Happy New Year to all our members

We are especially pleased to have been part of the 8th International Conference on Transformative Learning held 18th to 20th November where local stakeholders from government agencies, such as Child and Family Services, Court Services, Prison Services, The Social Sustainability Office, The Police, Judiciary, Family Centre, mental health agencies, community activists, faith groups and youth counseling groups, met to discover the value of transformative learning in the context of Social Sustainability and Restorative Justice.

Prison Fellowship was able to present transformative programs being used around the world to great effect.
As a result of this conference all groups have committed to working together toward the following goals:

• To find new ways of approaching and/or solving recidivism and crime and preventing children from moving from ‘at risk’ to offending.
• Understanding restorative justice in action, sharing knowledge, pooling resources, coming together to man the way forward.
• To promote collaboration between entities involved in the criminal justice process: social services, the prison service, police service, education etc.
• To explore successes, and to determine needs going forward.

Other accomplishments in 2009 included:

1. Re-establish a shared office at #46 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, phone # 295-9462.
2. Held a volunteer appreciation luncheon when the Board got their aprons on and cooked a delicious meal for over 30 volunteers.
3. Cleaned and painted the dining/lounge area to show our appreciation for the difficult work Westgate officers do.
4. Worked alongside Westgate staff to run a Fathers’ Day picnic at Westgate hoping to have fathers realize how important their families are – this is the best way to reduce recidivism.
5. Launched our web site: www.pfb.bm
6. In September our Back to School program provided school uniforms and supplies for 53 children of inmates.
7. In December our Angel Tree program provided gifts for 98 of the inmates’ children. These were distributed at a Christmas Party held at the prison so that the children were able to spend some fun time with their fathers. The congregation of St Patrick’s and Bermuda Conference Missionaries of the AME Churches purchased the items for Back to School and Angel Tree and donated toward our work in the community; as did members of Allen Temple AME and the Heard Chapel – many thanks to all.

If you are interested in helping us financially, details are below.
BANK OF BERMUDA: PRISON FELLOWSHIP #010 400349 001 – Online donations possible.