Volunteers are being sought to monitor the day to day lives of prisoners at HMP Isle of Wight to ensure proper standards are being maintained.
EXCLUSIVE
The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) of HMP Isle of Wight is looking to recruit Islanders from next month (May) who are members of the local community and care about the welfare of others.
The board carries out around two to three visits to the Island’s prison in Newport a month.
During the week, two or three people from the IMB board carry out tasks across both prison sites, visit the workshops and talk to residents.
Ahead of a recruitment campaign which runs from 28 May until 9 July, Linda Johnson, Chair of IMB told Isle of Wight Radio:
“We want people who have a lot of common sense, and are interested in the welfare of other people and are not judgemental because the people we are looking to make sure are treated correctly - are in prison.”
Asked what Islanders will get out volunteering with the IMB, Linda said:
“I think a sense of satisfaction and believing that we are treating people humanely, that is something we are known for and also being part of a team, we meet once a month as a board where people share experience and advice and obviously some people have lots of experience and some people are very new but everyone brings something to the board”.
Linda, who has volunteered for around 10 years, says she enjoys the 'variety' of tasks each day and the challenges that come as a result.
Coronavirus has meant the team has had to adapt - as they haven’t been able to go physically into the prison over lockdown.
Instead, board members have been made responsible for their own prison ward - the wing representative in the prison was asked to write and correspond with the board about how the prison was coping during the pandemic.
Asked if the prisoners are being looked after, Linda said:
“Indeed they are, there are no major concerns. Everyone can do things better but in general, I think it has been managed extremely well under the current circumstances."
A new prison report is due out soon.
Find out how to apply for the role here.
Isle Of Wight Radio Child Of Wight Awards 2024 Nominations Now Open
Fire Service Issues Water Safety And Mud Rescue Advice For Isle Of Wight
New Online Cancer Support For Local Residents
Specialist Monitoring Equipment Now Installed At Leeson Road
West Wight Runner Jackie Follows PB Marathon Run With Eastenders Appearance
West Wight Pub Can Now Be Listed As 'Asset Of Community Value'
Royal Navy 'Bomb Squad' Called To Seaview Following Ordnance Alert
Automated Gates Arrive On Wightlink’s FastCat Foot Passenger Route
Help Keep Isle Of Wight Streets Neat – Bring Your Bin In
Two Passengers Injured Following Bus Crash In Ryde
Late Night Reports Of Collision Spark Extensive Land, Sea And Air Search
Islanders Taking On London Marathon Today For Local Charities
Four Men Arrested Following Rogue Trader Activities In East Cowes
Rugby Players Set To Scale Great Heights For Teddy
Drug Driving, Domestic Abuse And Stalking Among Arrests Made As Police Target Isle Of Wight Criminals
Work Begins On ‘Monumental’ Mural Project At Historic Columbine Building
More Acts Added To Isle Of Wight Festival Line-Up
St Mary’s Vaccination Hub Gets Ready For Spring Covid-19 Vaccinations
Twenty Isle Of Wight Pubs Under Threat As Stonegate Issues Profit Warning
Fundraiser Launched As Kezi's Kindness Founder Diagnosed With Incurable Cancer
