Kids Matter in Prisons
Our parenting programmes, when offered in prison, can equip parents with confidence and competence; they also crucially form part of the wider attempt to break the cycle of reoffending.
Our vision at Kids Matter is to see every child in need raised in a strong family. There are thought to be over 300,000 children with parents in prison in the UK and we are thus committed to offering Kids Matter programmes as workshops in prisons. Our hope is that parents in prison will be able to use these workshops to strengthen relationships with their family, ultimately helping their children to thrive.
In addition, the Farmer Report (2017, Ministry of Justice) found that:
“Family work can be considered as the third leg of the stool of rehabilitation, along with education and employment, as it provides meaning and motivation which can tackle the cycle of reoffending, and generational offending … by strengthening family ties, a stronger support system is put in place to help the parent with the transition upon release.”
Parenting workshops can offer the support necessary to ensure parents feel more connected to their families and are more likely to return to them upon release.
Topics covered in Kids Matter in Prisons
What children need
Foundational elements that all children need, which include basic needs met, love and belonging, playing, exploring and learning, feeling heard and understood, guidance and boundaries.
Parenting styles
Recognising and understanding the consequences of different styles of parenting and the importance of fathers.
Play
Understanding the value of play, what play looks like and recognising what makes play hard for us as adults.
Communication
How to communicate with and listen effectively to children and family members.
If you would like to find out more about what’s involved in running Kids Matter workshops in your local prison, we’d love to hear from you. Email us on info@kidsmatter.org.uk
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Impact
By evaluating our impact, we are able to assess the effectiveness of our programmes to ensure life-changing support for children impacted by poverty in our communities.
Stories
Read stories from parents and carers, facilitators, partner leads and community links about how our parenting programme makes a difference in the lives of children and families.
Donate now
Giving a financial gift is a great way of partnering with us to see every child in need raised in a strong family, and your donation really will make a difference.