Frequently Asked Questions
This is a new page, aimed to answer key questions you might have about visiting.
There is no substitute for contacting us at the office (023 9283 9222), but we know that you're all busy people and hope that you find the information on this page useful.
There is no substitute for contacting us at the office (023 9283 9222), but we know that you're all busy people and hope that you find the information on this page useful.
What is expected of me as a visitor?
The role of a visitor is befriending and offering support to an immigration detainee. A visitor visits one man, usually once a week, and completes a visitor monitoring form once a month to keep coordinators abreast of their progress. Visitors may choose to involve themselves in facilitating communication between the detainee and other groups or individuals outside, including solicitors or legal representatives, or other support mechanisms. They may also involve themselves in providing practical assistance to the detainee such as sourcing belongings or purchasing small items however this is entirely at the visitors discretion. Support on boundaries is available from the coordinators by telephone on 02392 839222, the extent to which visitors wish to be involved in provision of services other than befriending varies between volunteers.
I am worried about my detainee. What should I do?
In the first instance please contact the coordinators to alert them to your concern for the detainee's welfare. In cases where you feel that the detainee may be in immediate danger of harming themselves and the coordinators are unavailable it may be neccessary to give information to detention centre officers in order to protect the safety of the detainee or others detained with him. This particularly applies when a visitor becomes aware of the possibility of a detainee attempting to commit suicide.
A detainee has brought a form that I don't understand to the visits room. What should I do?
Visitors should telephone the coordinators for advice if they have not seen such a form before. The detainee may also ring and speak to the coordinators about this. The coordinators will be able to offer advice on specialist organisations or legal representatives who may be able to help.
I want to take an item into Haslar for my detainee. What do I need to do?
Advice regarding items that can be taken into Haslar can be found in the visitors handbook and specific advice is displayed in the Haslar reception area. Always show the item to the officers before proceeding into the visits room and ensure that the detainee has completed a property application form 24 hours prior to your arrival. You may take some games such as cards or draughts for playing during a visit and take them away at the end providing you have discussed this with the officer.
What can I talk about with my detainee?
Visitors can empower detainees by encouraging them to be proactive and take small steps that may help alleviate some of the stress of detention. Asking questions about the detainee's feelings and life may help you to get to know each other. You may learn a lot through speaking about sport, food or culture of the detainee. If the detainee is feeling very depressed listening can be a great help to them. Paying attention to cues indicating their emotional state may allow you to ask them about it. You can sometimes confirm someones feelings by repeating what they have said or if someone looks tired you might state that they are looking tired. This may enable them to open up to you about their emotions and fears. Some visitors may also take a deck of cards into the centre or a book to look over together. Lastly, silence is not neccessarily a sign that you are not meeting the detainee's needs. For some people your commitment to your weekly visit means a lot to the detainee and quiet times nonetheless show that you care about the man you are visiting.
The role of a visitor is befriending and offering support to an immigration detainee. A visitor visits one man, usually once a week, and completes a visitor monitoring form once a month to keep coordinators abreast of their progress. Visitors may choose to involve themselves in facilitating communication between the detainee and other groups or individuals outside, including solicitors or legal representatives, or other support mechanisms. They may also involve themselves in providing practical assistance to the detainee such as sourcing belongings or purchasing small items however this is entirely at the visitors discretion. Support on boundaries is available from the coordinators by telephone on 02392 839222, the extent to which visitors wish to be involved in provision of services other than befriending varies between volunteers.
I am worried about my detainee. What should I do?
In the first instance please contact the coordinators to alert them to your concern for the detainee's welfare. In cases where you feel that the detainee may be in immediate danger of harming themselves and the coordinators are unavailable it may be neccessary to give information to detention centre officers in order to protect the safety of the detainee or others detained with him. This particularly applies when a visitor becomes aware of the possibility of a detainee attempting to commit suicide.
A detainee has brought a form that I don't understand to the visits room. What should I do?
Visitors should telephone the coordinators for advice if they have not seen such a form before. The detainee may also ring and speak to the coordinators about this. The coordinators will be able to offer advice on specialist organisations or legal representatives who may be able to help.
I want to take an item into Haslar for my detainee. What do I need to do?
Advice regarding items that can be taken into Haslar can be found in the visitors handbook and specific advice is displayed in the Haslar reception area. Always show the item to the officers before proceeding into the visits room and ensure that the detainee has completed a property application form 24 hours prior to your arrival. You may take some games such as cards or draughts for playing during a visit and take them away at the end providing you have discussed this with the officer.
What can I talk about with my detainee?
Visitors can empower detainees by encouraging them to be proactive and take small steps that may help alleviate some of the stress of detention. Asking questions about the detainee's feelings and life may help you to get to know each other. You may learn a lot through speaking about sport, food or culture of the detainee. If the detainee is feeling very depressed listening can be a great help to them. Paying attention to cues indicating their emotional state may allow you to ask them about it. You can sometimes confirm someones feelings by repeating what they have said or if someone looks tired you might state that they are looking tired. This may enable them to open up to you about their emotions and fears. Some visitors may also take a deck of cards into the centre or a book to look over together. Lastly, silence is not neccessarily a sign that you are not meeting the detainee's needs. For some people your commitment to your weekly visit means a lot to the detainee and quiet times nonetheless show that you care about the man you are visiting.
