HMP Addiewell Visitor Centre launch learning packs with Peeple
After months of preparation, there was real excitement at Cyrenians HMP Addiewell Visitor Centre this month as the team received a special delivery of books and resources for families working with the service.
The visitor centre team offers support and signposting for dads serving sentences and their affected family members as they navigate visiting a loved one in prison, and parenting with someone serving a sentence. It can be a highly emotional and difficult time for parents and children alike, with additional pressures such as financial concerns and questions around how to cope as a family. The service offers a confidential and supportive environment for families to meet within the prison, as well as hands-on practical advice and support in the form of resources and guidance - delivered over the phone or in person.
Many of the dads spending time in HMP Addiewell feel disconnected from their child's education because of the time they spend away from them at key developmental stages. They can’t help with homework, ask how school is going or read them a book before bed.
That is why Cyrenians, in partnership with Peeple and Play with PTR, have created take-home learning packs to support whole family learning and a strong Home Learning Environment (HLE). The HMP Addiewell team will use these packs in upcoming PEEP parenting sessions that are designed to provide an opportunity to share ideas and information about simple ways to support young children’s learning and development, drawing on families’ and practitioners’ experience in addition to the programme itself.
Working with these packs will give dads the opportunity to share the same resources as their children at home—supporting connection, learning and quality time together, during visits and beyond.
Each family will receive a bag filled with handpicked resources and a themed book, designed to inspire shared learning and strengthen the bonds which are crucial for keeping families together during time apart —as well as provide children with effective tools to learn and grow.
