Norfolk prisoners read bedtime stories to reduce reoffending
A new scheme, aimed at reducing reoffending, has been enhanced in Norfolk prisons.
Children with a parent in prison will be able to see and hear their Mum or Dad reading them a bedtime story thanks to a project supported by the Police and Crime Commissioners of Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
The scheme hopes to reduce reoffending but also help the emotional and mental wellbeing of children who aren't able to see their parent.
The PCC's say having a parent in prison can have a big impact on children, and being able to maintain a positive relationship is vitally important.
It's also thought the harm having a parent in prison does, can have an impact on decisions that child will make later in life - including the likelihood of following in their parents' footsteps and enter the criminal justice system themselves.
The Storybook Mums/Dads service hopes to improve the contact between families, which can be difficult at the best of times but during the pandemic has been especially hard, with new restrictions introduced to keep staff, prisoners and visitors safe.
The PCC's said with children already feeling the impact of lockdowns, disrupted schooling, and access to support services, isolation from wider family groups and support networks, it's more imporant than ever to support and help build positive relationships between prisoners and their children.
Norfolk PCC Lorne Green and Cambridgeshire PCC Ray Bisby have joined forces with HMP Norwich and Peterborough to enhance the scheme.
Lorne Green said: "Children who experience parental imprisonment suffer a number of harms during 'normal' times but, in the challenging circumstances under which we are all currently living, those harms and difficulties can be amplified.
“As 2020 draws to a close and we head into a new year, I’m proud to be working in collaboration with partners to support the most vulnerable in our communities to go forward with new hope for a better future.
"By helping to maintain and strengthen ties between parents in prison and their children, we can not only reduce the number of prisoners who reoffend, but also reduce the harm inflicted as a result of criminal behaviour."
Declan Moore, Governor of HMP Norwich, said: “Many of us parents take for granted the great comfort and emotional bonding that is gained from reading stories for and with our children.
"With mum or dad in custody, both the parent and the child, suffer the loss of that intimate, precious relationship.
“For many years, prisoners have been able to create audio recordings of themselves reading to their children.
"Now with the generosity of funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk, we can enhance that connection by advancing into the world of video.
"That will allow the children to see their parent as they are listening to the story.
“The value of this is potentially inestimable. Thanks are due to PCC Lorne Green and to Spurgeon’s Family Services for joining the Prison Service in bringing this compassionate development to fruition.”
Naomi Webb, Family Services Manager at HMP Norwich, added: “Spurgeon’s Children’s Charity at HMP Norwich is delighted to have received support from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk to be able to extend our Storybook Dads Project to include video recordings.
“With support from the prison and the generous donation from the PCC, dads in custody at HMP Norwich will now be given the opportunity to appear on film reading their children a bedtime story, supporting them to remain in contact with their children whilst providing reassurance and ultimately better outcomes for the child affected by parental imprisonment.”
Sharon Berry, Founder and CEO of Storybook Dads, said: “We are delighted to hear of this funding for HMP Norwich and HMP Peterborough to purchase video equipment to enhance their Storybook Dads/ Mums provision.
“Both prisons have been members of Storybook Dads for many years and have helped hundreds of prisoners and their families to keep in touch through audio stories.
"Being able to film parents reading a story will make it even more special for the children.”
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