Prisoners’ Wives actress Sally Carman joined staff and visitors at HMP Buckley Hall this week to celebrate POPS 25th Anniversary. The Shameless star was there to draw our 25 Year Raffle which has raised over £1500 to support POPS work which includes visitor support services at ten prisons across the North-West.
One lucky winner from Manchester, was the recipient of an iPad Mini. Nine other winners received a range of fantastic prizes including a Nikon Coolpix camera and an iPod Nano.
Diane Curry OBE, POPS CEO, said: “We are delighted that Sally could join us to draw our POPS 25 Year Raffle. Our heartfelt thanks go to all those who supported the raffle by buying tickets and helping us to promote the draw. The funds raised will go towards helping families who face many challenges, not least the stigma of having a family member in prison”.
POPS were founded in 1988 by Farida Anderson MBE whose experience visiting her partner in prison motivated her to take out an advert in the M.E.N. inviting others in her position for a coffee and a chat. This impromptu support group was catapulted into the public eye during the ‘Strangeways’ riots at HMP Manchester when families, concerned for their loved one’s safety, had nowhere to turn. POPS provided vital support and information for families during the riots. Since that time POPS has gone on to develop and deliver services across the region and the country including the Offenders’ Families Helpline (0808 808 2003) and the i-HOP Information Hub supporting professionals who work with offenders’ families, in partnership with Barnardos (0808 802 2013).
A list of raffle winners is available on request from POPS Head Office 0161 702 1000.
