The arrest of a family member is a traumatic event for everyone involved, it can often lead to stress and uncertainty, the Family Fellowship hopes to ease the strain during difficult times.

Family Fellowship is a joint Christian ministry in partnership with two of the largest prison ministries in the world, the Prison Fellowship and the Salvation Army.

Mair Harris, the organisation's chairman and coordinator, told The Royal Gazette that the new association is preparing to launch a pilot programme which will work to ensure family members are supported while a loved one is incarcerated.

She said many families struggled to cope because of a loss of income, a lack of communication and the social stigma that is attached to incarceration.

These issues often cause a breakdown in family relationships which is detrimental for the family but also for the prisoner.

Ms Harris explained the programme was vital for the Island because international research illustrates that a prisoner with a strong family support system is more likely to be rehabilitated.

Without family and community support a prisoner can often feel isolated and shunned, this can often lead to them re-offending and returning to prison.

At the moment the rate of recidivism on the Island is 70 percent. Family Fellowship hopes to change that statistic by offering families support.

The pilot programme will organise support groups for family members to meet on a weekly basis.

Ms Harris hopes that this networking will allow family members to feel comfortable expressing their emotions with people who understand.

The pilot programme will also offer life skills and career training. Mr. Harris stressed the fellowship does not intend to replace or duplicate any of the services that are currently offered by other organisations and charities.

Instead the group hopes they can act as a clearing house.

He said that many times families are not aware of the services and assistance that is available to them, adding: "It can be like a jig saw puzzle with 500 pieces. We want to put all the pieces together and look at the big picture."

The organisation will have a compressive list of everything that is available to families of prisoners and be able to direct them to the necessary people, on top of running their own support groups.

Rosemary Phillips is the Salvation Army Liaison Officer with the Family Fellowship.

The Salvation Army already runs a family services program, she said many of the families that avail of the services have someone incarcerated.

Ms Phillips said: "We saw the Family Fellowship as a natural fit because we are already set up to assist families in need."

Ms Harris stressed the importance of the programme, especially when it comes to the Island's future.

Families of prisoners often feel as though they are serving a silent sentence and kids are the silent victims Ms Harris said.

Moreover, children who have a parent incarcerated are ten times more likely to end up in prison than those who do not.

In order to stop the cycle the Family Fellowship said prisoners need to feel welcomed and supported throughout their incarceration and when they return to civilian life.

The organisation is currently burning the wick at both ends in order to ensure the program is up and running by September.

They are approaching members of the community with strong community backgrounds to sit on the board.

They are also looking for funding to ensure they can fully cater to the needs of the families.

Anyone interested in assisting the organisation can call 292-3135.

Family Fellowship wants families interested in participating in the pilot programme to contact the Salvation Army Family Services at 292-5159.

The Family Fellowship believes that the Island is the ideal location to start a programme like this, the first of its kind, and hopes it will be a model program for other countries.