A NEW support facility for visitors to Perth Prison has been opened.

The visitors centre, which is run by CrossReach (Church of Scotland social care) in conjunction with the Scottish Prison Service, is designed to be a place to relax before visiting the prison and has a play area for children, refreshments available and friendly staff and volunteers to support people when they visit.

George McNeilly from CrossReach said, “The centre aims to meet the needs of adults and children visiting relatives or friends in Perth Prison and Friarton Young Offenders by offering a safe environment where visitors are met with dignity and respect, provided with practical facilities and offered access to information, support and the opportunity to discuss, in confidence, difficulties faced.

“Research indicates that where strong family links are maintained during a prisoner’s sentence there is a greater possibility of breaking the cycle of offending behaviour and of avoiding a return to prison.

“Therefore, we hope that staff and volunteers in the centre will facilitate maintaining positive family links and relationships.”

Perth Prison governor Kate Donegan expects the centre to benefit families and prisoners alike.

She said, “The maintenance of strong family links is a well-established part of successfully reintegrating offenders back into society and I welcome the opening of this new visitors’ centre.”

Elaine Waugh, the visitor centre’s co-ordinator, added, “We see our role as being a support for family members who may find the whole experience of visiting stressful and emotional.

“We have family contact development officers available to offer support. We can also advise on travel to and from the prison and explain the various financial help available to pay for travel costs.

“Perhaps most importantly the visitors centre is somewhere for people to feel relaxed before a visit and we have a play area for children too. In addition we have information on the integrated case management system and home detention and we can put people in touch with other agencies.”

The centre is open Wednesday to Friday from 1-8.45pm and on Saturdays from 1-4.45pm.

Any volunteers who can help run the centre are asked to contact Elaine on 01738 625503.