National award for children's centre and prison partnership

Beverly Hughes MP presents the national accolade to Rachael El Weshahi, Belfield children centre centre leader, Anne Hanley, Senior Probation Officer at HMP Buckley Hall Prison and Stuart Jenkins, Head of Intervention at Buckley Hall Prison.

Partnership work between Rochdale children’s centres and HMP Buckley Hall prison was recognised as outstanding by MPs this week.

Representatives from the children’s centres and the prison travelled to a prestigious award ceremony in London to scoop their Family Learning Festival Award for innovative work between prisoners and their families.

They were presented with their certificate by Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families.

The judges heard about how the children’s centres in Rochdale and the prison had worked together to identify the affects on family life whilst a member of the family was in custody.

Joint work and research resulted in a week of activities at the prison which involved prisoners, their children and partners to celebrate Family Friendly Prison Month. The aim was to allow dads to spend some time with their children, whist being involved in fun activities as a whole family. The purpose is to eventually assist integration back into family life on release.

The week included activities for children including crafts, face painting, a visit from the doorstep bus, photo frame making and a photo of the occasion as a souvenir.

The judging panel examined the systems used to encourage visits from family members who had previously failed to visit and how this partnership work had raised the awareness of family friendly services in the prison.

Belfield children’s centre leader and event organiser, Rachael El Weshahi said: "For all concerned this made what could be a difficult prison visit into a positive experience.

“We have received some fantastic responses from the families who took part in the Family Friendly Prison activities. There has been a tremendous amount of support from both the prison service and POPS (Partners of Prisons Support group) in helping us transform a routine visit into something completely unique and fun for the whole family to engage together. 

"We are very hopeful that we have encouraged families to make the links with their local children’s centre for them to gain a family support network.”

Stuart Jenkins, Head of Interventions at Buckley Hall prison said: “It was fantastic to see the families being able to engage in fun opportunities together.”

For many prisoners it was the first chance to spend time with their family since they were sentenced.

One prisoner said: “Family relations are vital. I don’t want to be in and out of prison. I want to be a dad to my daughter and my daughter to be proud of me. I want to care for her and my family.”

Following the success, Buckley Hall prison aims to host additional family events during the school holidays.