The Friends of Erlestoke Prison is a small charity which supports HMP Erlestoke, Wiltshire’s only prison. Operational since 2012, the charity has no paid staff and runs with a team of dedicated trustees, volunteers and freelance service providers. The charity funds activities which are beyond prison budgets but proven to positively impact offender rehabilitation and encourage prisoners to stop reoffending. 

Covid-19 has meant that prisoners have been locked in their cells for long periods and have not been allowed to engage in the usual prison regime of education and industries. Even though things are opening up in the local community, life in prison is still very restricted. Before the pandemic the Friends were running programmes to support prisoners with activities such as art, yoga and drama which are proven to positively impact mental health, reduce stress and anxiety and encourage prisoners to think more positively about themselves and their lives on release. Similarly we ran origami workshops which resulted in cards and sculptures which are sold in various outlets across Wiltshire and beyond, helping to raise funds for the charity. We want to get these activities up and running again as soon as we can. We also run a transport scheme to support prisoners’ families when visiting the prison. And we are raising funds for an all-weather sports pitch to give prisoners and staff an outdoor space on which to exercise, improving mental and physical health, develop team-sport skills and sporting qualifications which will improve chances of employment on release. The charity is passionate about increasing prisoners’ prospects on release and demonstrating that the local community cares and is willing to help prisoners turn their lives around.  

Fundraising to maintain these activities has been difficult in 2020, so the trustees are embarking upon this sponsored walk to boost our funds for when we start our activities again. Please support us - at some point, these prisoners will be released back into our communities and if we can help them whilst in prison, we may help them to lead crime free lives on release.