How we monitor

Since the schemes inception in 2002 over 1,700 prisoners have participated. We try to ascertain the impact that participating has had on the family unit by getting as much feedback as possible from participating prisoners and their families. We also often receive letters from prisoners expressing the positive impact that participating in the project has had on their family relationships.

We look at all areas of possible benefits to the prisoners including such as:

Improved confidence and sense of achievement
Understanding the importance of reading and story telling for children's development and imagination
The prisoners' self esteem and perception of themselves as a valued parent is improved because they have been able to do something for their child
In some cases the prisoner will feel a sense of accomplishment because they may be breaking new ground as far as their experiences of parenting are concerned (many parents were never read to as a child and have not read to their children before)
Prisoners feel happier because links with family are being maintained
Participants may be encouraged to explore learning opportunities on offer in the prison e.g. parenting, literacy or creative writing courses

For those parents that participate in the story writing workshops:

Improved writing skills, improved IT skills, greater understanding of what makes a children's story; substantial sense of achievement

Benefits for the children include:

The reduction in separation anxiety and more settled behaviour because they know they are important to the absent parent and that they are loved and missed
Engaging with storytelling and imagination
Empowerment; they can listen to the CD whenever they want, especially during times of loneliness or during feelings of abandonment
They are proud of the CD because their parents created it especially for them

We are also undertaking some case studies during the period of incarceration and after release to gauge the impact of the project on the likelihood of re-offending.