The Independent Monitoring Boards is an arms-length body which oversees the standards of care in prisons, young offender institutions and immigration detention centres.

Our members are independent, unpaid volunteers whose role is to monitor the day-to-day life in their local facilities and ensure that people are treated fairly and humanely.

Family or friends in prison or immigration detention facilities

Prisoners and detained people should contact the IMB working in the prison or immigration detention facility directly. Prison or immigration staff should be able to help them make contact. 

Please note that we cannot put friends or family members in touch with local IMBs. For confidentiality reasons we cannot confirm, even to family, whether or which prison or immigration detention facility someone is in.

If you are concerned about a family member or friend, you should contact the prison or immigration detention facility directly. 

Get in touch about volunteering

If you have any questions about the application process, or your eligibility, please email [email protected]

If you’ve checked the current vacancies page and seen that your local prison or immigration detention facility is not currently recruiting, you can register your interest in volunteering in the future. We’ll contact you when the relevant campaign opens. 

You can also sign up for one of our virtual events for people interested in volunteering to find out more about the role from current volunteers.