Prison Fellowship works with prisoners in England and Wales by offering practical care to help, support and develop a Christian ministry to them and their families.
The aim is to achieve this through their network of volunteers, of which there are more than 3,000. The charity is currently involved with almost all of the 120 prisons in England and Wales.
In 2021 the Randal Charitable Foundation provided grant funding for the purchase of Christmas gifts for around 240 vulnerable children of prisoners, as part of the Angel Tree Programme. This programme is focused on supporting the rebuilding of family relationships, following a parent or guardian serving a prison sentence.
The Angel Tree Programme gives parents in prison the opportunity to send a Christmas present to their children. In 2019, the charity sent out over 4,400 gifts.
The charity set up the programme because Christmas is especially difficult for prisoners and their children. Angel Tree lessens the devastation experienced as a result of parental absence by not only helping families connect and build relationships, but by providing children with much-needed joy.
Each Christmas, Prison Fellowship volunteers work with prison chaplains and local churches to buy, wrap and deliver the presents. As long as prisoners are allowed access to their children, they are given the opportunity to apply for a gift to be sent to them.
Each gift is then dispatched as though it is from the parent in prison and is accompanied by a personal message written by the parent for their child to make the gift extra special.
For more information on Prison Fellowship visit here
