North of England charity Nepacs has received over £332,000 in funding to provide more support to the families and friends of individuals subject to arrest and court proceedings in the north east.
This new five-year grant, from the National Lottery Community Fund: Reaching Communities & Partnerships Programme, builds on the charity’s existing support at courts project which originally launched in 2013 in Teesside Crown Courts and then expanded to Durham and Newcastle Courts.
The new Connect to Court project will enable Nepacs to expand support offered in the three Crown Courts through their team of specially trained volunteers and reach out to provide support to families earlier in their journey.
The team will also work closely with probation and police in the north east, as well as other agencies supporting individuals impacted by the justice system.
This will mean that families of individuals arrested and pending court proceedings will be offered support at the earliest opportunity – from the point of arrest, in magistrates courts and in the community.
The project aims to provide therapeutic and everyday support to families of people who are in contact with the criminal justice system for imprisonable offences, preventing emotional, practical and financial problems from spiralling out of control and helping families maintain positive social connections with their loved ones and within their communities.
Last year Nepacs’ courts volunteers in Teesside, Newcastle and Durham supported over 3,083 defendants’ families and friends - offering emotional and practical support and information, and continued support outside of court through a telephone support service.
Nepacs’ chief executive Amanda Lacey said: “We are extremely grateful to the National Lotteries: Reaching Communities programme for this generous grant which will enable us to provide vital support to families devastated when a loved one is arrested or subject to court proceedings.
“Every year thousands of families experience arrest and court proceedings and the impact of a custodial sentence despite never having being involved in or committed a crime.
“From the moment of arrest and throughout the court process families are at risk of social isolation and stigma which can affect their emotional, physical, financial and social wellbeing.
“For those families who are unfamiliar with the judicial system or who are unprepared this can be a distressing time. Our dedicated team on the ground offer a listening ear, a helping hand and friendly support to help make things a little easier.”
The team are always recruiting new volunteers who would be willing to give up a few hours of their time to support this worthwhile project.
Jane Leak, Nepacs’ connect to court coordinator, added: “We are looking for volunteers who may have travelled a similar journey, or have relevant skills or experience, and who can offer genuine understanding, empathy and emotional support.
“Volunteering with families and making a difference can be very rewarding and can also provide you with valuable training and experience.”
• Families experiencing similar issues can contact the Nepacs Connect to Court team by telephone Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1pm to 4pm on 07774 385276. Text or leave a message and a member of the team will call back.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the Nepacs Connect to Court project in Newcastle, Durham or Teesside is asked to contact with Jane Leak at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit the Nepacs website for more information: www.nepacs.co.uk
