Nepacs

Nepacs Nepacs is a long established charity which aims to support a positive future for prisoners and their families in the north east of England.

Nepacs aims 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. We recognise that every year thousands of families, and especially children, may become hidden victims of crime when a relative is imprisoned. From the moment

of arrest and throughout the court process and prison sentence, families are at risk of social isolation and stigma which can affect their emotional, physical, financial and social wellbeing. The impact of imprisonment can be devastating, which is why our staff and volunteers provide friendship and support throughout this difficult time - from the courts in Teesside, Newcastle and Durham, to helping families to maintain contact during the prison sentence through our prison visitors’ centres, family support workers, and child and youth projects and then, at the end of the journey, offering families support on what to expect when their loved one is released. We aim to:
• Support and assist prisoners, families and friends of prisoners in their visits to the prison and in their life outside the prison
• Ensure that children visiting relatives in prison will feel welcome and find the experience as pleasant as possible
• Relieve hardship due to the poverty of some offenders and their families.
• Support the education and training of offenders, and other processes which may assist their rehabilitation
• Raise public awareness through the collection and publication of information relating to criminal justice matters and to the prevention of crime. Find out more about the work of Nepacs or get involved through volunteering, fundraising or making a donation at www.nepacs.co.uk or email [email protected]

Thank you

Giving is at the heart of what we do ⭐This  , we're highlighting the vital support provided every day by Nepacs staff an...
05/09/2026

Giving is at the heart of what we do ⭐

This , we're highlighting the vital support provided every day by Nepacs staff and volunteers to individuals, children and families across the North of England.

Whether it’s a friendly face in a visitor centre, practical advice, befriending support or a creative activity for a child visiting a parent, our team is here to support people impacted by the criminal justice or social care system.

A huge thank you to everyone who supports our mission 💚 You help us support families and relationships, and maintain vital connections when they’re needed most.

Find out how you can get involved today at www.nepacs.co.uk

📣CALLING ALL EMPLOYEES, TRUSTEES OR VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN SOUTH TYNESIDE!You are invited to book on FREE Hidden Sentence...
04/09/2026

📣CALLING ALL EMPLOYEES, TRUSTEES OR VOLUNTEERS WORKING IN SOUTH TYNESIDE!

You are invited to book on FREE Hidden Sentence Awareness Training - raising awareness and understanding the impact of imprisonment and the justice system on children and families, their support needs and resources available.

🔹14 September 2026, 1-3:30pm at Inspire South Tyneside office, 27 Beach Road, South Shields, NE33 2QA

This training is particularly useful for anyone who works with children and families or individuals involved in the justice system (from the point of arrest, at court or in custody) including staff working in voluntary and community organisations, local authorities, healthcare, police, probation, and education.

This training is fully funded by Inspire South Tyneside.

TO BOOK OR FIND OUT MORE VISIT: https://book.plinth.org.uk/e/zRAg4zvZQzerHgIebxV

🌟 Did you attend one of our family days at north east prisons this summer?We loved seeing families come together during ...
03/09/2026

🌟 Did you attend one of our family days at north east prisons this summer?

We loved seeing families come together during our special family visits in July and August - and look at some of the amazing creations they made! 🎨✨

Our team provided lots of fun, creative activities for families to enjoy, helping them make special memories together during their visit.

Here are some of the artwork and crafts from our family days at HMPs Holme House, Deerbolt and Kirklevington.

A huge thank you to everyone who helps make our family days possible. Whether you donate art and craft materials to our visits centres or make a donation to our appeals, your support really does make a difference. 💙

If you’re able to help, you can donate here:

https://nepacs.enthuse.com/cf/support-for-children-with-a-loved-one-in-prison

Your support helps us provide vital support to the thousands of children who visit a parent or loved one in prison across the North East each year.

Thank you for helping us make these visits special💙

📣 Participants Needed for Important ResearchA researcher from The University of Southampton is looking to hear from youn...
02/09/2026

📣 Participants Needed for Important Research

A researcher from The University of Southampton is looking to hear from young people, mums and caregivers, as part of their research aiming to understand the impact and experiences of children and young people impacted by their mum's imprisonment.

They want to hear from you if:
✔ You are age 7 to 25 and have had experience of your mum being in prison
✔ You are a mum and have been in prison in the last 10 years
✔ You are a parent, carer or guardian of a child who has experience of a mum being in prison
✔ You live in the UK

Your experiences will provide invaluable insight into the impact of having a mum in prison, and can help shape support services offered to children who experience maternal imprisonment.

As a thank you for your time, each participant will receive a £20 gift voucher.

Your participation will be confidential and anonymous.

Please email the researcher Natalie Austin to find out more or take part: [email protected]

Or please share with anyone who may be interested.

Thank you.

If you visit HMP Holme House, please remember that the dress code rules for visitors is changing on 1 September 2026. An...
28/08/2026

If you visit HMP Holme House, please remember that the dress code rules for visitors is changing on 1 September 2026.

Any visitors who do not meet the requirements of the dress code will not be permitted to enter the visits hall until they have changed into alternative appropriate clothing.

To enter the Visits Hall, visitors must wear one layer of clothing only. Additional layers must be removed before passing through security. Please visit our website to find out more about the dress code and what items are not permitted before your visit.

Or you can contact our visitors centre team for more information.

https://www.nepacs.co.uk/page/holme-house

As part of HMPPS Family and Relationships Week, our team at HMP Northumberland have been sharing Buddy activity packs wi...
27/08/2026

As part of HMPPS Family and Relationships Week, our team at HMP Northumberland have been sharing Buddy activity packs with children visiting the prison - creating opportunities for families to spend time together, get creative and talk about the people and relationships that matter most.

And we’ve loved seeing the results! 💜

Children have been using the activities to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas, with some of their wonderful creations now coming together to form a special display at the prison.

It’s been great to see children getting involved and sharing what family and relationships mean to them in their own way.

A huge well done to all the children who took part and shared their creativity with us. 💜

💜 Celebrating family, friendship and relationshipsLast year, Nepacs supported more than 83,000 prison visits and over 2,...
26/08/2026

💜 Celebrating family, friendship and relationships

Last year, Nepacs supported more than 83,000 prison visits and over 2,500 individuals and their families received specialist family and relationship support - helping people in prison stay connected and build relationships with their families and significant others.

This week, as part of HM Prison and Probation Service’s Family and Relationships Week, our prison-based teams are celebrating the importance of those connections with people in prison and their families through a range of activities.

One of those activities is giving children and adults visiting prison the opportunity to share, in their own words, what friendship and relationships mean to them.

Our team at HMP Durham created this wonderful display of messages from children visiting the prison. 💜

Their words are a powerful reminder of just how important relationships are — and why supporting families affected by imprisonment matters.

DO YOU NEED HELP WITH ESSENTIAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLOTHING OR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS?Nepacs may be able to provide grant support t...
25/08/2026

DO YOU NEED HELP WITH ESSENTIAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLOTHING OR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS?

Nepacs may be able to provide grant support to people experiencing financial hardship who have a connection to the criminal justice system in the North East.

This includes people currently on probation, people who have recently been released from prison, and immediate family members affected by imprisonment.

Grants can help with specific essential needs, including school clothing, other essential clothing, furniture, white goods, and household items.

If you receive support from any of our Nepacs services or are subject to probation services in the North East you might be eligible to apply.

Find out more at: https://www.nepacs.co.uk/page/grants

Prisons Family & Relationships Week is here! This week, we're working with north east prisons and colleagues to highligh...
24/08/2026

Prisons Family & Relationships Week is here!

This week, we're working with north east prisons and colleagues to highlight the vital role strong connections play in supporting families and relationships, and in reducing reoffending.

We've got plenty happening across all 7 of our Nepacs Visitor Centres:

🎨 Family bunting crafting: paint and decorate a wooden bunting triangle to display in the visits hall
🌍 "Relationships hold the world together" display: add one word on a card sharing what family means to you.
🏆 Visitor centre competition: show us what relationships mean to you by taking part in our relationships themed competition and be in with a chance to win a prize!
🐶 Buddy activity packs: crayons, fidget toys, and fun packs for every visiting child.

Ask our teams in the Visitor Centres during your visit this week to get involved!

Address

20 Old Elvet
Durham
DH13HW

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