Story
Prison Fellowship runs a number of programmes to support prisoners in England and Wales, through a network of 2300 volunteers.
I am particularly impressed with Sycamore Tree, a restorative justice programme, which they run. In short, the programme seeks to increase the offenders's awareness of the harm and consequences of their crimes. At the core of the programme there is a confrontation between offenders and a victim of crime.
Sycamore Tree has demonstrably reduced the rate of re-offending of prisoners who have taken part in the programme. On the back of its success, the programme has been exported to more than 40 countries.
My wife Isabelle is one the tutors of this programme at Wandsworth Prison, very near where we live.
She regularly shares with me incredibly moving stories of the deep impact that the programme has. She is also heavily involved in launching the programme in the French Prison Service.
Whilst the programme is very cost efficient, it does need funding to provide prisoners with course materials.
I hope you will be as moved by this cause as I am and thank you in advance for any contribution you can make.