Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen an increasing need and enthusiasm for projects which get parents in prison engaging in meaningful and productive activities with their families.
Maintaining family contact and positive relationships is key to reducing reoffending and supporting rehabilitation. Our new project, What Happens Next? began in HMP Wandsworth in Spring 2019, and uses the power of storytelling and shared reading to connect prisoners and their families.
Prisoner parents taking part in the project first attend workshops with our prison consultant and reading specialist David Kendall, where they look at the best stories to read with their children and can choose the book they would like to give.
The workshops are an opportunity for parents to build confidence in how to approach books with their children, and think about what their children might enjoy.
On the event day, children and partners come into the prison and spend time reading and taking part in book games and activities with their parents. Each event day is also attended by an artist to get the families inspired with live illustrations and drawings.
Feedback from some of our 2019 What Happens Next sessions:
‘when people have to be creative, you can interact and connect in a way you don’t usually’
‘it was nice to see the boys having quality time with their dad’
Read our blog on the What Happens Next? event at HMP Wandsworth.
Published 18 February 2020