02 February 2006

London, UK: The Gloucester Time Bank is staging a free workshop on Monday, 6 February, to show other prisons and Time Banks across the country the success of a new scheme which helps support both prisoners and their families.

Under the innovative new scheme prisoners can learn new skills and provide for their families by volunteering to restore old bicycles so they can then be delivered to poor communities in the developing world.

In exchange for their efforts, every minute of the time they volunteer is held with Time Bank and their families on the outside can then "cash in" the time to get help from volunteers with jobs ranging from decorating to shopping.

The initiative, which has been funded by a Sure Start Strengthening Families grant, has proved so successful that chiefs at Gloucester Prison and the Gloucester Time Bank are hoping it will be adopted across the country.

Gloucester Time Bank manager, Julie Baxter, said: "The project is working really well and now we are at a point where we want to share our success with others to encourage them to set up similar schemes.

"The Prison Link Project is done in partnership with HMP Gloucester Resettlement team and the Castle Gate Family and Visitors Centre and enables prisoners and their families to give and receive help.

"This combats isolation and makes people feel part of the wider community as well as giving them a positive contribution to make."

Under the project Time Bank is also working with the prison discharge board so prisoner's can be referred to their local Time Bank following their release.

The workshop, which is being held at the Cheltenham Civil Service Club, will cover how prisons, Time Banks and the probation service can form vital links and examine how time banking can work with the National Offending Management Schemes and the Regional Offending Management Schemes.