Family and Friends Forum

We never thought we would find ourselves going through this , but we are! Lots of things came as a shock. Timescales, solicitor problems, prison visits, prison moves, it is all scary. Other than this website, we found very little help in the timescale / waiting for conviction processes. Have you found the same?

We are investigating how we might help support "newbies" with accurate, helpful info and eventually "safe places" for face to face support and help. This would not include legal help, that is beyond us, but information and a shoulder to cry on (we did plenty of that!).

This is not going to be instant by any means as it will need a lot of organising, but we have started contacting various people who could help, to guage support.

Comments from anyone?

Thanks for the replies so far, it is very encouraging and shows there is a real need. My wife and I (I am my son's dad) have felt since his conviction that something needs to be done. We both love our son very deeply, but realise he needs help that we might not be able to give. However, we can help (hopefully) others like us who have had to go through this painful experience, which is not adequately helped by the present system. We have typed out some info borne out of our experence of visiting his first prison,we have left this info with the visitor centre and hopefully they will hand it out to the "newbies". I have also asked that they let me know any feedback they get, or if they will be allowed to even hand them out! I am hoping that the Ormiston Families or Spurgeons Child Care, who run several visitor centres at prisons will take this up, but we will see. Safe spaces and giving info on the earlier processes is a longer term "wish list". and I will re-post on this as the vision and possibility grows...but it will be a long term thing to get started! Some of this stuff needs to be available at a very early stage and that may prove problematic.

Hi Ann P

Our son has been moved now to another prison and that has thrown up some more questions and problems. The need that we see and hear just seems to get bigger! I hope that we don't let people down because it is just too big! I have contacted a faith organisation and our local MP to see if I can add some legitimacy, it would be good to cut some corners by using an existing organisation. Thanks for the encouragement though.

Thanks Lee 1969 that is just what is needed. we are much newe to this than many and we are on catchup. Anything that eases the process and help the better.