Whitelion Bail Out : The rehearsal

Meet Roger, an old friend, who is passionate in his work helping young people avoid most of the traps that he himself fell into. He puts that passion to good effect through Whitelion, supporting young folk to make positive life choices, matching them with volunteer mentors and finding supported employment for them.

When I worked for Toll, an international logistics company, Roger and I helped support those young folk in that most precious of things, a real job. .... and sometimes it worked really well.

Bail Out is one of Whitelion's major annual fundraisers. Folk agree to be sent to jail,and then each have to raise $1000 bail. They turn up for a prison experience. Last night we had a volunteer run through making sure that all the actors had their police costumes and knew the ropes. At the same time, a group of great magistrates, lawyers and legal clerks put the finishing genuine touches to court scene that is the finale of the jail experience.
My role is the prison chaplain. Mostly I get to ham up the role with putting on my best Scottish accent and demanding that Grace is said before they eat their (gourmet) bread and gruel. The other side of the role is to be available for the occasional over wrought "inmate", for whom the experience touches raw nerves.

Next Friday 29 May is the big day.
Feel free to Google them and donate!