A NEW partnership service for friends and families visiting prisoners at Portland prison has been launched as part of National Carers Week.

The Portland Young Offender Institution and EDP Drug and Alcohol Services (EDP) have launched the new service as part of a wider initiative within EDP.

The winder initiative aims to offer support for those affected by crime and substance misuse in the communities and homes that offenders return to on release.

The visitors’ centre in Portland now has a dedicated office and worker that families and children can use to get advice, have a chat, find out what support is available for them in their home area or to simply get information about the prison process and how the system works.

Family worker at Portland Young Offender Institution, Charlotte Richards, said: “The prison has provided an office, toys and a lot of support to help EDP get this service off the ground.

“We’re able to offer help to both the prisoners inside and their families here in the visitors’ centre which is really useful.”

EDP hopes to replicate this service in other Dorset prisons and state that investment in family and carer support reduces reoffending alongside also helping the wider communities.

EDP Drug and Alcohol Services support people to address their drug and alcohol misuse.

They provide substance misuse services in Devon and Dorset prisons in partnership with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust.

The friends and family service in Portland visitors centre is an extension of this work and EDP’s commitment to work with people where they are.