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Prison Family Support is run by Laura and Alice who have volunteered and worked at HMP Lewes over the past 5 years. Initially volunteering for the contracted Family Service providers Spurgeons Children's Charity to support family members and significant others visiting their loved ones in custody at Lewes prison. In early 2020, during the difficult time throughout the COVID-19 restrictions, the family members, children and friends were not able to visit their loved ones in custody so our service shifted focus inside the prison, working with prisoners to provide resources and maintain communications with loved ones with the aim to strengthen relationships between fathers in prison and their children. During these challenging circumstances of separation and visiting restrictions a gap in provision was recognised, and Prison Family Support was launched in October 2022. Many men in custody are dads whose children are not able to have their voice heard. Dads who are not able to contact services or easily receive timely updates, court hearing communication or instruct legal representation. In some cases, fathers can be the protective factor in the family and when imprisoned their children are taken into care with any meaningful involvement and contact stopped. The impact this has on children is immeasurable. Separation can not only negatively affect an individuals behaviour and choices whilst in prison but also can reduce the chances of rehabilitation. What We Do Since we launched Prison Family Support CIC, the service we provide has grown and adapted to meet the specific needs of those we work with. Our mission is to provide comprehensive support to fathers at HMP Lewes, with a focus on reducing the impact of imprisonment on their children. We place the experience of the child at the forefront of our work. Prison Family Support provide a range of services, including facilitating communication, offering emotional support, making connections with external agencies, supplying practical resources, delivering workshops and creating opportunities for fathers to connect with their children. We believe that by strengthening relationships between children and their parent we can make a positive impact in the world they live. We show compassion to the individuals and families we support by being present and engaged at a direct and local level. We listen and talk to those affected, providing the link between external agencies including children's services and letterbox agencies concerned with adopted children and prisoners. We care about reducing the impact of imprisonment on children and fathers and continually strive to develop our service to improve the lives of the people we work with. |
Registered Company number 1444553
Lewes, East Sussex
United Kingdon