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  1. How we help
  2. Prisoner and family support
  3. Other helpful organisations

Other helpful organisations

Having a relative or friend in prison overseas can be a very stressful experience. It can result in hardship for the family back home and may sometimes result in health problems, financial difficulties and other stressful situations. Prisoners Abroad has compiled a short list of other, more specialist organisations, that may be able to help with some of these specific issues. 

Please ask for a copy of our booklet for a more detailed list of the help available.

Family Support

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  • Family Action

Family action provides practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across England.

www.family-action.org.uk 

  • Family Lives

Family Lives is a UK charity which offers support to anyone parenting a child.

Helpline: 0808 800 2222

www.familylives.org.uk

  • Gingerbread

Gingerbread offer support for anyone bringing up children alone. It operates nationally through a network of self help groups which provide a range of social activities for parents and children as well as emotional support, benefits advice and legal advice. 

Freephone and advice line: 0808 802 0925

www.gingerbread.org.uk 

  • Home-Start UK

Home-Start UK is for people with at least one child under the age of five who are experiencing difficulties, stress or harassment. They offer a befriending scheme where volunteers visit families in their own homes, helping to prevent family crisis. 

Information line: 0116 464 5490

www.home-start.org.uk 

  • Ormiston Children and Families Trust

The Ormiston Children and Families Trust offer information and advice around how to tell children about a parent's imprisonment and what support they may need. They produce information leaflets specifically around these issues. 

Telephone: 01473 724517

www.ormiston.org  

  • Relate

Relate are a national counselling agency for people having difficulties in their personal relationships. 

0300 003 0396

www.relate.org.uk 

Published: 26th September, 2018

Updated: 5th November, 2018

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Legal Advice

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  • Fair Trials

Fair Trials campaigns for fair and equal criminal justice systems. They are unable to act as your lawyer or provide financial support but they may be able to help you identify local lawyers  and advise you and your local lawyer about your fair trial rights under international law. They have information on what to do if you’ve been arrested, how to instruct a lawyer and how to get support for your case.

www.fairtrials.org

  • Reprieve

An organisation that provides free legal and investigative support to people facing execution or affected by counter-terrorism policies.

Telephone: 020 7553 8140

www.reprieve.org.uk

Published: 26th September, 2018

Updated: 1st February, 2022

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Financial Advice

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  • National Debtline

An independent charity, dedicated to providing free debt advice by phone and online to people across the UK.

0808 808 4000

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/

  • Step Change

Helping people in the UK to overcome their debt problems, and get their lives back on track.

Debt advice helpline: 0800 138 1111

www.stepchange.org/

Published: 26th September, 2018

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Physical and Mental Health

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  • FRANK

Offers a free, confidential 24 hour helpline for drug information and advice. Their website provides details of specific drugs, uses, effects and addictions

Helpline: 0300 123 6600

www.talktofrank.com

  • Mind

Provides advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They offer an information line, legal advice and publications on mental health conditions. Mind also delivers local services, such as low-cost counselling therapy.

Mindinfoline: 0300 123 3393

www.mind.org.uk 

  • NHS Choices

The official website of the National Health Service in the UK, providing comprehensive health information with articles, videos and tools to help you make the most of the services available.

For non-urgent medical advice call 111

www.nhs.uk 

  • Samaritans

Provide confidential emotional support 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Telephone: 08457 90 90 90

www.samaritans.org

Published: 26th September, 2018

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General Advice

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  • Action for Prisoners' and Offenders' Families (part of Family Lives)

Supporting families who are affected by imprisonment. 

Helpline: 0808 800 2222

http://www.familylives.org.uk/about/our-services/action-for-prisoners-and-offenders-families/

  • Citizens Advice (England and Wales)

Provides free, impartial and confidential advice on areas such as benefits, debt, housing, healthcare, etc.

England 03444 111 444

Wales 03444 77 20 20

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

  • Advice.Scot (Scotland)

Helpline: 0808 800 9060

www.advice.scot  

  • Families Outside (Scotland)

The only national charity in Scotland that works solely to support the families of people affected by imprisonment. They work to mitigate the effects of imprisonment on children and families through support and information for families.

Helpline: 0800 254 0088

www.familiesoutside.org.uk

  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and its worldwide network of Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates, can provide help and information to British nationals arrested overseas. 

Further information can be found in this guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arrest-or-detention/arrested-abroad-advice-for-british-nationals

And information about specific countries can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/help-if-you-are-arrested-abroad/y 

  • Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (Northern Ireland)

Supports Irish prisoners detained in the UK and overseas; they also provide family support.

ROI: (00 353) 1505 3156

UK: 020 7482 5528

www.icpo.ie 

  • MediaWise

Provides free, confidential advice and assistance for members of the public affected by inaccurate, intrusive, or sensational media coverage.

Telephone: 07968 031 532

www.mediawise.org.uk

  • Prisoners' Families Helpline

A free and confidential service which offers practical and emotional support, information and advice to anyone who is affected by imprisonment, in a straightforward, non-judgemental way.

Helpline: 0808 808 2003

https://www.prisonersfamilies.org/ 

Published: 26th September, 2018

Updated: 16th November, 2020

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Prisoners Abroad is a charity registered in England and Wales.  Charity no. 1093710.