Maintaining family bonds is something we are passionate about. Research suggests that as much as 30 per cent of fathers separated from their children are completely out of contact with them after five years. For imprisoned fathers this figure is even higher. Imprisoned fathers often have a tendency to withdraw from the outside world. It is as if imprisonment destroys or damages the paternal image for both father and child. Storybook Dads seeks to try and restore this paternal image.

For women prisoners (usually the primary carer) this enforced separation can often be even harder on them and their children. They are often imprisoned a long way from their children and so we are pleased that we have been able to grow sufficiently to include female prisoners into the scheme.

Prisoners' children are often the forgotten victims of crime and can suffer a great deal from the forced separation. This can often lead to poor performance at school, feelings of isolation, confusion, shame and depression. This, in turn, can lead to increased disruption within the family and may fuel the conditions which could predispose the child to embark on criminal or self destructive activities as they grow up.

When a parent sends out a CD of themselves reading a bedtime story he/ she is able to fulfil a natural parental role from behind bars. It's something tangible that they can do for, and give to, their children, which is extremely important for their self esteem and perceived value as a parent. Some prisoners, who had not been read to as a child, have understood the importance of reading and are committed to do so with their children on release.

The benefits to the prisoners and their families cannot be over emphasised and since it is well documented that maintaining family ties helps to reduce re-offending, the benefits to society as a whole are inestimable.