Prof David Wilson opens our #volunteer conference #bethebridge

Improvements in prison buildings and conditions detract from any criticism of the institution itself, with the right jumping to claim prisons are 'too soft' says Prof David Wilson New Bridge #volunteer conference

Barbed wire and high walls keep prisoners inside, but also keep the public out, with scrutiny stopping at the prison gate. Prisons remain secret places, with no visibility of what happens - for good or for ill, says Prof David Wilson New Bridge #volunteer conference

Prisons remind us that whatever challenges we're facing, prisoners are worse off. We need to remind people of our interconnectedness and shared humanity, says Prof David Wilson New Bridge #volunteer conference

Luke Billingham joins us to present on 'Young people and the social conditions that predictably breed violence' at our #volunteer conference #bethebridge

There is too much scandal related to young people, says Luke Billingham at the New Bridge #volunteer conference, which is unhelpful and damaging

We need a carefully balanced response to youth violence: it's a tiny proportion of young people, and a lower rate than in prev years, but still far too much of it, causing far too much harm. Need to avoid cliches but recognise severity of the issue says Luke Billingham New Bridge

We need to create more conducive conditions for breeding care, love, wellbeing and support in young people says Luke Billingham New Bridge

Scarcity of material wealth & sense of worth generates conditions likely to breed violence, says Luke Billingham. Inequality is vast and damaging in so many ways, & UK pretence of meritocracy compounds this New Bridge

Lucy Gampell joins us at our #volunteer conference to talk about the role of the Parole Board #bethebridge

Morag (chaplain for the neuro diverse wing at HMP Pentonville) joins us now at our #volunteer conference to talk about The Sycamore Project #bethebridge

Emma Dogliani joins us now to talk about Music At The Ville - the project she runs bringing music into HMP Pentonville #bethebridge

Circles UK CEO Riana Taylor joins us at our #volunteer conference to talk about the work of Circles UK and the role of volunteers #bethebridge

Volunteers contribute a minimum of £17bn to the economy and New Bridge volunteers should be proud of being part of that, says Riana from Circles UK

We are passionate about preventing further victims of sexual abuse, and we know every person with a sexual offence who we support with our programme, results in fewer victims, Riana from Circles UK tells New Bridge volunteer conference

People who complete a Circle have a significantly reduced rate of reoffending, Riana from Circles UK tells the New Bridge volunteer conference

Some of our amazing volunteers are themselves victims of sexual abuse, and want to work with us to help prevent other people becoming victims, Riana from Circles UK tells New Bridge volunteer conference

Read our press release about Prof David Wilson's impassioned speech on the #prison system, the need for reform and the role #volunteers can play in bringing about change (full speech also available at this link): newbridgefoundation.org.uk/News/press-rel…

We're at Service at King’s Volunteering Fair, talking to students and staff from King's College London about #volunteering with us to support an isolated person in #prison Join us and #bethebridge

"an amazing human connection... the impact is truly marked... it can turn prisoners' lives around": our Vice President Professor David Wilson shares why he's backing our campaign to #KeepPrisonersConnected by making a donation this autumn: newbridgefoundation.org.uk/autumn-campaign #charity #prison