The Role of a Visitor

Visitors often describe their role as one of visiting in the place of family or friends, in a context where someone may be isolated from their usual support networks. A visitors role frequently involves:

• Active listening and offering empathy and compassion at times of distress

• Standing alongside people as they seek to meet their basic needs e.g by sharing money, phone top-ups or clothing

• Sharing information about immigration detention and their rights in detention, such as information about legal advice, healthcare and bail.

• Facilitating communication between people inside detention and groups or individuals outside, including solicitors, specialist support groups, family or friends.

However, the nature of the relationship of solidarity built can vary widely, depending on the person you are visiting and your own approach. It will also vary according to the boundaries set by visitor groups and by the particular constraints of visiting in different spaces of incarceration.