Aims and direction
To promote and support the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners who are or have previously been prisoners of Guys Marsh Prison and to support staff in their rehabilitative work.
The majority of our activities are focused in two main areas:
a) Prisoner related
Education and training – providing otherwise unavailable funding for successful educational and training programmes which address behavioural/attitudinal issues, addictions, and employment and occupational skills.
The Jailhouse Café – in the interest of prisoners’ training in catering and hospitality we give our support to the Café when required.
Prisoner requests – help for prisoners during their sentence and after release is available if deemed appropriate by the committee in consultation with prison Management.
Guidance information – helpful instructional leaflets are updated on a variety of subjects as guidance to queries.
b) Prisoner/Family related
Nordcat bus – We provide otherwise unavailable direct transport transport between Gillingham railway station and the prison. Return travel is available for visitors every Saturday throughout the year for a nominal amount. More information can be found on our Contact page.
Visitor Centre – Committee members and FOGM Friends, ably assisted by the Mothers Union, provide a warm welcome and light refreshments for Friday and Saturday visitors. Toys and games are also made available.
Family Days – Working in conjunction with Barnardo’s, Family Days are held regularly in the Prison’s gym. These five-hour sessions, with masses of games and activities involved, allow for genuine bonding to take place between all members of the family.
Please note that Family Days are organised from within the prison where prisoners are chosen to attend from those whom are deemed most likely to benefit and places are limited in number. Those that do attend are thus by invitation only at the discretion of the prison governor. So it is not possible to apply for or request a Family Day .
Our Links page has more guidance and links to resources which may help in issues related to legal matters, housing and finance.
Our organisation
Our Committee meets monthly to consider applications for funding and to report on and drive current initiatives. The committee is comprised of a senior member of the prison management team, independent people with various connections to the prison and interested local people. We have vacancies for members prepared to take on active, but not too demanding, roles on our committee. Please contact us for further information.
Patrons
Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers CVO DL
Dr Fay Weldon CBE
Vice-Presidents
Graham Cole CBE
Terry Francis
Life President
Roberta Primrose
Giles Fearn (Chairman)