Becoming a visitor

Our core work is visiting men in Haslar Immigration Removal Centre. A visitor visits one man, usually once a week, tries to cheer him up and help with any practical problems. Visitors are befrienders.

The Group does not have many rules, but please note that we try to be:
     non-judgemental - we undertake to visit them however weak or
           strong their case may be;
     discrete - we don't talk about the men in a way which would enable
           them to be identified;
     polite with the officers - a working relationship with the prison is
           helpful;
     reliable - Some men really come to depend on our visits.

We offer:
     occasional training days;
     visitors meetings (usually the last Thursday in the month);
     a Haslar Handbook;
     an AVID Handbook, which has more general immigration information;
     this website: www.haslarvisitors.org.uk;
     a companion on your first visit.

We also offer personal help and advice in the case of any difficulty.

If you are interested in volunteering please ring the office in the first place - we like to talk things over before taking people on.

Contact the Coordinator for more details.