Over 500 children visit a loved one at HMP Edinburgh every month. For many, it can be an overwhelming experience. That’s why our staff work tirelessly to make every visit as positive and supportive as possible.
Putting children first is at the heart of everything they do. Through their Play Learn Connect (PLC) sessions, often referred to as bonding visits, children can spend meaningful time with their dads in a more relaxed and natural environment. Unlike traditional prison visits, these sessions allow families to move around freely, play together and take part in shared activities.
As one visitor, who brings her newborn grandson to visit his dad, explains: “The bonding visits are just a chance for dads to let their guard down and be more authentic with their kids, in a way that they can’t really do if there are other prisoners around.”
She spoke about the impact imprisonment has had on her family: “Although he’s been in and out of jail for a while, this is the time that it feels like it’s truly punishment because he can’t be there.”
However, she also praised staff for the support they’ve provided to help maintain their connection: “When the baby was a couple of weeks old, they did handprints and footprints. They also got a photo taken together at the bonding visit. Obviously there’s no phones, so there’s no opportunity to get a photo of your baby otherwise.”
Staff also organise a range of family-focused experiences and events throughout the year, including sports days, movie nights, and Christmas and Easter celebrations. If a child has a birthday approaching, staff will even arrange for a cake to be shared during a PLC session, giving families the opportunity to celebrate together.
Nicola Leatherbarrow, a First Line Manager at HMP Edinburgh, is always looking for new ways to create meaningful shared experiences for children and their dads. Future plans include an outdoor area where children can learn to ride a bike with their dads, as well as homework packs that families can complete together. “I’m trying to do things that we take for granted,” she says.
Recently, 1919 Magazine spent time at HMP Edinburgh to better understand the experiences of visiting families. The team visited the Visitors Centre, run by our partners Barnardo’s Scotland, and spoke with staff and families about the importance of maintaining family connections.
Read the full article here: https://1919magazine.co.uk/…/child-friendly-prison…/