30 June 2008
Prisons Minister David Hanson today visited Gloucester Prison to meet staff and prisoners involved in the Time Bank scheme.
Prisons Minister David Hanson today visited Gloucester Prison to meet staff and prisoners involved in the Time Bank scheme. He also visited the Castle Gate Family Support Centre, which bridges the gap between the prison and the community by providing facilities for families and friends visiting inmates.
Time Banks are an innovative community scheme whereby those taking part 'deposit' their time in the bank by giving help and support to others, and are able to 'withdraw' time when they need help themselves. Prisoners taking part in the scheme donate to the 'bank' and that time can then be withdrawn by community volunteers who spend the same amount of time working for free in the community. Time Banks specifically assist the socially excluded and almost all beneficiaries live in the area where the Time Bank is based.
The Minister is visiting Gloucester to explore the possibility of the scheme being used in other prisons to enable offenders to make reparation to victims.
During his visit, David Hanson said:
'Time Bank schemes, such as the bicycle repair workshop at Gloucester, are excellent examples of prisons working with their local communities to the benefit of everyone. Prison exists to punish offenders but also to reform them and provide them with skills useful to society.
'It is important that prisoners feel a part of the community to which they are returning. An essential part of rehabilitation is the requirement of prisoners to pay back to their community and Time Banks are an effective way to create a sense of social responsibility.'
Gloucester prisoners have been involved in the Time Bank project since 2003 and have deposited in excess of 2,177 hours by refurbishing bicycles and taking part in peer support schemes which have benefited local people affected by crime, floods and terminal illness. The projects have also given prisoners skills and work experience that will enable them to gain work on release.