decided to as a direct result of the support offered by Nepacs staff and volunteer
“The families of people in prison are suffering as much if not more than the person inside. The families life goes on with the stress of financial responsibilities sending money to the person in prison paying for travel, etc time off work all aspects of life are affected.”
Supporting relationships in prison
Early days in custody
Our innovative Early Days in Custody project is a prison-based crisis intervention providing trauma-informed support to prisoners and family members during the critical first two weeks of custody.
The first few weeks are a high-risk period for selfharm and suicide for those in prison, particularly women. Our early days in custody workers provide vital support and signposting, acting as a conduit between prison departments and individual prisoners.
The service helps those arriving in prison to adjust and cope with prison life and regime, helping them move forward emotionally and practically. They also act as a lifeline for families outside - providing information quickly eases stress, anxiety and feelings of powerlessness.
Our early days team have a vital safeguarding role; working with Safer Custody and outside agencies to keep those inside and outside safe. Their immediate access to families and partners outside and those inside is unique and crucial to updating safeguarding and safety information.
The initial pilot project (funded by the National Lottery Reaching Community Fund) was delivered in HMPs Durham and Low Newton from April 2020 to une 2023. We then received funding from Garfield Weston Foundation (for HMP Durham) and a grant from Department of Health Suicide Prevention Fund in December 2023, to roll out the service to all prisons in the north east during 2024/25.
The pilot project was externally evaluated by Durham University using a mixed methods approach and ran alongside delivery of the service. Find out more about the difference that the project makes for men and women in custody in the research report available on our website.
Quote from Lord Farmer, who wrote the foreword for the report:
“… When we walked the landings with the EDiC Family Support Worker in HMP Durham, she was constantly bombarded with requests to pass information to family and a lot of grateful thanks for successfully making contact. As one prisoner said, ‘In a bad world (the EDiC Family Support Worker) is a shining light’. Upon arrival in prison men and women need to know someone cares – prison should not be an emotional desert: the withdrawal of liberty is the punishment.”
Outcomes for the pilot project to end June 2023
(HMP Durham and HMP Low Newton)
823 men and 302 women experienced improved family contact
2,007 family members or significant others were supported, with the number of enquiries totalling 2,809.
Men and women in prison reported feeling an improved sense of safety and/or well being once they had received support from the early days family support workers, and a reduction in their distress or confusion.
“Thanks again Lee for your great work around family contact”
- Probation Officer, Public Protection Unit
“Brill thanks for everything and thanks so much for checking the trains etc for me that’s helped a lot. thanks again for absolutely everything you’ve done for me this last week” - partner of a prisoner, who received help to visit
“Thanks a mill for all the help” - a prisoner who needed help with international video visits
“Lee honestly, you’re a life saviour” - a Supervising Officer, regarding help provided to a mother and son to arrange an international video visit
“Thank you so much. Really appreciate your update” - daughter of prisoner who received support in relation to their healthcare
Early days in custody support at HMP Durham
(July 2023 to end March 2024)
971 individuals received support from our early days in custody family support worker
146 families or significant others also received support.
Specialist family support builds family ties
1,536 prisoners and families were supported by family support workers.
Our specialist family support team, funded by HMPPS, offer support for people in prison who are struggling to sustain or reconnect family ties. This involves working with those in prison and their families.
The team deliver 1:1 casework, supported by volunteers, to aid in building and maintaining family ties, whilst ensuring appropriate community support is in place prior to release. This involves liaising with a wide range of professionals including social care, solicitors, and schools.
Nepacs’ family support workers work closely with all of our projects supporting families and significant others, including early days in custody, care leaver projects and departure lounge teams, who provide the transition back into the community when
“The Family Support Team in Holme House are invaluable in ensuring positive and prompt communication as well as effective emotional support, make sure you utilise them.”
Solicitor
people are resettling in the north east after serving a prison sentence. Working closely with the visitors centre teams they also delivered our Heading Home programme, where appropriate, and the much-valued special family visits, to promote family ties and support resettlement.
This year our family support workers also reached out to those prisoners who are isolated and do not receive visits or have family contact, providing distraction packs and support with re-connecting with family and significant others or community services.
We continue to work with the prisons and probation services to promote the benefits of specialist family support provision and seek funding to help build capacity for this vital work in all north east prisons.
Supporting women impacted by criminal justice
An HMPPS women’s grant enables us to have a women’s lead in the organisation who ensures that we continue to develop models for provision of services for women impacted by the criminal justice system. This includes taking the lead on safeguarding in the organisation and working as part of the peri-natal pathway team at HMP Low Newton. We have also supported more women through the expansion of the new early days in custody and departure lounge service available for women going into and out of custody.
Building Positive Relationships
Nepacs started working with HMPPS to deliver a new pilot project called Building Positive Relationships, which aims to provide support to isolated prisoners, who have no contacts in the community and don’t receive visitors. The project officially started in HMP Durham in February 2023 (where the prisoners decided to name the project Every Contact Matters) and it has already made a massive impact for the men involved.
The project aims to:
• Reduce isolation while in custody
• Boost prisoners’ health and wellbeing
• Help prisoners reconnect with loved ones
• Foster positive relationships
• And help reduce the chance of reoffending.
The new pilot project enables us to provide more support for isolated prisoners, train up peer mentors within the prisons and to run community days for the prisoners to attend and connect with others.
In March 2024 the project also began at HMP Deerbolt and we are looking forward to expanding the project to more north east prisons in the coming year.
Been in and out of jail for the past 30 years, never attended anything like this before and I have been in jails all over the country. This is really needed. Days are long and lonely. Time almost stops when you have nothing to look forward to and no one to share anything with.”
“Buddy visits were brilliant as ice breaker, got to be introduced to everyone in the room, even the professionals and prison officers so it relaxed me and put me at ease.”
“Felt anxious attending but was a lot better than on a prison wing, calmed at the end, Amy was lovely, thanks.”
The
highlights of the project are significant:
132 Every Contact Matters peer mentors were trained and supported to connect with isolated prisoners and made referrals to our worker.
232 prisoners attended 11 community events, which gave isolated prisoners the chance to get together and socialise with each other, as well as access support from professionals and organisations who are invited to attend the event.
21 families received support, 16 of which decided to reconnect with their loved one in custody, through visits, letters or telephone contact.
38 of the men requested to have a visit with an official prison visitor, and 27 of them have now had one of these visits and would like to continue having these visits.
622 community packs were given out to prisoners, which provides information on groups/clubs in the community that they maybe in interested in attending upon release.
Parental rights in prison
Our Parental Rights in Prison Project supported parents in custody who wished to sustain their relationship with their children who are in the care of the local authority, care of family and significant others or adopted and provided them with legal advice and support around their rights as parents.
The project was predominantly delivered in HMP & YOI Low Newton and expanded to HMPs Durham and Kirklevington in year two. Parents in prison (most of whom were mothers) received specialist family support, guidance and legal advocacy around their parental rights.
Durham University who independently evaluated the project, presented their findings and recommendations at a launch event in March 2024. The research showed that women talked about feeling calmer and less anxious, more hopeful for the future, often stemming from (re)-establishing contact with their children (where appropriate) following engagement with our parental rights in prison support worker.
As part of the project, we were delighted to work with Open Clasp Theatre Company who brought the findings to life through their performance of Rupture, a one woman show, co-created with mothers from HMP Low Newton. Rupture was first presented in HMP Low Newton and at West End Women and Girls Centre in Newcastle in June 2023. Live performances of Rupture at community, prison and arts venues in the North East are planned for March 2025.
Parental rights training and resource
Our parental rights in custody resource provides essential support and guidance so that parents in custody can be given accurate, timely information and support around their children, parental rights and how they can stay involved in their children’s lives, where appropriate. The resource book was also launched at the event in March and is now available on our website, offering step by step information and instruction on how to manage common contact issues experienced by people in custody.
The parental rights project was made possible thanks to HMPPS grant funding, the grant management and family services teams who have given their time and support throughout.
Special mention and thanks are also extended to Ben Hoare Bell Solicitors and Jude Grange for supporting the project and development of this resource.
A key element of the project was the training of fellow professionals about parental rights and legal orders and the barriers to parents in prison exercising their parental rights. We also worked with Durham County Council to develop and deliver a general awareness course for individuals in the community to help them better understand how they can support parents estranged or separated from their children, and the value for children in professionals engaging with both parents.
We look forward to working with Durham University and Open Clasp Theatre Company to use everything we have learned and developed through this project to bring about changes to the way prisons and other agencies support parents in custody.
43 individuals received parental rights training (prison and community versions) Include
Supporting care leavers
Supported
133
care experienced young men at HMP Deerbolt
Our care leaver support team at HMP Deerbolt has continued to provide vital trauma-informed one to one sessions for care experienced prisoners. This includes supporting them to access their entitlements from the local authority and to make or sustain links with significant others.
We also work closely with offender managers and local authority personal advisors to ensure best practice is observed in ensuring a holistic approach to sentence planning, resettlement and rehabilitation back into the community.
Three experts by experience peer mentors were trained last year to support care leavers on the induction, specialist and most populated wing. These men take part in monthly training and support sessions to become more aware of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how to work in a trauma-informed way. It is hoped by 2025 there will be 10 peer mentors covering every wing, providing support and guidance, holding drop-in group sessions and delivering the co-produced ‘paving the way’ lifestyle course to their peers with support from the Nepacs worker.
“I don’t know how I would have coped without Gail’s help; I didn’t know where I was in the country never mind how I could get in touch with my PA, she explained everything to me and helped me get visits and some money sent in.”
Creative Aid project completes first year
The Creative Aid project delivered in partnership with Blue Cabin CIC completed the first year of the project in 2023 and year two started January 2024.
The three-year project, which focusses on transforming outcomes for care experienced individuals through creative activities, is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Reaching Communities.
Five young men, with the support of the creative aid project workers, have successfully achieved their Bronze arts award accreditation from Trinity College London, and will be recognised as artists when their work is published in a book later in 2024 and displayed in both virtual and physical space.
In year two, the project will continue to be driven by the young men themselves in the direction of their creative interests, bringing in established artists to share their skills, and providing opportunities for the young men to showcase their creativity with family, friends and the wider prison.
Supporting relationships in the community
Departure lounges
“I felt relief when I came out of the prison as I had somewhere to go to make a phone call and sit and wait for the bus.”
“I was grateful for the visit before I was released and the information as I was worried about transport.”
“Very polite welcoming and very helpful. Staff helped in any way possible and made a relaxed feel upon release!”
Over 1,233 individuals received support on their day of release from prison
Over 1,160 release or toiletry packs have been given out as well as clothing packs and food bank vouchers.
In December 2023 we were awarded a contract to work with HMPs Holme House, Low Newton and Northumberland to provide support for prisoners and their families and significant others from 12 weeks before the day of release from prison. This ‘Departure Lounge’ service is an enhanced version of what we have previously offered in those prisons.
Our staff and volunteers go the extra mile to ensure that prisoners being released are given the support they need to help them make a fresh start. This includes:
• Providing practical and emotional support to those in custody and their families before release
• Opening our departure lounges on the day of release to greet prison leavers, their families and supporting professionals
• Offering release packs with essential items for the first few days in the community, which may include clothing, food items, toiletries, sleeping bags and other items.
• Providing support and advice, alongside some breakfast or a cup of tea or coffee, and connecting the prison leaver and their families with community-based support services
• Helping prison leavers sort out transport links, probation appointments, job centres, accommodation and other appointments
• Working with prisoners before release to arrange a Nepacs grant to help them with essential items, for those most in need.
We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who continues to support our work with prison leavers. In addition to the HMPPS funding, we rely on the generosity of individuals and local organisations to enable us to provide packs for the men and women being released from prison, and we are very grateful for any donations.
Circles of Support and Accountability
In July 2023 Nepacs became certified to deliver Circles of Support and Accountability by Circles UK and established Circles North, serving the whole of the north of England.
Circles is a project led by volunteers supporting those who have been previously convicted of sexual harm in the community. A team of four to six volunteers work with the service user (known in a Circle as the Core Member) and support them to integrate back into the community through reducing isolation.
Following the award of a contract by the probation service we recruited a team for direct delivery in the north east and north west, and work in partnership with Humbercare to deliver in the Yorkshire and Humber area.
The team successfully recruited and trained 73 volunteers in the north east and north west, and established two Circles with a further five in the process of being set up throughout the North of England. Humbercare recruited 64 volunteers and at end March 2024 were delivering four Circles in the area.
The Circles project aims to reduce future victims by helping those who have been convicted of sexual harm engage with their local community and feel accountable to a group of individuals to stay motivated and live crime free lives.
Our team have seen for themselves how Core Members have become more open to talking about difficult issues and more willing to participate in activities in their local communities.
Heading Home
Our re:settle resource and follow up support offers those in prison and their family members with hints and tips on how to prepare for release, practical advice about life after release and guidance on how to access local support.
Last year we provided this brief intervention to over 735 prisoners and 42 family members.
Twenty eight individuals in prison also benefitted from taking part in our re:connect programme, which provides an opportunity for them and their family members to consider what issues they have experienced during the prison sentence; to receive information and support to help prepare for release; and the opportunity to devise a plan for moving forward as a family. In some cases a facilitated discussion can take place with their family member who is due to be released.
Re:settle project
In January 2024 we were successful in securing an innovation grant from the Ministry of Justice to deliver a project focussed on breaking down isolation in the community and helping ex-prisoners and their families to move on with their lives. The project got off the ground in April 2024 and will run until November 2025.
The Re:settle team will work with individuals who have been convicted of sexual harm and their loved ones for two weeks before release from HMP Northumberland and HMP Holme House, and after release individuals will be given access to a telephone support line and a befriending service in the community.
Wellbeing services
Our personal wellbeing team provide support to men under probation supervision and released from prison in County Durham and Tees Valley through the Liberate Service – a partnership with St Giles Trust, The Wise Group, Humankind, Rethink, and Thirteen Care and Support.
The team support men with relationship issues, emotional and mental wellbeing, by encouraging them to engage in social activities to reduce isolation and help them to access services. This includes providing crisis intervention, support, coaching and advocacy.
Safeguarding everyone!
Safeguarding is an important part of all of our services, with staff and volunteers all being training to ensure that they are confident and supported in dealing with any safeguarding issues and referrals.
Safeguarding referrals have continued to be received at steady rate with a high percentage of these referral been received from the Helpline. An out of hours safeguarding rota is covered at all times.
Next year the safeguarding lead will be undertaking a review of all safeguarding processes and internal training.
Holiday fun for families!
Last year, we provided two families, including four children, with a caravan holiday during the summer and the chance to relax and make wonderful memories together.
Working in a trauma-informed way
Nepacs was awarded Silver: Working with Trauma Quality Marks in February 2024 for two areas of delivery - our prison-based family and significant others services and our care leavers projects. Both of these awards will last for three years until 8 February 2027.
The Working with Trauma Quality Mark (presented by charity One Small Thing) recognises organisations who can evidence they meet a robust, accessible, and supportive set of standards for working with trauma.
The awards demonstrate that Nepacs is working in a trauma aware, trauma informed and trauma responsive way.
This was the first time that our holiday scheme was up and running since the pandemic, although on a very small scale compared to previous years. We hope to offer more holidays in 2025, subject to funding.
Financial assistance for families
The cost of living crisis has meant that 2023/24 was as hard a year as any for everyone and in particular for those leaving the criminal justice system, with Nepacs’ funds stretched to keep up with the demand for our services.
For over 143 years, grant giving has been a key feature of our charity’s work - providing direct financial assistance to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. A steady decrease over time in the help offered by the state and local authorities has put enormous pressure on our funds, and we’re pleased to announce that we now have secured a generous source of funding for the next three years from Glasspool Charitable Trust (starting April 2024) which should expand and broaden our ability to help those most in need. These grants tend to be used for larger essential items and will complement the grants we are currently distributing for families in County Durham.
We remain very grateful to our colleagues in Probation and other organisations for their cooperation, help and understanding over the years of our grants system, which we hope will, in its new form, now continue to work harmoniously for all concerned.
“Nothing good ever happens to me like this”
£35,487 in grants were distributed to prisoners and their families this year
*NB household grants often include households where children benefit.
Household support grants
Towards the end of 2023/24 we were awarded £9,400 from County Durham Community Foundation to distribute grants to families living in the Durham County Council area who were in need of support.
The funds were distributed amongst 53 individuals/ families, averaging £178 per application. The grants were used for a variety of things including baby items, clothing, furniture, bicycles and groceries.
One applicant, on receiving the news that she would receive some financial support, immediately started smiling and said how much it had cheered her up and “made her day”. She said that she could not wait to get a good food shop in and buy a new bed.
Supporting children and young people
Our children and young people’s service works across the region to support young people living in care or impacted by imprisonment, offering them the chance to talk to someone they can trust, either during a prison visit or in the community, and through trips or specific projects where they have the opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation.
During the year we have developed our ‘Bee Yourself’ model, which is our new way of working with children and young people who are involved in the justice and/or social care systems. We were also able to train all of our children and youth project workers as Thrive practitioners which means their primary focus is improving the emotional and social wellbeing of those we are working with.
With thanks to Dulverton Trust, Masonic Charitable Trust, Ballinger Trust and others for their continued support. Funding for our children and young people’s services has remained a priority for us and we continue to reach out to potential funders to enable us to expand the support services we can offer.
Independent visitors service
For children and young people living in care our independent visitors service provides a vital volunteer befriending scheme which enables a volunteer and young person to establish a long term supportive relationship where the young person will have the opportunity to develop their interests, learn new skills and build their self-esteem. We deliver this service on behalf of six local authorities (Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland).
At the start of the year we had 32 young people matched to a volunteer and 45 young
people waiting for a match. We then received 48 referrals and 63 matches were offered. By the end of March 2024 50 young people were matched and 32 were on the waiting list.
1,046 hours volunteered by Independent Visitors
273 visits by our Independent Visitors took place with young people living in care
Volunteer recruitment and retention for our independent visitor service has remained our priority as we still have a number of young people on the waiting list and capacity to take on more. We still desperately need more volunteers to join us, and would like to encourage men in particular to come forward as we have lots of young people who have requested a male volunteer befriender.
In addition to trying to match our young people to appropriate volunteers we also offered them the chance to get involved in some extra activities supported by our children and young people’s service.
Trips or outreach activities
Six outreach trips took place this year, with 12 children either in the care system and/or with a parent in the justice system. Doing activities like these are often taken for granted, but a lot of our children don’t get the opportunity to experience them. They also get to meet and have fun with young people in similar situations to themselves.
One to one support work
48 young people received on going one to one support to help them discuss their lives and experiences of living with a family member in prison. These sessions normally take place in school to provide a safe, secure place for children to ask questions, and we offer coping strategies to support them with any issues they may have experienced.
Digital Me
Five young people from our youth project came together in October 2022 to start work on the creation of our second Digital Me film, called A Hidden Sentence. The film they created was launched in August 2023 and is now used to raise awareness of the experience of young people with a loved one in the justice system, and to help other young people affected by these issues.
The Nepacs Independent Visitors team also worked with Digital Voice to provide the young people with a safe and creative way to talk about their experience of growing up in care, and their feelings on the undeniable benefits of the independent visitor service. These videos, launched at our AGM in January 2024, include the testimonies of four young people and four volunteers involved in the service.
All our Digital Me films created by Digital Voice for Communities are now on our YouTube channel and website.
Young people from the independent visitor service and with a parent in prison were asked to become part of our youth board. This group has been formed to help Nepacs to develop its services for young people and campaign for the rights of young people, particularly those who have experience of the criminal justice and social care settings. This group met on several occasions to complete this work as well as enjoy some time as a group. They also designed their own logo!
Residential event Nepacs youth board
Seven young people came to our residential in September at Dukeshouse Wood outdoor centre to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and have an adventure! They took part in challenges such mountain biking, archery and climbing, while meeting and talking about their life experiences living with a parent in the justice system.
Anti-social behaviour campaign
Thanks to funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Nepacs launched the “BEEhave Yourself” summer project, led by teens aged 13-16 in 2023. A number of young people explored and discussed their own ideas and experiences, how ASB effects their own lives and the communities around them. They then designed leaflets, posters and a social media campaign to express their thoughts and share the message.
Rewarding quality and excellence
Working to reduce offending
This year’s Nepacs Ruth Cranfield awards and certificates were presented by Pia Sinha, Director of the Prison Reform Trust on 14 September 2023.
The awards highlight and celebrate the work of exceptional individuals and teams for innovative good practice in promoting rehabilitation of individuals impacted by the justice system.
28 certificates of high commendation were presented and four main awards were presented to:
• FREE (Female Recovery Through Experience and Empowerment) Women’s Group - a group for and provided by women with experience of or in danger of domestic violence, addiction or mental health problems.
• Dean Storey, Prison officer, HMP Deerbolt – for work with young men who have committed violent crimes and have long sentences.
• Rob Binns - made a complete turnaround in his life with Restorative Justice (RJ). Working with Safer Communities he developed a strong commitment to personal change, leading to a passion for restorative practice as a means to offender rehabilitation, and becoming an RJ Ambassador.
• Chris Sopp, dependency and recovery navigator for Ingeus CRS – for his work helping men overcome substance misuse issues.
A lifetime achievement award was also presented to Lesley Winn who has served 30 years in the Probation Service in the North East.
Recognising Nepacs staff and volunteers
Certificates of excellence were presented to the following Nepacs staff and volunteers for outstanding practice in supporting our service users or going the extra mile in their work, following praise and recognition received from individuals inside and outside the organisation, including service users or partner agencies:
Angela Donaghy, Lee Barker, Kerri Hughes, Ellie Harris, Laurie Shields, Holly Claydon, Joanna Firth, Amy Stephenson, Joe Davis, David Gallant, Kelsey Byrne, Gail Kirkby, Jess Tate, Margaret Brown, Nicola Collins, Steph Austin, Abdul Amin and our HMP Northumberland visits team.
Congratulations also to Gail Kirkby, our care leavers project support worker at HMP Deerbolt on receiving a North East Prison Group award in April 2023 - for change and innovation. Well done everyone!
Making positive change happen
The support of our members, who contribute an annual donation to Nepacs and help spread the word about our work, and the many individuals and organisations who donate to our various projects is vital to our ability to do what we do.
We rely on donations for many of our projects and to enhance the services we offer, and every donation we receive will go towards our work with individuals impacted by the justice or social care systems in the north of England.
Key to our work is the need to raise awareness of the impact of the justice and care systems on children and families, and how together we can support those families to feel heard and empowered to make positive change happen.
In April 2023 we worked with Sky News on a feature which highlighted how families of sex offenders are hidden victims and more needs to be done to provide automatic support for children and families when a person is arrested and charged with an offence. The AGM in January showcased our early days in custody, children and young people and parental rights in prison projects.
Views from our staff and families were included in an installation featured at Durham’s Lumiere event in November 2023. “On Blank Pages” was an installation compiling a collection of public opinions on the state of the British Justice system in the 21st Century.
We welcomed the Bishop of Durham (Patron of Nepacs) and the Archbishop of York to our HMP YOI Low Newton visitors centre to find out about our work supporting prisoners and their loved ones visiting the prison.
Over 157 individuals attended our hidden sentence awareness or full day training during the year, which together with our parental rights in prison and care leaver awareness training helps to increase awareness and understanding of the issues faced by individuals impacted by the criminal justice and social care systems. We also created a new general parental rights awareness course for anyone working in the community with parents who are estranged or separated from their children, including parents in custody.
Volunteers give the gift of time
We were successful in recruiting 73 new volunteers during the year, predominantly for our newer projects providing independent visitors for children living in care and support for individuals who have committed sexual harm offences. Our support at courts and HMP Durham visits team were again fully staffed throughout the year, but volunteer recruitment remained a critical issue for our visitors centres elsewhere in the region, particularly at HMPs Holme House and Kirklevington.
There continues to be significant demand for volunteering at Nepacs with particular projects being very popular with students. We enjoyed having the chance to give talks at a number of Universities in the region and to give students the chance to volunteer with us or undertake placements within our projects.
We promoted a new campaign from December 2023 to encourage local people to give the gift of time through volunteering, and also ran an appeal early 2024 to help spread the word about the unique difference made by our independent visitor volunteers. Despite our determination to recruit more volunteers for these projects we still have some way to go to fill significant gaps in many of our volunteer teams, and to bring the number of active volunteers back up to pre-Covid levels.
We are also keen to encourage more male volunteers to join our teams, particularly as independent visitor befrienders for children in care.
In addition to the recruitment of new volunteers we continue to be supported by our loyal and committed existing volunteers. We could not deliver a high level of service to children and families without their hard work and dedication. Nepacs was started by volunteers more than 143 years ago and today volunteers are still at the very heart of everything we do.
Over 150 volunteers at end March 2024
Investing in our staff!
We are delighted to have achieved an Investors in People (IIP) Silver accreditation in August 2023.
We are proud that the IIP assessor noted that:
Over 90% of our people think Nepacs is a great place to work
This Silver IIP accreditation is the start of the next stage of our journey and will help us to focus upon how we can be the best possible employer for our staff.
Our supporters
It is thanks to our many donors, fundraisers and volunteers that we continue to deliver and develop services to support people impacted by the justice and social care systems.
We would also like to pay tribute to our volunteers and trustees who have sadly passed away during the course of the year. Their contribution to Nepacs was remarkable and the difference they made to the lives of so many will long be remembered.
We are very grateful to the following Trusts, Companies, Churches, groups and individuals who supported our work this year.
• AB Charitable Trust
• David Abrahams (Big Give appeal)
• Amazon Europe
• Asda Portrack Lane, Stockton and Thornaby
• Big Give Christmas Challenge Appeal 2023 online donations
• Billingham and Stockton Foodbank
• Borderline Books
• Judith Bumby
• Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust
• Charles Hayward Foundation
• Choco Latte
• Circles UK
• Community Foundation Tyne and Wear and Northumberland: Carr-Ellison Charitable Trust; Allison Greenlees Continuation Fund, Pattisons Estate Agents, High Sheriff of Northumberland Awards
• NHS Improvement Fund via County Durham Community Foundation
• County Durham Community Foundation – Household Support Grants
• Jeff Deans
• Department of Health, Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Fund Grant
• Dunelm, Stockton
• Drapers Company
• Dreamtoys
• Durham Area Action Partnership (Durham County Council)
• Durham Constabulary Police Headquarters (The Big Give Christmas Challenge Campaign)
• Durham PCC Community Safety
Fund managed by County Durham Community Foundation
• Easyfundraising
• Elvet Methodists Church
• Enthuse
• Finchale Partnership of Catholic Parishes
• Garfield Weston Charity (Pilotlight)
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• Hadrian Trust
• Prof Damian Hampshire
• HMPPS Innovations Grant
• HMPPS Womens Core Grant
• King Edward VI School, Morpeth
• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• McDonald’s Portrack Lane, Stockton
• Middlesbrough Reads, National Literacy Trust
• Morrisons, Stockton
• Mothers Unions
• Newcastle City Council, Children, Education and Skills Directorate (lead for contract covering Gateshead, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham)
• National Lottery Community Fund
• Blue Cabin CIC (National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund project)
• Northumbria PCC (Big Give Christmas Challenge appeal)
• Northumbria PCC Operation Payback Fund
• Pact (Prison Advice Care Trust)
• Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Cleveland
• Power to Change/CASTCommunity Tech Project
• In memory of Stephen Quinnell (Big Give Christmas Challenge appeal)
• Mark Reilly
• Salvation Army, Langley Moor
• Salvation Army, Crook and Sanctuary 21, Durham
• Sir James Knott Trust
• Soroptimists, Stockton on Tees
• Roger Statham (Big Give Christmas Challenge appeal)
• St Cuthbert’s Catholic Church, Durham
• St Giles Wise partnership
• St John’s Church, Nevilles Cross
• Tees Community Hub
• Teesside at Christmas
• Tesco Extra, Durham and Stockton
• The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust
• The Ballinger Charitable Trust
• The Beatrice Laing Trust
• The Dulverton Trust
• The Noel Buxton Trust
• The Scouloudi Foundation (Big Give Christmas Challenge appeal)
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• The Topinambour Trust (Big Give Christmas Challenge appeal)
• Vodafone
• Warkworth History Society
• 1772 Charity
Income
£1,775,804 (including £461,947 restricted funds)
Income
92.6% Prisoner family welfare 1.3% Investment income 2.7% Donations and legacies 3.5% Young people 2023/24
Note: This information is taken from the published statutory accounts - Statement of Financial Activities.
Expenditure
£1,770,753 (including £390,757 restricted funds) 2023/24
Expenditure
91.3% Prisoner family welfare
6.5% Young people
2.0% Grants to prisoners’ families
0.2% Raising funds
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE
We are here to support a positive future for individuals impacted by the criminal justice and care systems.
To donate to our work or get involved as a volunteer, fundraiser or Nepacs member visit www.nepacs.co.uk
Nepacs 20 Old Elvet Durham City, DH1 3HW
Tel: 0191 3757278
Email: info@nepacs.co.uk
If you would like to receive this information in another language or format please contact us on 0191 3757278.
