AFFECT is an organisation for the families and friends of those serving long periods in custody. They offer professional counselling on a one to one basis in person or via the telephone, and also give support with a volunteer who has experience of coping when someone is in prison for a long time. They can accompany those attending court and can offer telephone contact before, during and after the trial.

Happy (Help and Protect Prisoners' Youngsters) gives advice, counselling and free bus rides to families from all over Scotland who are visiting prisoners at HMP Kilmarnock and Shotts. Their aim is to help maintain contact between children and a parent serving time. Without transport, many families would not be able to make regular visits.

The Happy Bus offers a much needed support mechanism and can save not only money but time and energy for visitors.

Gasped operates a 24-hour helpline and a drop in facility to support families and carers affected by drug use. There is a database of services for family members to refer to for information.

Gasped also offers a variety of tailor-made drug and alcohol awareness training programmes in Wakefield and the surrounding areas.

Music in Prisons work across England and Wales to bring week-long creative music projects to men, women and children in prison. The Music in Prisons project leaders are experienced and skilled muscians, who encourage a group of 10 to12 participants to try out different instruments, develop song ideas and write lyrics as part of the process of creating new and innovative music. The work, conducted both in prison and community settings, helps to support those who are at a disadvantage in life, and may not otherwise receive the opportunity to participate in such activities. Ultimately, the aim of the work is to bring about a sense of achievement and pride which often occurs at the end of the projects, with the culmination consisting of a performance of the new music to other prisoners, staff, family and friends. The music is also recorded and professionally mixed, with copies sent to participants and their families; both the CD and the actual performane provides the individuals with something to cherish and feel proud of.  

The Irene Taylor Trust was set up in 1995 in memory of the wife of the late Lord Chief Justice Peter Taylor who had a personal interest in both penal reform and music. The Trust has grown gradually since that time and has now delivered over 170 projects to 2,000 particpants in more than 50 prisons across England and Wales. 

You can find out more about the important work of Music in Prisons - The Irene Taylor Trust by visting the website: www.musicinprisons.org.uk

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The Zinthiya Trust is a charity working to support women from disadvantaged backgrounds, such as those who may have found their way into crime and sex work, and may be suffering from homelessness, long term unemployment or are victims of domestic violence. They provide a free, confidential drop-in service where women are able to go to talk, meet others in similar circumstances, or just to socialise and have fun. The Zinthiya Trust help women get back into work, education and training and help to change lives by offering advice on a wide range of issues, including skills development and career advice. 

The Zinthyia Trust also provide mentoring sessions on a one-to-one basis, allowing them to get to know each woman as an individual and find the most effective way to assist her, with all guidance tailored to specific needs. Working closely with local employers, the charity help to get women into practical work experience and training, as well as helping to change the attidudes and perceptions of others. The Zinthiya Trust pride themselves on being there 'to listen, not to judge', and work with every woman to help her find the best way forward. 

The Zinthiya Trust are based in Leicester. You can find out more about their work by visiting their website: zinthiyatrust.org

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Working as a support group, Tearing Your Hair Out, meet on the first Tuesday of each month in Cardiff.  They are a group run by carers of drug and alcohol misusers to give support, help and advice to other carers.

As one carer says: 'When I go to TYHO I can let out my feelings knowing everyone will understand and then I go home more at peace with the world' - LB

Founded in 1956 New Bridge offers a wide range of services to help prisoners keep in touch with the outside world and prepare themselves to restablish their lives on release. Through the Befriending and Mentoring Service, volunteers work with longer-term prisoners who have either limited contact, or are no longer in contact, with family and friends.

Prisoners often move to different prisons but the New Bridge befriender stays in contact with them wherever they are, all over the country for the duration of their sentence.

For more than 50 years, the Fry Housing Trust has provided supported accommodation and floating support services to the homeless and vulnerable who been sanctioned, or at risk of sanction, by the criminal justice system. The Trust works across the West Midlands, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

Help with the following is offered:

• Budgeting money, claiming benefits and managing debt
• Finding independent accommodation
• Setting up a home, new utility accounts and payment plans
• Assisting with organising grants for furniture or collection arrangements of donated items when available
• Independent living skills and cooking skills

DISC provides a number of programmes and offers support and stability to people with drug and alcohol problems who are involved in the criminal justice system. Outreach workers give advice on the following:

• Relapse prevention programmes (one-to-one and group-work)
• Life skill training
• Harm reduction
• Needle exchange
• Peer support and mentoring
• Interventions
• Counselling (extends to family members)
• Prison gate pick up on release

Reflex work in 12 prisons, across five regions, to empower children, young people and young adults to break the cycle of offending and reoffending. Through the delivery of Outreach, accredited Non-Formal Education and through-the-gate Resettlement Mentoring, Reflex are able to help young people who are serving a custodial sentence; they work with over 3,000 young people every year in Young Offenders Institutes across England and Wales, offering opportunities to build self-esteem, develop new skills and learn to express emotions positively. Using a tried and tested methodology: 'creative reflection - positive expression', Reflex are able to assist children and young people in reflecting creatively upon their lives and positively express their hopes for the future. 

Reflex's dedicated team of Outreach workers create a safe environment for young people in which they can make their voices heard, and ensure that every young person is treated with respect. This enables young people to build the confidence and conviction to take control and make their own decisions in their transition to adulthood. Young people are offered help across the five key areas of support: social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical. The delivery of education and training also enable young people to redisover a love for learning and fulfill their potential. Reflex stress the importance of holistic support, and helping young people not only whilst in custody, but also in the community following their release. 

Visit the Reflex website to find out more