Visitors groups are groups of volunteers who visit Immigration Removal Centres, Prisons and Short Term Holding Facilities- anywhere a detainee may be held. Volunteers provide support, advice and friendship to detainees, and as such are often a lifeline for those in detention.

Visitors groups undertake a range of activities in support of detainee welfare within the particular centres they visit. AVID brings visitors groups together to ensure a national voice for visitors and detainees, working with our members to share information and best practice.

AVID's membership of visitors groups and individuals are at the heart of our work. Some members are part of their local group, others are simply concerned about immigration detention and wish to lend their support. If you would like to become a member of AVID please feel free to contact us for information using the menu on the left. Members recieve a range of benefits including our monthly newsletter.

Our membership

AVID's current membership includes the following groups (as well as individuals and interested organisations):

These links will take you to the external website for each group (if available). Alternatively, information and contact details on each is found at the bottom of the page.

Asylum Welcome visit Campsfield House, near Oxford 

Brighton Voices In Exile

Doncaster AVID visit Lindholme IRC, near Doncaster

Dover Detainee Visitors Group visit Dover IRC

Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group visit Tinsley and Brook House IRCs, both near Gatwick airport

Haslar Visitors Group visit Haslar IRC, near Portsmouth

Jesuit Refugee Service visit Colnbrook and Harmondsworth IRCs, near Heathrow

Lewes Group visit in Lewes Prison

Liverpool Prisons Visiting Group visit Liverpool prisons

London Detainee Support Group visit Colnbrook and Harmondsworth IRCs, near Heathrow

MIDST (Manchester Immigration Detainee Support Team) visit Manchester Short Term Holding Facility

Oakington Friends visit Oakington Reception Centre

Scottish Detainee Visitors visit Dungavel IRC, near Strathaven in Scotland

Southampton and Winchester Visiting Group visit Winchester Prison

Yarls Wood Befrienders visit Yarls Wood IRC in Bedfordshire

Yarls Wood Asylum Casework Support Group visit Yarls Wood IRC in Bedfordshire

Zimbabwe Association support Zimbabweans in detention and in the community

ADDRESSES AND CONTACT DETAILS: