Laura Parsons and Alice Field have volunteered and worked at HMP Lewes for nearly 5 years. Initially volunteering for the contracted Family Service providers Spurgeons Childrens’ Charity to support family members and significant others visiting their loved ones in custody at Lewes prison. This work moved into paid employment, managing and delivering Family Services. In early 2020, throughout the Covid-19 restrictions, visits to the prison stopped. The family members, children and friends were not able to visit their loved ones in custody. The service then moved inside the prison, working with prisoners to resource them to maintain communication and strengthen relationships despite the very challenging circumstances that the separation and restrictions caused. During this time, a gap in provision was recognised, many men in custody are dads whose children are in care proceedings, have looked after children, children who are adopted etc. and while in prison, are not able to have their voice heard, are not able to contact services nor easily receive timely updates, court hearing communication or instruct legal representation. In some cases, the father was the protective factor in the family and when imprisoned, their children were taken into care and any meaningful involvement and contact with their father stopped. The impact on these children is immeasurable and for the imprisoned father, this separation not only affects their behaviour and choices while in prison but also serves to lessen any possibility of rehabilitation. Laura and Alice created Prison Family Support CIC in response to recognising a need for support for fathers in custody in contacting external child services . Lewes prison were keen to have the provision for the prisoners and in February 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Prison Family Support to enable this work to be delivered moving forward. Prison Family Support does not receive any payment for services delivered from HMPPS and is entirely dependant on external funding. - Go Back -

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PRISON FAMILY SUPPORT CIC - Registered Company number 1444553