Family Days

Generic Family Visit

There are several different types of activities for the special family visits. We have card making, lucky bags, activity colouring sheets, pass the parcel and musical statues. We have story telling. There is often special appearance from Doris the dinosaur (the prison mascot). All the families have the opportunity to have their photographs taken.

The itinerary is similar for all family visit days. Everyone arrives for 8.45 am for the morning visits and 1pm for the afternoon visit. The families are taken up into the legal visits area in the prison.

We start with allowing the families to spend time together and then introduce the craft activities, encouraging the parents to take part with the children. We then have story time which gives us time to clear away the activities and set up the buffet. After the story has finished the special appearance is made by Doris. Family photographs are taken. Once everyone has eaten the party games begin.

This is aimed at children from 2-10yrs

Gym and Cooking Days

These days are very similar to the above: mum/carer arrive at the visits centre for about 9am, at 9.30 the children are taken into the prison gym where they play games and spend special time with their dad. Whilst the children are in the gym, mum stays in the centre where she has some special time for herself, a beauty therapist comes to the centre and teaches them some wellbeing techniques, and they can chat with other mums who are experiencing some of the same problems of having a loved one in prison. At 11.45 everyone joins together for a buffet lunch in the legal visits area, after lunch we play a family quiz. The visit ends around 3pm.

The cooking day is a similar structure to the gym day, the only difference is that children go into education and cook a healthy meal with dad and then they all eat together as a family.

These visits are aimed at children 6+

Family Visits Programme 2013


February 2013

Tuesday 5th February

2.00pm - 4.30pm (Gym)
Under 4's Visit soft play toys, baby activities

Tuesday 19th February

Children aged 5+ (9.45am - 11.45am in Gym)
Legal Visits 12.00 - 2.45pm
Physical Education

March 2013

Saturday 2nd March

Children aged 5+ (9.30am - 11.45am Education)
Legal Visits 12 - 2.45pm
RESETTLEMENT WING ONLY
Cooking and Healthy Eating

Wednesday 13th March

Adult Visit A Wing ONLY
Legal Visits 12.00 - 3.30pm
Relationship Building Workshop

April 2013

Wednesday 3rd April

0 - 14's years PM Only
Legal Visits 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Easter

Tuesday 23rd April

2.00pm - 4.30pm (Gym)
Under 4's Visit soft play toys, baby activities

May 2013

Wednesday 8th May

Adult Visit B,C,D,E,F,H Wings ONLY
Legal Visits 12.00 - 3.30pm

Tuesday 21st May

Children aged 5+ (9.30am - 11.45am in Gym)
Legal Visits 12.00 - 2.45pm
Physical Education

June 2013

Tuesday 12th June

Adult Visit A Wings Only
Legal Visits 12.00 - 3.30pm
Healthy Lifestyles

Tuesday 25th June

2.00pm - 4.30pm (Gym)
Under 4's Visit soft play toys, baby activities

July 2013

Wednesday 10th July

Adult Visit B,C,D,E,F,H Wings ONLY
Legal Visits 12.00 - 3.30pm
Relationship Building Workshop

Wednesday 31st July

Children aged 5+ (9.30am - 11.45am) H2 Garden
Legal Visits 11.45am - 2.45pm
Family Gardening Visit

August 2013

Wednesday 14th August

Family Visit
Children aged 0 - 14 years
Legal Visits 1.00m - 4.00pm
Eid al-Fitr

Saturday 24th August

Children aged 5+ (9.45am - 11.45am in Gym)
Legal Visits 12-2.45pm
RESETTLEMENT WING ONLY
Den Making Experience

September 2013

Wednesday 11th September

Adult Visit A Wing Only
Legal Visits 12.00 - 3.30pm
Creative Arts

Tuesday 24th September

2.00pm - 4.30pm (Gym)
Under 4's Visit soft play toys, baby activities

October 2013

Wednesday 16th October

Adult visit B,C,D,E,F,H Wings Only
Legal Visits 12.00 - 3.30pm
Creative Arts

Wednesday 30th October

Children aged 0 - 14 years
Legal Visits 1.00pm - 4.00pm
Bonfire Night

November 2013

Tuesday 12th November

2.00pm - 4.30pm (Gym)
Under 4's Visit soft play toys, baby activities

Saturday 16th November

Children aged 5+ (9.45am - 11.45am Gym)
Legal Visits 12.00 - 2.45pm
RESETTLEMENT WING ONLY
Bike Maintenance Workshop

December 2013

Wednesday 11th December

Adult Visit A Wing Only
Legal Visits 12.00 - 3.30pm
Adult Christmas Visit

Christmas Visits

Thursday 19th & Friday 20th December

Both Days AM & PM
Legal Visits

Please note the dates and themes of family visits could be subject to change.

Family Visit Evaluation

02/06/2010

Who took part?

There were 12 families in total who took part in the visit. The visit ran from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. There were 12 prisoners, 12 partners and 23 children on the visit. The children were aged from 6mths to 12 years.

What did we do?

On the visit we had a different range of craft activities for the parents and children to take part together as a family. The craft activities ranged from colouring in and decorating photograph frames, book marks, card making and making bracelets and necklaces’. We had pass the parcel for all the children to take part inn. All the families had their photograph taken together the photograph will be placed in the photo frame the children decorated and given to the prisoner A buffet was also provided for them to enjoy together as a family. Evaluations were completed by the prisoner, partner and the children. The afternoon went really well and fun and enjoyment was had by all.

Here are some of the comments we received…

What was the best thing about the visit?

“Spending time with my family and being able to walk about with them”

“Spending time together”

“Extra time with the children”

“Seeing the children and dad play together”

“Getting to spend time together as a family”

“The best thing is to be together eating together & being able to get up without any restrictions”

“Much better than the normal visit”

What was the worse thing about the visit?

“Leaving”

“Short time, two hours is not long enough”

“Not been able to buy things from the shop”

“Not been able to take food back to cells”

“Have them more often”