AFFECT

AFFECT provides services for the families of serious offenders free of charge. Serious offenders are defined as those incurring a sentence of three years or more. Having said that we turn no one away.

When someone initially phones us on one of our dedicated phone numbers, we send out a welcome pack which includes relevant publications for all ages, including a video and books for children when requested. Other booklets included are “Arrest” and “Being Sent to Prison”. We include advice on how to deal with the media, information on how to access the “E mail a Prisoner” service, Assisted Prison Visits and useful telephone numbers.

If you are based in the South of England then we offer group meetings for mutual support quarterly in a safe, quiet and private place. We arrange to meet those who would like to come to the Group Gatherings beforehand at a mutually agreed time and place. More details are included in the Welcome Pack together with the policy regarding the gatherings and a data protection form.

We offer professional counselling on a one to one basis or via the telephone and can also befriend you with a volunteer within AFFECT who has similar experiences to yourself.

We offer Court Support if you would like a volunteer to attend court with you we will do our best to arrange this. If this is not possible or needed we can offer telephone support before, during and after the trial.

We provide training for volunteers for a variety of roles, including for the three levels of support that we provide, the befriender, the listener and the supporter. All our supporters and counsellors have supervision for the work they do. Group facilitation skills are also taught. This training is sometimes offered to other individuals and organisations for a fee.

We give presentations to anyone who is interested, trying to show to the public, organisations and charities just how crime impacts on the family of the perpetrator as well as on the victims of the crime and their family.

We produce 2 books ‘Family Thought and Feelings’ and ‘ Family Stories’. The former is usually free to members but we have to charge 4.99 for the latter. “Family Stories” is available to other organisations. “Family Thoughts and Feelings” is for members only.