FRIENDS of Erlestoke Prison are looking for people to join their team of volunteer drivers to help collect visitors of prisoners from Westbury Station or Devizes Market Place and drive them to and from the Visitor Centre at HMP Erlestoke.
The Friends of Erlestoke Prison is a registered charity established in 2011 with the aim of supporting prisoner rehabilitation at HMP Erlestoke with the ultimate aim of reducing reoffending on release.
Eve McBride, trustee responsible for the transport scheme said, “Our pride and joy is our transport scheme which was established seven years ago in the knowledge that prisoners keeping in close touch with their families while they serve their sentence reduces the risk of reoffending on release.
“Prior to the pandemic we had a bank of 33 volunteer drivers. This has now reduced to 20 through drivers choosing to retire as they get older or less well. We are therefore very much in need of swelling our ranks and particularly need to be in a position to be at full capacity when visiting returns to normal at the prison which, hopefully, will be very soon.”
To find out more or get involved please call 07504 987 190 or email friendstransportscheme@gmail.com. The rota is arranged weekly and commitment can be flexible. Travel expenses can also be claimed.
