The imprisonment of a partner or parent can be devastating and have serious financial, emotional and social implications. The Mothers’ Union is showing Christian care by helping prisoners and their families.

A recent government study estimates that 45% of prisoners lose contact with their family and 22% of married prisoners divorce or separate as a consequence of receiving a custodial sentence. Yet research has also shown that families play an important part in prisoner resettlement, and help to reduce prisoner re-offending.

Lessons learned

Mothers’ Union (MU) members across Britain and Ireland are helping prisoners develop and maintain vital relationships with their families. At HMP Littlehey, a category C prison for men, MU members are helping prisoners develop their relationship and parenting skills through a six-week course. During the first few sessions, attendees explore what it takes to make and sustain good relationships. As the prisoners become more comfortable, volunteers introduce themes that focus specifically on being a good parent. One MU volunteer commented: One father said, ‘If I knew what I know now, I’d still have a wife and children, and I wouldn’t be here.’

Time together

Together with the Prison Service, the Mothers’ Union in the Worcester area has developed ‘Family Time’, an initiative that enables prisoners, their partners and children to meet in an informal setting. Around ten families attend the sessions, which include crafts, story-time, and games. The visiting room is arranged to allow for freedom of movement and one-to-one family interaction.

‘Carol’, the partner of a prisoner, says, ‘The sessions have given us a chance as a family to “be” a family in this place.’ When asked what her favourite part of the session was, six-year-old ‘Laura’ simply replied, ‘I can play with my daddy!’

For more information about Mothers’ Union
initiatives in prisons please contact them at the
following email address: outreach@themothers union.org