Noranside

HMP Noranside

Address:
HMP Noranside
Fern By Forfar
Angus
DD8 3QY

Tel:(01382) 319333

Fax:(01356) 650245

HMP’s Castle Huntly and Noranside jointly make up the SPS Open Estate. Both focus on providing employment training and transitional/through-care for prisoners working towards a structured reintegration into society.

Castle Huntly is in Longforgan 3 miles East of Dundee whilst Noranside lies 10 miles North East of Forfar in Angus. Both are open prisons holding low supervision adult male prisoners serving 18 months and over, including life sentence prisoners, who have been assessed as suitable to serve part of their sentence in open conditions. The regimes operated by both establishments though differentiated are also increasingly complementary. Noranside holds a small number of prisoners convicted of sexual offences, while Castle Huntly holds prisoners who require the support of the SPS methadone program

Visiting

DIRECTIONS
A90 20 miles North of Dundee, turn left at Finavon Hotel & follow signs for HMP Noranside.

Visiting times:
Monday / Friday 18.30 - 20.30 each session, maximum 17 visit spaces; Saturday / Sunday: 10.00 - 16.00, maximum 17 visit spaces.
Pre-booking is necessary for all sessions.

Further Infomation

Programs and Activities
The Open Estate has recently started to deliver the first, in what will become an expanding repertoire of SPS Approved Activities and programs for prisoners. The principal aim is to further enhance work already carried out within closed prisons and by relapse prevention courses or Activity/Programme refreshers. In addition to this, it is planned to offer life skills courses to those prisoners who demonstrate a need and in particular to those who have spent a considerable time in custody.

Employment Skills
The current range of work offered within the Estate is progressively changing in order to offer real skills to prisoners. Although we shall continue to capitalize on the opportunities and resources we have in place, the emphasis will change from traditional forms of employment and labour schemes to opportunity related employability training and certification. Much more use of instructor’s time will be devoted to helping prisoners achieve certification in transferable skills. These may include retail training, painting and decorating, forestry and general horticulture and construction and related skills. The Open Estate is committed to forging meaningful and productive links with external partnership organisations to develop training and work experience opportunities that are relevant to the needs of prisoners and employers in the community.

Use of External Placements
We currently operate with a wide range of partner organisations who offer prisoners the chance of employment or education within the community; this is applicable for prisoners at either site. In the ethos of offering real employability skills we are continuing to seek further opportunities to expand this programme and offer real work experience to a greater number of prisoners.

Community Links
Both Establishments work hard to promote the positive image of the SPS, it’s staff and the prisoners in its' care. HMCIP report on the Open Estate (Dec 2002) listed more than 40 instances of community assistance work carried out by prisoners and staff of Castle Huntly. This work has ranged from the renovation of the grounds of a local war memorial to the redecoration of the premises used by community groups in Dundee. Noranside carries out similar work within the Angus area. Not only does this work give project teams valuable work experience, but makes positive links with our local communities.

Bridging the Gap Resource CD kit
Bridging the Gap, PO Box 783, Croydon, CR9 1BT
Telephone : 020 8239 8976
Email : info@btguk.org


	Address: HMP Noranside Fern By Forfar Angus DD8 3QY		Tel:(01382) 319333 Fax:(01356) 650245

	HMP’s Castle Huntly and Noranside jointly make up the SPS Open Estate. Both focus on providing employment training and transitional/through-care for prisoners working towards a structured reintegration into society. Castle Huntly is in Longforgan 3 miles East of Dundee whilst Noranside lies 10 miles North East of Forfar in Angus. Both are open prisons holding low supervision adult male prisoners serving 18 months and over, including life sentence prisoners, who have been assessed as suitable to serve part of their sentence in open conditions. The regimes operated by both establishments though differentiated are also increasingly complementary. Noranside holds a small number of prisoners convicted of sexual offences, while Castle Huntly holds prisoners who require the support of the SPS methadone program
	Visiting DIRECTIONS A90 20 miles North of Dundee, turn left at Finavon Hotel & follow signs for HMP Noranside. Visiting times: Monday / Friday 18.30 - 20.30 each session, maximum 17 visit spaces; Saturday / Sunday: 10.00 - 16.00, maximum 17 visit spaces. Pre-booking is necessary for all sessions.
	Further Infomation Programs and Activities The Open Estate has recently started to deliver the first, in what will become an expanding repertoire of SPS Approved Activities and programs for prisoners. The principal aim is to further enhance work already carried out within closed prisons and by relapse prevention courses or Activity/Programme refreshers. In addition to this, it is planned to offer life skills courses to those prisoners who demonstrate a need and in particular to those who have spent a considerable time in custody. Employment Skills The current range of work offered within the Estate is progressively changing in order to offer real skills to prisoners. Although we shall continue to capitalize on the opportunities and resources we have in place, the emphasis will change from traditional forms of employment and labour schemes to opportunity related employability training and certification. Much more use of instructor’s time will be devoted to helping prisoners achieve certification in transferable skills. These may include retail training, painting and decorating, forestry and general horticulture and construction and related skills. The Open Estate is committed to forging meaningful and productive links with external partnership organisations to develop training and work experience opportunities that are relevant to the needs of prisoners and employers in the community. Use of External Placements We currently operate with a wide range of partner organisations who offer prisoners the chance of employment or education within the community; this is applicable for prisoners at either site. In the ethos of offering real employability skills we are continuing to seek further opportunities to expand this programme and offer real work experience to a greater number of prisoners. Community Links Both Establishments work hard to promote the positive image of the SPS, it’s staff and the prisoners in its' care. HMCIP report on the Open Estate (Dec 2002) listed more than 40 instances of community assistance work carried out by prisoners and staff of Castle Huntly. This work has ranged from the renovation of the grounds of a local war memorial to the redecoration of the premises used by community groups in Dundee. Noranside carries out similar work within the Angus area. Not only does this work give project teams valuable work experience, but makes positive links with our local communities.