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

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!

Our next community support session in County Durham is taking place on Tuesday 25 August, at Stanley Best Start Family H...
21/08/2026

Our next community support session in County Durham is taking place on Tuesday 25 August, at Stanley Best Start Family Hub.

Just drop in anytime from 9.30am to 11.30am

ALL WELCOME!

We can offer information and support to anyone impacted by a loved one's arrest, court proceedings, prison sentence or release from custody.

We can also help you access information and support, including information on financial assistance available through the Help with Prison Visits scheme or local grant schemes.

Please note anything discussed is confidential, however we can't provide legal advice, or advice relating to a specific case.

Find out more at https://www.nepacs.co.uk/page/community-drop-ins

Our volunteers in north east Courts supported 411defendants and their families in July 2026 as well as a further 24 indi...
20/08/2026

Our volunteers in north east Courts supported 411defendants and their families in July 2026 as well as a further 24 individuals who received telephone support!

Our Connect to Court team are now available within Durham, Newcastle and Teesside Crown Courts as well as Teesside, Newcastle and Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Courts.

They can also be contacted by telephone during office hours Monday to Friday by telephone (07774 385276 or 07908 413176 ) or email ([email protected])

The Connect to Court team are here to help families from the point of arrest or during court proceedings to advise families on what to expect and what to do if a loved one is sent to prison. They also help by supporting families to access other Nepacs' services such as our helpline or visitors centres.

The difference our volunteers make is evident in the lovely feedback received from families that they support.

Find out more at www.nepacs.co.uk/page/at-court

UPDATE FOR VISITORS TO HMP HOLME HOUSEFrom 1 September 2026 the dress code for visitors to HMP Holme House is changing.H...
19/08/2026

UPDATE FOR VISITORS TO HMP HOLME HOUSE

From 1 September 2026 the dress code for visitors to HMP Holme House is changing.

HMP Holme House requests that visitors are of an acceptable standard of dress when visiting. This applies to all visitors regardless of age and gender.

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

Congratulations to Liz Patton, visits services project worker, on receiving a Nepacs certificate of excellence for her w...
16/08/2026

Congratulations to Liz Patton, visits services project worker, on receiving a Nepacs certificate of excellence for her work delivering community drop ins in County Durham.

Liz was recognised for going above and beyond to support local families impacted by the justice system.

Liz’s passion and dedication to delivering the Family Hub drop-ins, attending outside of core times, making new contacts with other professionals and proactively raising awareness of available support through community engagement, has helped extend the reach of support to those who need it most and has raised Nepacs profile in local communities.

Well done Liz and thank you!

Address

20 Old Elvet
Durham
DH13HW

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