Sixty-One: Still working with ex-offenders

It may not be business as usual, but during the Covid-19 crisis Sixty-One and our amazing volunteers will keep working, using creative means and technology to keep in touch.

Thanks so much to our mentors, our Hubs and our other volunteers - you are an inspiration. We will not leave the people we support on their own - just when they may need us most.

As Covid-19 takes us into uncharted times I have come to understand, at a deeper personal level, of our need for hope. Living in Bristol, in a nice home, with a lovely family I am so extraordinarily blessed. In addition, for me as a Christian, I have a sense of hope in God that underpins my life.

Yet for many people in prison a lack of hope is something they live with on a daily basis. Even worse, for many, the fear we are now experiencing due to the Covid-19 crisis, is their default daily reality. It's a sobering thought.

There will be a time, in the not too distant future, when this crisis will be over and life will get back to normal and I hope and pray that through it we will learn to be a kinder and more forgiving people.

(Tim Snowdon, Director)

Mentor training update

As you may be aware our next volunteer mentor training is booked to start on 16 May. For the moment, we hope to still run this course. But if we need to cancel we will make an announcement well in advance. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a mentee please email alisonp@sixty-one.org.

Please Pray

• that God will intervene and that Covid-19 will go into remission.

• for the mentees and ex-prisoners that we support. For many, the isolation of being trapped indoors, particularly for those living in bedsits, will be very difficult.

• for our local prisons, HMP Bristol, Ashfield, Leyhill and Eastwood Park.  Pray for the governors, the staff and the prisoners, in what could be a very difficult time.