"A Target Community is one that is a prepared community with the heart to minister to both those in prison and those being released from prison. This involves incorporating their families into the community with a view to both providing support and protection during their growth and with the goal of restoring them into full wider community participation."

For several years there has been an increasing awareness of the many difficulties faced by those leaving prison, particularly with trying to establish a normal life in a society that lacks understanding of their needs. Our justice view is one of "Do the crime and pay the time!" but upon release nothing is further from the truth - when does a released man cease to become a "prisoner" within society?

"A Target Community may run as a church-based operation or as a local community operation. The materials have initially been created to support a church-based operation simply because 86% of all prison volunteers come from churches. However, the material can easily be adopted and made relevant to say a Rotary Club or a local rugby club. Choose the "First Steps" button which best meets your criteria."

The Target Communities Project has been designed to develop and implement a process, with supporting materials, to enable church and wider communities to be trained to accept, coach, encourage and hold accountable released prisoners. This includes supporting their families in a safe and sustainable way and bringing them all into fruitful community interaction.

It is envisaged that each released man or woman will gain a "circle of support" from within a trained community who will work with them to make the adjustments necessary to gain a meaningful life.

Our Definition

Whanaungatanga - The "Glue" that Connects People to Each Other.

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"If you are coming to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, let us work together."
UNKNOWN ABORIGINAL WOMAN

Prison Fellowship recommends that churches and communities considering becoming a Target Community use the SafeHere Trust's ChildSafe and ChurchSafe resources, programmes and systems to keep their activities, programmes and people safe. These are especially designed for NZ conditions and are well proven

Download a Target Communities Brochure

 Contact Target Communities