'MY VISIT' CHILDREN'S BOOKLET OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED AT HMP WORMWOOD SCRUBS

pact officially launched its new booklet for prisoners' children, 'My Visit', in a cheerful and uplifting ceremony inside HMP Wormwood Scrubs last week.

Our guests - prison staff, prisoners, their children and families, funders, and dignitaries including Prisons Minister David Hanson - listened to a series of speeches about the booklet, and the small but crucial role it can play in reducing the negative impact of imprisonment on families.

The 'My Visit' booklet explains the experience of visiting a prison to children using brightly coloured pictures and easy-to-understand words, thanks to the help of author and illustrator Andy Ellis. There are spaces for children to draw pictures with their mum or dad. View a PDF of the booklet

Andy Keen-Downs, pact's Director, said, "For many children, visiting prison can be a frightening, confusing or distressing experience. 'My Visit' is designed to take away the fear, and to make visiting mum or dad a positive time."

Andy also praised the work of Sharon Flynn, the Head of Young People's Substance Misuse Service from Feltham Young Offenders Institution, who came up with the original idea for the booklet.

The most moving contribution was from a serving prisoner, who spoke about the impact that his imprisonment has had on his children: "The tears and the fear... As a parent, the most important part of our lives are our children. But our children are victims too - victims of our own making."

He explained the importance of keeping the bond with regular visits: "This booklet can help, by taking away the fear factor for smaller children."

David Hanson, the Prisons Minister, said, "The purpose of prison is to punish those who have broken society's rules - it is not there to punish their children. Visiting prison can be a strange and difficult experience for prisoners' families, and we want to make it as easy for them as possible. I know that this booklet, along with the excellent work pact already do, will be a great help."

Nick Pascoe, Director of Offender Management for London, also spoke warmly about the new booklet and pact's work with prisoners' families. Read his speech in full

Steve Metcalf, the Governor of Wormwood Scrubs, also praised the booklet and spoke about its potential.

But it wasn't all speeches. Drama group Perform led the children in a drama presentation, and we produced a small exhibition of some of the 'My Visit' booklets that have been used by children visiting someone in Scrubs during a pilot of the booklet.

If you would like to receive a sample copy of 'My Visit', please phone 0207 735 9535 or e-mail: info (at) prisonadvice (dot) org (dot) uk

Please contact us if you are interested in ordering a large quantity of 'My Visit' booklets.