The Arts Alliance is a coalition of arts organisations working in the criminal justice system. Its purpose is to improve communication and broker relationships between artists and organisations working with the criminal justice sector, offenders and ex-offenders, prison and probation staff, and relevant government departments.

The Arts Alliance provides practitioners and service users with a voice through which to influence policy, a forum in which to exchange views, and a stand on which to promote and raise the profile of the arts in the criminal justice sector.

Prisoners’ Families and Friends Service is an independent voluntary agency which has been helping prisoners’ families for over 40 years.

We provide support, friendship and advice to the families and friends of anyone sentenced to imprisonment or remanded in custody.

Why Ex-Offenders?

* One in four men and one in nine women have a criminal conviction of some kind by the time they are 24 years old. It is likely therefore that you will meet ex-offenders who wish to volunteer.
* The social inclusion agenda places a moral (and often funding) incentive on us to go the extra mile in engaging with people who tend to marginalised
* Volunteering is likely to be seen as a way to improve the job prospects of ex-offenders by building their work place skills, their confidence and giving them a reference.