Prison Care and Support Network (PCSN)

Qui sommes-nous

The Prison Care and Support Network (PCSN) is a prison outreach rendering emotional and spiritual services to prison inmates, ex-inmates and their families.
The project started in 1996 and in September 2000 it became a Non-Profit Organization and assumed the name Prison Care and Support Network (PCSN). PCSN seeks to respond to the spiritual and emotional needs of offenders and their families by providing care and support during incarceration as well as after release. PCSN supports all offenders and their families regardless of religion, race, gender or social status.

The vision of the Cape Town based Prison Care and Support Network is to create hope in the individual and restore a sense of humanity in the community.
The Prison Care and Support Network realizes its vision through providing prison ministry based upon the values and teaching of Jesus Christ.

Programmes:
Inside the Prisons
• Restorative Justice: Restorative justice promotes restoration, restitution and reconciliation between those affected by the crime. The healing enables each person to continue their lives without the devastating effects of the crime. It is a unique way of building a safe, crime free, South Africa
• Spiritual Support: Priest and Ministers of the Eucharist visit prisons regularly and offer Holy Mass on a weekly basis. Volunteers run prayer services, alpha Courses, and Bible studies. Prisoners are able to learn more about scripture, Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Skills Programs: Life Skills and Educational Skills Training are an important part of the rehabilitation process. In 2011 PCSN partnered with Construction Training & Education Authority (CETA) in order to create hope, educate in skills training and make ex-offenders employable. Short Skills Programme in Tiling, Painting & Carpentry and Learnership in Community House Building Level 2.
• Bursary Support: Offenders who are awarded a study bursary during incarceration continue to study after release towards completing their qualification. Upon release they join our social reintegration programmes which include the bi-monthly ex-offender gathering. We continue to monitor their progress and ongoing support is rendered wherever needed. Bursary for the incarcerated: Limited sponsorship can be made available for applicants within the prison system based on careful assessment & availability of funding.
• Arts programmes: Cross-cultural Benefits of Art in Prison: Prison Care & Support Network conducted a number of writing and art workshops in several prisons within 200K of Cape Town.
Outside the Prison
• Educational Support Programme: Home Based Care Programme; Organic Home Gardening; Business & Life Skills Programme
• Child Nutrition: For the children of inmates and Ex-offenders. The programme was started in 2008 to provide basic nutritional supports to children lacking essential nutrition in their diet.
• Food Parcels
• Social Reintegration Program: Alpha Programme; Transport & Volunteer Stipends
• Skills Programs for Ex-offenders

Bernadette Adams is the Administrator at the Prison Care and Support Network (PCSN).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.