INFORMATION For Prison Chaplains

Supporting Prison Chaplaincy: 

Facilitating Connections


The Welcome Directory does not refer prison leavers to faith & belief communities. Our resources enable Chaplaincy teams to facilitate these connections.  

This Welcome Directory is here to help your chaplaincy teams initiate connections between prisoners and faith and belief communities, alongside supporting you in meeting the PSI requirements.

The Prison Service Instruction for the Faith and Pastoral Care of Prisoners (PSI 05/2016) places a requirement on Chaplaincy Teams to meet with prisoners who are due to be released to “offer support and contact... outside agencies", which includes faith and belief communities (15.3). It also notes that helping prison leavers develop links with faith and belief communities supports their “successful resettlement” (15.5).

HMPPS EQUiP Process for Chaplains

In July 2025, a new EQUiP process was launched, relating to how prison leavers or people on probation are referred to faith and belief communities, as part of their sentence journey and release plan into the community.

These processes ensure:

  • Consistency in approach and documentation
  • Safeguarding measures to protect both parties
  • Clarity regarding expectations, using an information sharing agreement
USING THE DIRECTORY

Chaplains must follow the EQUiP process in collaboration with Prison Offender Managers/Community Offender Managers, in supporting resettlement of an individual & making connections with the community on their behalf. Whilst chaplains should continue to use this directory resource as part of their referrals, The Welcome Directory does not make referrals. Chaplains must ensure that all faith/belief community information shared & connections made, are done so in line with EQUiP.

The Welcome Directory continues to provide chaplaincy cards (double-sided A6 postcards) as an additional resource, which can supplement the EQUiP process. There's more information on how to order these below.

Chaplaincy poster

This resource has been designed for use in prison establishments to raise awareness of the work of The Welcome Directory amongst prisoners soon due to be released, encouraging them to speak with Chaplaincy.

Two A3 posters will be sent to each prison establishment accompanying the 2023 edition of the directory towards the end of the year. Additional copies can be downloaded and printed using the link.

Chaplaincy Cards

Chaplaincy cards are available now!

We have produced double-sided A6 postcards which can be completed by Chaplains for prisoners with faith/ beliefs, who are due to be released soon.

These provide space for information about welcoming faith/ belief communities in the locality they plan to resettle to be written in.

These come in packs of 50 and are free of charge. To order:

  • Public sector prisons can request these via the Prison Business Hub quoting the reference number OPS_CT001.

  • Privately Managed Prisons can request these directly through TWD by emailing admin@welcomedirectory.org.uk


 
THE WELCOME DIRECTORY


Contact

[email protected]

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07538 129347

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