By Andrew Young
HMP Brixton in London has become the first prison in the UK to launch a brand-new debt advice service to help inmates with their finances.
Prisoners can now discuss their money problems with a debt expert within a confidential, sound-proofed kiosk, on a locked iPad with no access to external browsers or other applications. The small, padded booth, which is about the size of a standard telephone box, has a chair for inmates to sit on, in front of the desk which holds the iPad, as well as instructions on how to make a call or book an appointment.
And it is designed to ensure conversations remain private and confidential, and maintain the same intimacy and confidentiality of traditional advice centres. The cubicle at the South London lock-up has been created by Debt Free Advice, a coalition of charities led by Toynbee Hall, providing free and impartial advice to 23,000 Londoners with debt problems each year.
It was installed as part of the prison's ongoing campaign to link prisoners struggling with debt and money issues to expert advisors, to help them manage their debt and help reduce reoffending.
Matt Dronfield, managing director at Debt Free Advice, said: “We want to offer financial guidance to those impacted by the criminal justice system, ensuring no-one is left behind. Our innovative video advice kiosk bridges the physical divide, providing uninterrupted support and access to vital resources for a future free of financial burdens.”
The video kiosk, originally launched in London in 2021, has so far facilitated more than 4,000 conversations. It is currently rolling out the booths into community hubs, job centres, and libraries nationwide.
Mia Wheeler, governor of HMP Brixton, said: “Money problems are too often at the root of offending – which is why initiatives like this are vital to equip people in prison with the life management skills they need to contribute positively to society when released. This, alongside the work being done to get prisoners work experience and jobs, will help many integrate back into their communities, and cut the chances of reoffending.”
