Are you OK with cookies?

We use small files called ‘cookies’ on imb.org.uk. Some are essential to make the site work, some help us to understand how we can improve your experience, and some are set by third parties. You can choose to turn off the non-essential cookies. Which cookies are you happy for us to use?

Skip to content

Be a prison volunteer in North East England or Yorkshire

See current opportunities to volunteer near Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and across North East England.

County Durham
Northumberland
Yorkshire

What you need to be an IMB volunteer

Be over 18 years of age.

Live within 30 miles of the prison or immigration detention facility or a reasonable distance for travel.

Commit to around 2 – 3 visits a month (sometimes more during the induction period) and regular attendance at monthly board meetings.

You do not need any special qualifications or experience. We provide all necessary training and support.

Tips for applying

County Durham volunteer opportunities

HMP/YOI Deerbolt

Type: male, young offender, category C
Location: Barnard Castle, DL12 9BG
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available

HMP Deerbolt is a category C training prison for adult males up to the age of 29 and young offenders.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Deerbolt.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Durham

Type: male, category B
Location: Durham, DH1 3HU
Accessibility: no visitor car park, public transport and access by foot available

HMP Durham is a category B reception and resettlement prison for adult males and young offenders.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Durham.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Frankland

Type: male, category A
Location: Brasside, DH1 5YA
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport available

HMP Frankland is a high security category A prison for adult males. Provision includes a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) unit for those with a diagnosed personality disorder.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Frankland.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Holme House

Type: male, category C
Location: Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 2QU
Accessibility: visitor car parking and public transport available

HMP Holme House is a category C training and resettlement prison for adult males. Provision includes a psychologically informed planned environment (PIPE) unit.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Holme House.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Low Newton

Type: female, closed
Location: Brasside, DH1 5YA
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport available

HMP Low Newton is a local and resettlement prison and young
offender institution for women over the age of 18. As such, we would particularly welcome applications from females.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Low Newton.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

Northumberland volunteer opportunities

HMP Northumberland

Type: male, category C
Location: Morpeth, NE65 9XG
Accessibility: visitor parking and public transport options available

HMP Northumberland is a privately operated category C prison for adult males. It is currently run by Sodexo.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Northumberland.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

Yorkshire volunteer opportunities

HMP/YOI Askham Grange 

Type: female, open
Location: York, YO23 3FT
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport options available

HMP/YOI Askham Grange is an open prison and young offender institution for women aged 18 and over. It also houses a mother and baby unit which allows for up to ten mothers to continue caring for their child up until the age of eighteen months.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Askham Grange.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP/YOI Doncaster

Type: male, category B
Location: Doncaster, DN5 8UX
Accessibility: visitor car park, public transport options and access by foot available

HMP/YOI Doncaster is privately operated category B local resettlement prison for adult males. It is currently run by Serco.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Doncaster.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP Full Sutton

Type: male, category A and B
Location: York, YO41 1PS
Accessibility: access by car is essential

HMP Full Sutton is a high security prison for category A and B adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Full Sutton.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP/YOI Hatfield


Type: male, category D
Location: Doncaster, DN7 6EL
Accessibility: access by car is essential

HMP/YOI Hatfield is a resettlement prison and young offender institution for men aged 18 and over.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Hatfield.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP/YOI Hull

Type: male, category B
Location: Hull, HU9 5LS
Accessibility: visitor car park and public transport available

HMP/YOI Hull is a category B prison and young offender institution for men aged 18 and over.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Hull.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP Humber

Type: male, category C
Location: Brough, HU15 2JZ
Accessibility: access by car is essential

HMP Humber is a category C training prison for adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Humber.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange

Type: male, category D
Location: Yarm, TS15 9PA
Accessibility: visitor car park and access by foot available

HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is category D open resettlement prison for adult males and young offenders.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.

HMP Leeds

Type: male, category B
Location: Armley, LS12 2TJ
Accessibility: visitor car park, public transport and access by foot available.

HMP Leeds is a category B local prison for adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Leeds.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP Lindholme

Type: male, category C
Location: Doncaster, DN7 6EE
Accessibility: visitor car park available, limited public transport options

HMP Lindholme is a category C training prison for adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Lindholme.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP Millsike

Type: male, category C
Location: York, YO41 1PS (adjacent to HMP Full Sutton)
Accessibility: TBC

HMP Millsike is a category C local prison which is currently under construction.  It will house approximately 1500 men.  It will be a privately operated prison, with the contract being awarded to Mitie Care and Custody.  Construction is due to complete in January 2025 with the first prisoners being accepted in April 2025. 

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Millsike.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP/YOI Moorland

Type: male, category C
Location: Doncaster, DN7 6BW
Accessibility: access by car is essential

HMP/YOI Moorland is a resettlement prison and young offender institution for men aged 18 and over.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI Moorland.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP/YOI New Hall

Type: female, closed
Location: Flockton, WF4 4XX
Accessibility: access by car is essential

HMP/YOI New Hall is a prison and young offender institution for women aged 18 and over. It also houses a mother and baby unit which can accommodate up to nine mothers and their babies.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP/YOI New Hall.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP Wakefield

Type: male, category A
Location: Wakefield, WF2 9AG
Accessibility: visitor car park, public transport and access by foot available

HMP Wakefield is a long-term high security prison for adult males, including those convicted of sexual offences.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Wakefield.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMP Wealstun

Type: male, category C
Location: Wetherby, LS23 7AZ
Accessibility: visitor car park available, limited public transport options

HMP Wealstun is a category C training and resettlement prison for adult males.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMP Wealstun.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

HMYOI Wetherby

Type: male, young people
Location: Wetherby, LS22 5ED
Accessibility: visitor car park available, limited public transport options.

HMYOI Wetherby is the largest young offender institution in the country, holding 150 young people.

Board members are expected to undertake around 2-3 visits a month and attend Board meetings, flexibility will be considered where possible to accommodate work and care commitments. You need to work well as part of a team, be enthusiastic and open minded, with the ability to make sound objective judgments. Candidates are required to live within 30 miles of HMYOI Wetherby.

We are not currently recruiting at this location.  Please register your interest and we will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens

If there are no opportunities in a prison or immigration detention facility near you, register your interest. We will let you know as soon as the next campaign opens.