Jenny Agutter opens new support service for women prisoners

The Call Centre, which will be staffed by trained women prisoners, will offer support around issues such as housing, benefits and information on other services available. 

It aims to address the wide need for information and advice amongst women prisoners, who often have specific issues around housing, childcare and finances. 

The Call Centre comprises four secure phone booths in HMP Send, a closed female prison in Surrey, which are connected to nearby HMP Downview.  Women in Downview will be able to access the Call Centre through a secure phone line which connects directly to HMP Send.

St Giles Trust will train the women under its Peer Advice Project, which offers serving prisoners the opportunity to gain an NVQ Level 3 in Information, Advice and Guidance and work as Peer Advisors, providing an advice service to their fellow inmates. 

Jenny Agutter said: "I was very pleased to have the opportunity to visit HMP Send. It was immediately apparent to me how important the call centre is. Women prisoners are amongst the most disadvantaged members in our society.  In prison women do not have the support networks available to those outside to help them deal with the many issues that arise. They inevitably face financial difficulties and are especially worried about the care of their children. The Call Centre is invaluable in helping to resettle prisoners. This service deserves all the support it can have."

Louise Spencer, Governor at HMP Send, said: "I am delighted to be working in partnership with St Giles Trust on this innovative new project.  Our of our key aims at Send is to equip women for their eventual return into the community and the call centre will help us to do this, whilst also giving those women working in the centre valuable new skills and experience."

Maria McNicholl, Senior Manager at St Giles Trust, developed the Call Centre service in partnership HMP Send and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).  She said: “We hope this service will greatly improve the resettlement prospects of women in custody.  The fact that the callers are being provided with advice from other women prisoners means that there is an element of trust and credibility to the service.”

The aim is for the service to be extended nationally to connect with all other women’s prisons.  The Call Centre will be open for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week at HMP Send.