Family Support
Case Studies

Ms S travelled from Swansea with her eight year old daughter.

They set off at 4am as their visit was early on a Saturday morning. They were both tired and upset when they arrived at the Visitor Centre. Ms S didn’t bring enough ID to be able to go on her visit and became quite abusive when she was turned away. I looked at the ID she had presented and it was clear that she had had a traumatic history. She had come to this country as part of a witness programme and was fearful for her life and that of her daughter. She was terrified that if she applied for the correct paperwork, the authorities in her home country would be alerted, people would find out her new identity and she would be killed. She was genuinely terrified. The booking officer was adamant that as she didn’t have the correct ID, she couldn’t attend the visit. I explained that the rule was in place largely to protect her daughter but that I would discuss her situation with the Senior Officer. I repeated several times that the safety of her daughter was our primary concern and that we would try to get her in for a visit. English was not her first language so I spoke clearly to help her understanding.

I spoke with the SO, discussed her ID and her personal situation and she was allowed on the visit. I explained to her why we had such strict entry guidelines, calmed her, reassured her and helped her and her daughter attend their visit. Once that was complete, she thanked me for helping and explained that she had been so upset because whenever she had visited before (she had been turned away more than once for insufficient ID), nobody had explained why she couldn’t visit and why her ID had been wrong. Her English wasn’t great and she couldn’t understand why she had such difficulty coming to visit her partner. All she needed was patience and understanding and someone with the time to help.

I booked a Reception Visit for a new prisoner and as I was explaining the whys and wherefores of prison life, the prisoners Dad broke down in tears and said he was struggling with the thought of his son in prison. I said I would meet him and his family face to face once they had been on their visit so we could spend time discussing how everyone was coping. In the meantime, I reassured him that he could call me whenever he felt he needed support.

He rang a couple of times with quick questions and was happy with just a short phone call but when we met after the Reception Visit, I sat with the family for a couple of hours discussing coping strategies, the grieving process, hopes, feelings and expectations. I calmed and reassured the parents and partner and helped them come to terms with the situation they now found themselves in. They left feeling they weren’t alone and are now more prepared to deal with life as prison visitors.

Mr D is serving a life sentence and was recently transferred to HMP Birmingham from a prison in Northern Ireland. His partner visited him a couple of times in NI but she died several months ago. He has several grandchildren he hasn’t seen for four years and others he has never met. He hasn’t been able to see his family for years but he speaks regularly to everyone on the phone.

His transfer to HMP Birmingham was an ideal opportunity to see his family face to face but when he was talking to officers on his new wing, they told him they didn’t have the ID required to get in. He was devastated. I spoke to him, reassured him that his family could visit and explained what could be done so he could finally meet his grandchildren. I also told him about APVU so his family could get financial assistance to come and visit, and explained about Family Days so his grandchildren could have an extended visit with him. Mr D, lifer, bodybuilder and hard man, cried.

HALOW Case Studies & News

Families & friends of HMP Birmingham survey

Please can domestic visitors of HMP Birmingham follow the link below and complete this survey. The survey is only short, consisting of 7 questions. Thanking you in advance. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/52TNQXK  

A family from the travelling community has been attending Homework Club at HMP Oakwood FPC each Tuesday evening for 12 months; within the family are two boys aged 5 and 3. The elder boy would enter the centre initially quite boisterous, running in and out of the play area, around the tables where people eat, pushing his little brother around on a

A young mother was observed with two small children. The eldest (2 years old) was seen to be running around, letting himself out of the doors, taking toys from other children and not responding to his mothers requests. The Children’s Worker (CW) talked with the mother and found out the child had autism – she explained he struggled wit

Macmillian Cake and Coffee afternoons

The Staff and visitors at HMP Oakwood Family Pathway Centre rasied a total of £253 during our Macmillan cake and coffee afternoons, “thank you for your support to a good cause”. for more information visit Macmillan’s website: www.macmillan.org.uk

HMP Oakwood's Community Engagement

Over the last few weeks, the children have been creating their own tree decorations for the HMP Oakwood Family Pathway Christmas Tree. Once dressed, the FPC tree took part in a Christmas Tree Festival at a local church near to Stafford. Over 40 trees were exhibited in the church over the weekend of the 2nd to the 4th December 2016. The FPC tree was

Xmas Arts and Crafts

Over the past few weeks the children have been making and personalising their own stockings to display next to the Oakwood fire place in the Family Pathway Centre, create a warm relaxing display.

HALOW BIRMINGHAM is grateful for support from

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