Would you like to bring a smile to the faces of families and friends of men in prison?
Imagine how wearisome it must be for them to come to visit by car, or train and bus,
especially with children, and often from south of London! On arrival they queue up in
the Visitors Centre in the car park to be checked in, then wait until they are called to go over to the prison itself. There are comfortable chairs, a few toys and books for the children and a tea bar, run by HACRO and staffed by volunteers, selling hot and cold drinks and snacks. I often serve there and find the paid staff helpful and friendly and the customers mostly very pleasant to deal with and enormously appreciative. However, the tea bar is often closed through lack of volunteers.
This is very enjoyable voluntary work of real value to a disadvantaged section of the
community. If you are interested and would like to hear more, please contact me.
The Centre is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1 – 4.30pm. at the
latest. Prospective volunteers have to be security cleared and attend brief training,
which unfortunately can take a while. If you are interested, please respond quickly so
that we can keep the tea bar open.
Anne Wyburd, Vice-President, HACRO (Hertfordshire Association for the Care and
Resettlement of Offenders). 01923 267515. annewyburd@o2.co.uk