Marketplace
Every year Prisoners Week Scotland has an official Launch Service as part of the events and activities, taking place during Prisoners Week, which this year runs from Sunday 19th to Saturday 25th November 2023.
The official Launch Event will be on Sunday 19th November, 3-5pm and will be held in Letham St Marks Church of Scotland, Perth (Rannoch Road, Perth, Perthshire, PH1 2HH 01738 446377).
Prisoners Week Theme
The theme for 2023 is ‘Strength for the Journey’. For many, 2023 has been exhausting – coming out of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the cost-of-living crisis, the environmental crisis, etc. Positivity and resilience can be replaced with fatigue and weariness, making us feel overwhelmed and frustrated, even hopeless.
Where do we find our Strength for the Journey? What gives us hope and resilience along the road? Who can we connect with for support and encouragement? Who walks alongside us, helping us steer a steady course?
Our 2023 theme invites us to listen to people affected by imprisonment who have discovered Strength for their Journey, bringing them restoration and peace. Perhaps we can discover Strength for our Journey too?.
Marketplace Initiative
The idea behind the Marketplace initiative is for charities and organisations to be physically present in Bishopbriggs Community Church in a designated space where a dedicated stall/table/information area can be setup with e.g. pull-up banners, etc. The Marketplace will be open from 3pm to 5pm with the Launch Service starting at 3.30pm, thus providing about one hour before and after the Launch Service for registered charities and organisations to be available for delegates and members of the public to come along, peruse information, and have discussions with those present, perhaps offering to join-up or volunteer.
We anticipate over 100 delegates coming from all over Scotland attending, as well as some members of the local Perth community. We are also hoping some charities and organisations who work in areas and communities north of Perth will also be attending and joining the Marketplace initiative.
This is a good opportunity for awareness raising and networking amongst like-minded delegates who have a real interest in issues such as: prison, throughcare and re-settlement after release, victim awareness and restorative justice etc.
The charities and organisations involved in the Marketplace are also welcome to participate in the official Launch Service at 3.30pm.
Involvement in the Marketplace and Launch Service is free-of-charge, although donations are always welcome.
To find out more about the Marketplace initiative please email
Sheena Orr or Kenny McGeachie at
info@prisonersweek.org.uk
Prisoners Week Charter
Prisoners Week Scotland has also launched the Prisoners Week Charter initiative for churches, faith-based-groups and non-faith-based organisations.
The Prisoners Week Charter is an easy way to ‘sign-up’ to provide practical support for those affected by imprisonment and help raise awareness of the impact of the justice system on individuals, families and communities. To find out more about signing the Charter please visit our page here
Thank you for taking the time to consider the Prisoners Week Charter and Marketplace initiative. Your support and (hopefully) involvement is sincerely appreciated.
We look forward to meeting you on 19 November 2023!