David Bell is one of the leaders at Everyday Kingston; when Adam & Akhtar recently visited the Chaplain at HMP Wandsworth and came back asking for volunteers to pioneer a first response from Everyday Church, David answered the call. Here he shares some of his initial experiences and encourages you to consider taking the same step into this amazing service. Please pray for him as he begins this exciting new work – and if you want to get involved, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Adam and the Difference team are working on a church wide response to London’s share of the UK’s 85,590* prisoners; David’s experiences with the Chaplaincy team in HMP Wandsworth will be instrumental to these plans.
(*figures correct at the time of writing – for accurate and up to date figures visit the weekly prison watch page of the Howard League for Penal Reform)
(*figures correct at the time of writing – for accurate and up to date figures visit the weekly prison watch page of the Howard League for Penal Reform)
“Having felt called to work
with prisoners at Wandsworth Prison, and hearing a request for Everyday Church
people to consider befriending, I applied for a volunteering position with
Wandsworth Community Chaplaincy Trust. This is an organisation which has its
own minister, outreach workers and volunteers within the prison. You can find out
more about the WCCT by checking their website, www.wandsworthcommunitychaplaincytrust.org.uk.
with prisoners at Wandsworth Prison, and hearing a request for Everyday Church
people to consider befriending, I applied for a volunteering position with
Wandsworth Community Chaplaincy Trust. This is an organisation which has its
own minister, outreach workers and volunteers within the prison. You can find out
more about the WCCT by checking their website, www.wandsworthcommunitychaplaincytrust.org.uk.
I was invited for an
interview at the prison at the beginning of March. After a one hour interview
with the minister and outreach worker I was invited to take part in their
training in April.
interview at the prison at the beginning of March. After a one hour interview
with the minister and outreach worker I was invited to take part in their
training in April.
Once you are trained, befriending
involves meeting with a prisoner in Wandsworth prison on a weekly or
fortnightly basis for a one to one with him a few months before he is released.
Many things are discussed to prepare him for release such as housing, further
education and training or employment prospects, relationships and finance.
After each meeting the befriender has to raise a report on how the meeting
progressed etc.
involves meeting with a prisoner in Wandsworth prison on a weekly or
fortnightly basis for a one to one with him a few months before he is released.
Many things are discussed to prepare him for release such as housing, further
education and training or employment prospects, relationships and finance.
After each meeting the befriender has to raise a report on how the meeting
progressed etc.
There are meetings, one
every month or so, with the minister and outreach worker to supervise and support
the befrienders. When the prisoner is released you meet him at the prison gate
and from then on for a period of about six months you support him outside through
weekly or fortnightly pre-arranged meetings to help him with form filling for
job applications, housing, social services etc in association with the
probation services, social services etc. You also listen to any problems he may
have – being a friend to him, as the name befriending suggests.
every month or so, with the minister and outreach worker to supervise and support
the befrienders. When the prisoner is released you meet him at the prison gate
and from then on for a period of about six months you support him outside through
weekly or fortnightly pre-arranged meetings to help him with form filling for
job applications, housing, social services etc in association with the
probation services, social services etc. You also listen to any problems he may
have – being a friend to him, as the name befriending suggests.
Before being accepted
for volunteering there are many stringent personal security checks carried out upon the
prospective volunteer by the prison service, as the volunteer will have access
to many areas of the prison.
for volunteering there are many stringent personal security checks carried out upon the
prospective volunteer by the prison service, as the volunteer will have access
to many areas of the prison.
Personally I have felt
compelled to do this for a long time having had eleven years of a prison
background with my father being in the prison service at Parkhurst prison Isle
of Wight where I used to meet with many trustee prisoners and talk to them. MatthewChapter 25 V31-46 has had a great influence on me over the years.
compelled to do this for a long time having had eleven years of a prison
background with my father being in the prison service at Parkhurst prison Isle
of Wight where I used to meet with many trustee prisoners and talk to them. MatthewChapter 25 V31-46 has had a great influence on me over the years.
With prayer the Everyday
Church Prison Ministry can really grow along with WCCT and have a large part to
play in the rehabilitation of prisoners due for release from Wandsworth. There
are over 1600 inmates in Wandsworth at the last count which is a tragic number
to contemplate.
Church Prison Ministry can really grow along with WCCT and have a large part to
play in the rehabilitation of prisoners due for release from Wandsworth. There
are over 1600 inmates in Wandsworth at the last count which is a tragic number
to contemplate.
This is not about me,
but to make you aware of how you can get involved. If God is calling you to
this work don’t hesitate, but pray for guidance and for our church and apply for
volunteering on behalf of Everyday Church Prison Ministry.”
but to make you aware of how you can get involved. If God is calling you to
this work don’t hesitate, but pray for guidance and for our church and apply for
volunteering on behalf of Everyday Church Prison Ministry.”
David Bell, Everyday Kingston
