Partners of Prisoners

Providing Support to Families of Offenders

POPS, established by offenders’ families for offenders’ families. Identifying needs and finding the solutions: being the solution.

POPS was established in 1988 by family members experiencing the stigma and distress of supporting a relative through a custodial sentence. Since that time our remit has broadened as we have identified and responded to the needs of families. Today we provide support services at all stages of the criminal justice system, from the arrest of a loved one through to the first steps towards resettlement. This is POPS ‘continuum of care’, a model in which support for offenders’ families is consistent, committed and continuous. We continue to be guided by need, involving users at every stage to direct service development and delivery. Families themselves are our greatest resource in assisting other families in need and we are active in encouraging those who have experienced the system to get involved.

Regional Services
POPS has built a strong reputation for delivering excellent user-led services in the North-West of England since our establishment in 1988. POPS ‘continuum of care’, in which services to support families are developed and delivered in response to user-need at all stages of the criminal justice system, has been modelled across the North-West through our partnerships with prisons, probation trusts, police, local courts and youth offending teams. Our reach now extends to Yorkshire and Humberside working with local courts and prisons to address the needs of families supporting an offender. You can find out more about the work we do across the North-West and Yorkshire and Humberside by clicking on the links below:
The work POPS undertakes with families and offenders in the region is recognised and supported by various bodies including Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation (GMCVO) the voluntary sector support organisation for the city-region of Greater Manchester.

As part of our involvement with GMCVO POPS belong to the Greater Manchester Wellbeing Consortium or ‘Converge’. Converge provides a way for voluntary sector organisations to enter the contracts market. It does this by providing a central ‘hub’ function which takes a lot of the work needed around bidding for contracts away from voluntary sector organisations.
National Services
POPS were established in the North-West of England and we are one of a number of organisations across the UK that provide support for offenders’ families. The majority of agencies are regional delivering quality services based on local need.

Despite this, the absence of a central point of information and support for offenders’ families and friends was apparent, and in 2003 the Prisoners’ Families Helpline was established, following a grant from the National Lottery. Originally delivered by a consortium of organisations, the helpline has since been renamed the ‘Offenders’ Families Helpline‘ and is run by a single provider. The helpline, covering England and Wales, is now funded by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and is currently delivered by POPS.

In addition to our experience delivering a national support service for families POPS are involved in a number of national policy forums.
Strategic Services
In addition to our core services and projects POPS influences a number of different national policy forums. We recognise that to bring about sustained change for offenders’ families across the UK local voices must occupy a national stage, promoting good practice and informing policy development.

POPS are involved in the following strategic groups:

Children and Families of Offenders Voluntary Sector Reference Group

The Children and Families of Offenders Voluntary Sector Reference Group, chaired by Action for Prisoners’ Families (APF) meets quarterly and advises the National Offender Management Service/ Department for Education Families of Offenders Board and promotes the sharing of good practice as well as identifying relevant policy areas for voluntary sector organisations.

Criminal Justice Alliance

A coalition of organisations, including campaigning charities, voluntary sector service providers, research institutions, staff associations and trade unions, involved in policy and practice across the criminal justice system. The Criminal Justice Alliance also campaigns, on behalf of and with its members, for a fairer and more effective criminal justice system.

Safe Ground’s Policy Symposium

Safe Ground arrange annual Policy Symposiums at the House of Lords providing a forum for debate and collaboration between Safe Ground, the Government and voluntary sector partners. The symposium provides a platform for experts from across the criminal justice, arts and education fields to speak and participate in panel discussions.

Coalition for Racial Justice CRJ (UK)

The Coalition for Racial Justice exists to redress the lack of BME people’s experiences in policy or practice developments in criminal justice. The coalition aims to work with and share experiences with comparable organisations nationally and internationally.