Buried

This script contains details of organisations which can offer help and information both to people in prison and for their families and friends. It is divided into two sections:

Section one - information for people concerned about the well-being of someone in prison, including organisations offering information how the prison system operates.

Section two - offers help on other issues depicted in the Channel 4 drama, 'Buried', including mental health problems, drugs, relationships, sexual abuse, bullying and violence.

Section one

Someone spending time in prison has the right to help and information within the prison they are serving in. Information should be available from the wing or landing officer. The following organisations offer help either directly to the person in prison or to someone supporting them.

Comprehensive information is available directly from the Prison Service itself, including guides to each prison in England and Wales, information on visiting hours, healthcare and education and details of relevant support groups. If you have access to the internet, you will find comprehensive information on their website at www.hmprisons.gov.uk. Or write to The Secretariat, HM Prison Service Headquarters, Page Street, London SW1P 4LN.

Information on the Scottish Prison Service is available on the internet at www.sps.gov.uk. For information on the Northern Ireland Prison Service, you can phone 028 9052 5065 or visit their website at www.niprisonservice.gov.uk.

Help, counselling and support is available to prisoners, ex-offenders, and their families from the Prison Advice and Care Trust. You can phone the special telephone advice service on freephone 0800 085 3021 (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am-4.30pm). Or visit their website at www.imprisonment.org.uk. You can e-mail them for support at familysupport@pact.uk.net.

Prisoners Families Helpline is a national helpline providing support and information to anyone with a friend or relative in prison. Their freephone helpline number is on 0808 808 2003 (Mondays to Fridays 10am-4.30pm, Mondays to Thursdays 6pm-8pm and Saturdays 10am-3pm). You can visit their website at www.harpinfo.org.uk.

NACRO, the crime reduction charity, provides advice to ex-offenders on practical resettlement matters including employment and housing. Resettlement Plus, Nacro's telephone helpline, offers advice to serving prisoners, ex-offenders and their families. Phone them on freephone 0800 0181 259 (office hours) or visit their website at www.nacro.org.uk.

The Prison Reform Trust campaigns for better conditions in prison and greater use of alternatives to custody. They provide an information and advice service to prisoners and their families. Phone them on 020 7251 5070 (office hours). They have a website you can visit at www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk.

Free information and advice is available from Citizens Advice. They have detailed information on prisoners' rights and will know who can help you if they are not able to help. Details of local Citizens Advice are in the telephone directory or visit the public information and advice website at www.adviceguide.org.uk.

The Prison and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales, is appointed by the Home Secretary and investigates complaints made against the Prison Service after other procedures have been followed. You can visit it's website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ppoweb/index.htm.

Section two

If you are feeling distressed for any reason and need someone to talk to, you can phone the Samaritans at any time of the day or night on 08457 90 90 90. They have a website at www.samaritans.org or you can e-mail them at jo@samaritans.org.

The mental health charity, Mind, offers information and support on all mental health issues, including sectioning. You can phone the Mind Infoline on 08457 660 163 (Mondays to Fridays 9.15am-5.15pm) or visit their website at www.mind.org.uk.

The National Drugs Helpline provides free and confidential information and advice to anyone concerned about drugs. You can phone them on 0800 77 66 00 (24 hours a day) or visit their website at www.ndh.org.uk.

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood, NAPAC, supports all adults who were abused in childhood and who continue to suffer the damaging effects in to adulthood. NAPAC offers confidential information and literature to adults abused in childhood, their families, friends or partners. Call them on freephone 0800 085 3330 (Mondays to Fridays 12pm-8pm, Saturdays 9am-12pm). Their website is at www.napac.org.uk.

Bullying is a form of harassment which can affect people of all ages and in all sorts of situations. Bullies use different tactics to hurt others including verbal, sexual or physical violence. There is a website called Bully OnLine specially for adults who are experiencing bullying at www.successunlimited.co.uk.

Relate offers counselling and other services to help with difficulties in marriage or any adult couple relationship. It also offers counselling to individuals. You will find their details in your yellow pages under counselling and advice or in your local telephone directory under Relate. They have a website at www.relate.org.uk.

Citizens Advice give legal and other advice and information to prisoners and their families. They have detailed information on prisoners' rights and will know who can help you if they are not able to help. Details of your nearest Citizens Advice are in the telephone directory. Or visit the public information and advice website at www.adviceguide.org.uk.

There's a Channel 4 website with lots of information, plus the opportunity to send a confidential question in the 'just ask ' section at www.channel4.com/health/microsites/H/health/magazine/index.html.

This message has been prepared for Channel 4 by Broadcasting Support Services.