Realities of children beyond the prison gates

MUDPIES co-ordinators Lydia Gladwin and Carole Goddard reflect on their experiences of meeting children and their families in prison.

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I WILL never forget young Tom (aged 10) who, like most children, enjoys drawing and colouring. Both he and his younger sister were making cards for their dad and Tom was particularly good at drawing, so I asked if I could have a look at his card. Inside, decorated with kisses and hearts, he had written: ‘Dear Dad, I love you very much and I miss doing things with you. I am trying very hard to make you proud of me and by the time you get out of prison I will be in a football team. Love from Tom.'

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ANNA was four-years old when her daddy was put in prison. They had to go a long way to the prison to see Daddy. A lady in a white shirt felt her clothes and there were some big dogs, and she had to stand still while they sniffed her. Then they went into a huge room with lots of people in and Daddy was sitting at a table wearing strange clothes. Anna rushed up to him and gave him a great big hug and then she sat on his lap for a bit.

Mummy and Daddy started talking about grown-up things like money and rent, and Anna got bored and
started fidgeting. She started running around the big room but somebody told her off. After that visit, Mummy left Anna with her Nanny when she went to see Daddy, so Anna didn't see him often and she missed him. Then one day Nanny was poorly so Anna had to go to the prison again but this time there were lots of toys in one corner and some nice smiley ladies. After Anna had said hello to Daddy, the ladies asked what her name was and if she wanted to play. So she played with some dolls, then an animal card game, then she did some colouring and a drawing. She wrote A.N.N.A on the picture and took it to Daddy. He was very pleased with it and said he would put it on the wall in his room.

After that visit Anna saw her Daddy nearly every Saturday and she always did a picture for him. Anna is
nearly six-years old now and always plays in the toy corner when she goes to the prison, but Daddy and
Mummy are more smiley now because Daddy is coming home soon.

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THE sight of a young woman leaving the prison in floods of tears - one child in her arms and one holding
her hand. She had a long journey ahead of her and no prospect of seeing her partner for many weeks because of the distance she had to travel. Her grief and burdens were palpable and it is in her face and those of her children that we see the face of Christ.

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BOTH Governors and their Deputy Governors are keen to have volunteers in both establishments. Not only do volunteers provide much needed services to inmates but they believe it is important to have contact with the outside world and vice versa.

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