Shirley Community Chaplaincy

This is a relatively new charitable organisation which works in and around Newcastle. It aims to provide mentoring support to prisoners on release from prison, to help them build a new life, and prevent re-offending. It focuses on long-serving prisoners, particularly those who no family, or who have lost contact with their families. People are referred from prison chaplains and prison officers to the scheme.

£4,000 was awarded to the organisation in June 2015, as a contribution towards the part-time Community Chaplain post. The worker meets people as they are released, and works with them to build a supportive network in the community. The aim is also to set up a self-help group for ex-offenders who have successfully settled into the community to help and support others as they are released.