Prison boost from Kirk guilds

CHURCH guilds from across Scotland have boosted a widely-acclaimed prisoner visiting centre in Perth through donations totalling £125,000.

Perth Prison Visitor Centre, which has been hailed by a range of high-profile officials including Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Scotland’s Chief Inspector of Prisons Brigadier Hugh Monro, will be receiving the sum thanks to the fund-raising work of Guild members across Scotland.

Staff at the centre, run by the Kirk’s social care arm CrossReach in conjunction with the Scottish Prison Service, were particularly grateful given the current financial climate facing charities.

In turn the centre and the cash injection could have a major bearing on potential reoffenders. Prisoners who are able to maintain good family ties are almost six times less likely to re-offend.

In 2010 almost 4500 came into the Perth Prison Visitor Centre, and over 1000 of this figure were children.

Families visiting the centre have access to a wide range of services including parenting support, benefits and housing advice and information on addictions issues.

CrossReach chief executive Peter Bailey said: “We are most grateful to the Church of Scotland Guild for its generosity, as this vital funding means that we can continue offering this much-valued service.

“We know the centre both supports families at a difficult time and also helps reduce the risk of re-offending and homelessness when prisoners are released which in turn helps whole communities.

“I hope we can continue to run for many years to come.”