FAMILY MATTERS

New Bridge offers a parenting education and relationships course in prisons - Family Matters. The course is accredited and is delivered through trained volunteers.

The course is specifically designed for prisoners and tackles issues relating to being a parent in prison. Family Matters can act as a catalyst for change in the participants' attitude to family life, emphasising the importance of positive parenting and maintaining a constructive parenting role whilst in prison. Amongst other elements, Family Matters also helps prisoners to identify sources of help in the community and explores the problems caused by dealing dishonestly with children. Overall, the course is designed to be responsive to individual needs and recognises that offenders often lead complex and chaotic lives.

Family Matters ran in three prisons in 2009, reaching 190 prisoners; men, women and young offenders. It is led by our Development Manager, Lesley Dixon.