I am a New Bridge prisoner befriender and to mark the charity's 70th year I am walking 70 miles of the England Coast Path.

New Bridge is a charity which in 2026 is marking 70 years of supporting people in prison, providing a lifeline through the positive, non-judgemental contact with trained volunteer befrienders. Many people in prison have no contact with the outside world, which leads to lonelier, more challenging sentences, with higher rates of poor mental health, and a higher likelihood of reoffending on release. Connecting with a volunteer befriender via regular letters and prison visits gives people hope, optimism for the future, and reassurance that they will be able to build new connections on release from prison. New Bridge befriendees rate the non-judgemental, uplifting contact of their volunteers are hugely valuable for helping them get through their sentences, as well as improving their self-esteem and hope for the future. New Bridge receive new applications from isolated people in prison each week. Every donation helps meet the cost of continuing to provide befriending support in the charity’s 70th year and beyond.