This programme is an initiative by the Eastern Region Families Partnership to promote greater awareness and more effective responses to the needs of children of prisoners. The programme is managed by Ormiston and funded through a unique collaboration between ourselves, the LankellyChase Foundation, HM Prison Service and Ormiston Trust.
The programme was launched in 2002 and has expanded work to ten of the region's twelve prisons and has established community support for children and young people in four counties. We provide:
- good quality visiting and contact opportunities for children to spend time with their imprisoned parent/carer or family member
- support and information for children and families
- accredited courses for parents in prisons to explore how they can best maintain a role in their child's life
- resource material to support families and those who work with them
- a telephone helpline as part of the national Prisoners' Families Helpline
We are working to:
- promote the importance of the role of families in sentence planning and resettlement
- raise awareness of the needs of children and young people affected by imprisonment. This includes working with schools, health, social care agencies and voluntary organisations so that they are better able to meet the needs of children and their families
- give children and families a voice and influence through consultation and research