Who else can help?

We have a dedicated section of the website for children, their parents/carers and professionals, with a range of resources which may be useful in coping with the imprisonment of a loved one: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/children-and-young-people

We also have a range of services to support families affected by imprisonment:

Pact’s services for families affected by imprisonment

Prisoners’ Families Helpline - a free and confidential service offering practical and emotional support, information and advice to anyone who is affected by imprisonment, in a straightforward, non-judgemental way. Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, on 0808 808 3444: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/pact-helpline
Telephone befriending support for adults - provides support to help families better cope with the emotional and practical issues that are faced on a daily basis as a result of the imprisonment of a loved one: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/family-support
Peer Support in London for adults – monthly Peer Support Groups, where those affected by imprisonment can meet others in similar situations and share their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a non-judgmental, friendly environment: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/family-support
Peer Support in London for children – regular youth groups held in London where young people aged 11-17 can meet others in a similar situation, have a chat and take part in a range of activities including film making and photography, graffiti art and comic book making: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/how-we-can-help
FAQs for adults: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/prisoner-family-faq
FAQs for teenagers: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/pages/faqs/category/teen-faqs
FAQs for children: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/my-family-member-is-in-prison
Advice for carers of children affected by imprisonment: advice on how to support a child through their typical responses to a loved one’s imprisonment and how to tell a child that a loved one has gone to prison: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/tell-my-child

Below is a list of additional helpful organisations for children and young people and their parents/carers. For a list of helpful organisations for adults affected by imprisonment, please see here: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/Category/other-helpful-orgs

Other charities offering support to children of prisoners

Barnardos CAPI – supports children and families affected by imprisonment across England and Wales: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/capi-community-support-for-offenders-families/service-view.htm?id=210221911
Children Heard and Seen – supports children affected by imprisonment in Berkshire and Oxfordshire: http://childrenheardandseen.co.uk/
Families Outside - offers support and information to families affected by imprisonment in Scotland: https://www.familiesoutside.org.uk/
NEPACS –supports prisoners and their families in the north East of England: http://www.nepacs.co.uk/
NIACRO – support for prisoners and their families in Northern Ireland: https://www.niacro.co.uk/
POPs –supports prisoners and their families in Manchester/Greater Manchester: http://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk/
PSS – provides support to children with a family member in prison in Liverpool: http://www.psspeople.com/how-pss-can-help/make-my-family-stronger/with-my-parent-in-prison
Sussex Prisoners Families - supports families affected by imprisonment in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove: http://www.sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk/

Other organisations for children and young people

Childline – provides information and advice to children about a range of challenges https://www.childline.org.uk/
Mind Infoline – offers information on mental health difficulties for children and young people https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
Nacoa – provides information, advice and support for young people affected by a parent's drinking: http://www.nacoa.org.uk/
Relate: offers support to young people for a variety of troubles https://www.relate.org.uk/relationship-help/help-children-and-young-people

Other organisations for parents/carers of children affected by imprisonment

Assisted Prison Visits Scheme – Information about help for the cost of prison visits: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits
Family Lives – offers information, advice, guidance and support on any aspect of parenting and family life: http://www.familylives.org.uk/
FRANK – offers information on drug use: http://www.talktofrank.com/worried-about-a-child
Gingerbread – offers advice and practical support to single parents: https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/

Grandparents Plus - Support group for grandparents raising their grandchild: http://www.grandparentsplus.org.uk/
Inside Time – provides information on each prison, including information for visitors, facilities and contact numbers: http://www.insidetime.org/
NSPCC - The NSPCC helpline provides help and support to thousands of parents, professionals and families: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/services-and-resources/nspcc-helpline/

One Space – offers an online community for single parents: http://www.singleparents.org.uk/
Refuge – offers information, support and advice to families affected by domestic violence: http://www.refuge.org.uk/
Relate – offers parenting guidance and information to parents of troubled teenagers: https://www.relate.org.uk/relationship-help/help-family-life-and-parenting
Shelter - offers information and advice on housing concerns: http://www.shelter.org.uk/
The Family Rights Group – offers independent specialist information and advice to parents whose children are in need, at risk or are in the care system and with members of the wider family who are raising children unable to remain at home: http://www.frg.org.uk/
YoungMinds For Parents – offers advice for parents about mental health and behaviour problems in children and young people: http://www.frg.org.uk/

Other organisations for professionals supporting children affected by imprisonment

Children of Prisoners Europe video – a short video entitled “Because it’s our right”, explaining the rights children of prisoners have http://childrenofprisoners.eu/awareness-raising-videos/
i-Hop - a one-stop knowledge hub, delivered by Barnardos, to support all professionals in working with children and families of offenders, bringing together useful information in one place https://www.i-hop.org.uk/
Pact – provides specific advice to a range of professionals, such as school staff, social workers and the police: https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/Pages/Category/for-professionals

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