In this issue of CORRvolunteer we highlight Volunteer Awareness Week, and showcase some of the many and varied activities that volunteers provide in our prisons around the country. We feature a successful new knitting programme at Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility, a pilot Creative Writing workshop at Waikeria Prison and a prisoner art exhibition which was recently organised by the Prison Chaplaincy Service of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Constructive activities like these offer important opportunities for prisoners to learn skills, while maintaining motivation and keeping up activity levels. We know from experience that bored prisoners are more likely to become disruptive, so volunteer activities and services which help reduce idleness are extremely valuable in supporting us in our work as well as providing prisoners with a wide range of worthwhile skills and activities.
My staff and I will continue to work with voluntary and community sector organisations to support an even wider range of activities in our prisons. We are always welcoming to new ideas and initiatives to support prisoners.
In tough economic times, we all need to be adaptable and responsive to need. There is very little we can immediately do to stem the flow of prisoners through our gates and we must provide accommodation for them. We are adding capacity at four existing sites over the next year to cope with increasing prisoner numbers. You may rest assured that the necessary facility and infrastructure changes, as well as additional staff allocations will be made, in order to manage the extra volume and ensure that safety standards are maintained.
Once again, I thank you all for your ongoing contribution to improving prison life. I remain committed to meeting the challenges ahead in partnership with you and your organisations.
Harry Hawthorn
General Manager Prison Services
Your news, views, feedback and contributions for future editions of CORRvolunteer are more than welcome.
Please contact the National Advisor: Volunteers through:
ISSN 1179-2884