Throughcare: Travel Service

Sacro’s Travel Service provides regular transport to Scottish prisons and the State Hospital at Carstairs.

What does the service offer?

Sacro provides regular transport to Scottish prisons and the State Hospital at Carstairs to enable prisoners, patients and their families and friends, to maintain contact that will help sustain family relationships and facilitate the prisoners’ re-integration to the community on release.

How does the service work?

Experienced volunteer drivers provide scheduled services, usually by bus, to each destination. Most services are of at least monthly frequency although this is dependent on the assessed need.

Unscheduled services can also be provided in special circumstances or where there is a perceived need for them. These services are intended for people with special needs who cannot or do not wish to travel on the scheduled services.

Sacro staff can also provide directions to prisons, contacts and procedures for visiting.

Who is the service aimed at?

The service is available to members of the public who have family or friends in prison or the State Hospital.

How is the service accessed?

Bookings should be made in advance through the local Sacro office in Glasgow or Edinburgh. If a fare is required, the passenger will be informed and should pay the driver. This fare may be refunded by the Assisted Prison Visiting Unit.