Other places to look
Other places to look - introduction

Introduction

In this section you will find:

  • signposting to organisations who provide useful information
  • single page entries for organisations that provide services that may be helpful, including new pages on Recoop for older prisoners, and Niacro in Northern Ireland

Clinks

www.clinks.org/directory

Clinks’s searchable Directory of Services contains information on over 800 organisations and projects working with people with experience of the criminal justice system and their families.

Directory of Social Change

A variety of fundraising directories can be found at:

www.dsc.org.uk

The two which may be of particular help are:

The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need 2022/23
www.dsc.org.uk/publication/grants-individuals-need-2022-23/

The Guide to Educational Grants 2020/21 www.dsc.org.uk/publication/guide-educational-grants-2020-21/

These directories that offer guidance on how to find funds for individuals in need or for students may also be available to the public in the reference section of your public library. If they do not have copies, you could ask them if they can order a copy for you to borrow.

Signpost – Services for prisoners and the homeless

www.signpost.services

Signpost has details of over 200 services that are available nationwide across England and Wales plus local services in London, The North East, and Greater Manchester – well over 1300 services in total. Anyone with online access can search the database. Probation officers and other key support workers can make a search of the database and obtain a print out of any potentially helpful information for clients who do not have online access.

Turn2us

www.turn2us.org.uk

This online directory of potential funders is easy to use and includes small funders who may provide grants to individuals in need according to geographical location or previous employment. The online directory also has a tool that enables the user to determine his/her state benefit entitlement. To start searching immediately for what's available visit grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/

Support from your faith community

If you know where you will be when you are released from prison, then think about seeing if your local faith communitycan help you by providing some material assistance either directly or by putting you in contact with some affiliated charity.

Though the faith groups listed in The Welcome Directory do not offer to provide funding, they have signed up to helping those caught up in the criminal justice system. The website contains an interactive map of the UK and you can filter according to faith group to see which is nearest to you. 
Many different faith groups have joined this network. www.welcomedirectory.org.uk/

It may be worth speaking to one of your prison chaplains before you are released, to ask for the name of a minister and to write with your request ahead of your release. You could ask, for example, if they know of anyone who can help with some smart job interview clothing or some specific furnishing for your house or flat. Don’t be shy to ask the minister for whatever it is you think you are the most important (inexpensive) things you need to aid you in your resettlement. He or she may be able to help. At worst they can only say no!

This paragraph is only for those reading The Hardman Directory who are at HMP Hollesley Bay or HMP Warren Hill.
If you are in need of clothing that can be bought from a supplier recognised by the prison, or if you have lost your ID and need replacement ID documents including a replacement driving licence, it might be worth speaking to your chaplains. They may be able to help you via the Hollesley Bay and Warren Hill Chaplains’ Fund. You will only be able to receive one grant a year up to a maximum value of £100.