Bedtime stories...

What kind of memories do you have been read to as a child? Perhaps you have children of your own and you have shared bedtime stories with them? Perhaps you have had to spend time away from your family which was difficult for you? Every year in the UK 200,000 children experience the imprisonment of a parent.  Many of us, from across our churches and communities, will have experience of this, as it affects so many children. It is very hard being separated from your family in this way, but there is some amazing work going on to support families - you can read all about Lewis Hardy and how he has got through things….

Lewis was struggling in prison, feeling isolated from his young family and increasingly "cold". Then he was shown a way of doing something that many parents take for granted - reading to his children - and everything began to change. He tells us about his challenges and how he got through the tough times in a recent BBC news article which you can read HERE.

This work is part of the amazing work which is done by a charity called Storybook Dads.

You can read more about their vital work and why they do it HERE

This work helps keep a connection between prisoners and their families.

Read on and see the hope that this has given to Lewis…

Perhaps your church could help support this work by fundraising, volunteering or buying their beautiful greetings cards - see here for further information and ideas and click on How You Can Help…

We thank God for the work done by all the volunteers and staff at Storybook Dads and ask God’s blessing on the children and families whom they support.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash by Picsea

"No child should face life's struggles alone..."

This is the heartfelt goal of Spurgeons Children’s Charity: that no child should face life's struggles alone...

Spurgeons work to support churches, families and individuals to face challenges and overcome struggles. One of the area in which they work is how to support a child if one of their parents is serving time in prison. This is a difficult and confusing time for children, but Spurgeons have some helpful and hope-filled advice:

What to say to a child….

They also have resources and prayers for you and your church to use and share HERE.

Spurgeons was founded by the Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and his associates in 1867 and the charity have been working and serving vulnerable children and families for over 150 years…. Thank God for their work!

Pray with us….

A prayer for the Lord to protect and bless the children Spurgeons works with

Loving God, for all the children you have created, we give you thanks and praise. For the young people they grow to be, we give you thanks and praise. Give us the eyes to see and ears to hear their needs. Give us soft hearts to respond to their silent call for our support and assistance. Give us open minds to be taught by children as they speak to us. Help us see how we can support work that gives young people the opportunities to realise their potential. Help us to love them like Jesus loves them; to teach and show them what is true, just and compassionate.  We pray for Spurgeons work with the 1600 young carers they support; with the 500 prisoners who look to Spurgeons for help in becoming the fathers they should be; with the 1,200 children and young people Spurgeons staff have protected from harm in the last year; and the 3,000 children and parents receiving dedicated support from Spurgeons to be stronger more stable and loving families. We lift up all of these to Your throne of grace asking for Your Spirit to heal broken lives; to carry heavy burdens resting on young shoulders; and to protect the vulnerable from abuse, harm and exploitation. Lord, hear our prayer for those you have brought into Spurgeons’ care. Use Spurgeons as Your willing hands to transform their lives in ways that bring glory and honour to Jesus. Amen.

Photo courtesy of Unpslash by Pan Xiaozhen

Love on Mothers' Day

Each one of us, over the years will have many memories, both happy and sad, of marking Mother’s Day in some way. It can be a difficult time for many, especially those in prison, so the Prison Fellowship (PF) has a project linked for Mothers’ Day.

Angel Tree Mothers’ Day supports young adult prisoners in their family relationships by enabling them to have a gift sent on their behalf, containing their own message, to their mother or other significant adult, on Mothers’ Day.

PF’s mission is to show Christ’s love to prisoners by coming alongside them and supporting them. They seek through prayer and practical care to help, support and develop a Christian ministry to prisoners and their families.

How can you get involved? You can find out more about the Angel Tree project and the wider work of PF HERE… you can get involved in your church by praying for their work, volunteering, making donation or partnering your church with Angel Tree Mothers’ Day - find out more HERE.

You can sign up for their free prayer diary HERE.

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison.”— Hebrews 13:3

Photo courtesy of Andrea Tummons, Unsplash

Learning sets us free...

Thirty years ago, I began my first degree in English and Education at Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University). I had been attending evening classes the previous year to brush up my Maths skills and gain an O level. I was both nervous and excited about this new venture - but once I began, I was amazed at how my mind and heart opened out and my confidence grew, with all the new things I was learning. It felt like a kind of freedom!

It is thirty years since the Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET) was established. Since it started the Trust has been providing access to broader learning opportunities for prisoners to enhance their chances of building a better life after release.

After I graduated, I spent time as an Education Manager across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire which included managing education contracts for those serving prison sentences (both short and long terms, in youth and adult jails). I had the privilege and honour to see, first hand, the way that men and women actively engaged in all kinds of education and how they like me, had found a new sense of esteem and freedom through this learning. Many years later, I worked alongside a Free Church Prison Chaplain in Gloucestershire and spent time with prisoners who through their church life, worship and educational programmes were building a future full of hope.

In your church you can get involved in volunteering or fundraising for the work of PET. You can find out more information HERE.

PET’s motto is: Every prisoner a learner, every prison a place to learn

Pray with us for the work of PET, as they celebrate thirty years of service to prisoners and for the work of our Free Church Prison Chaplains across the nation.

Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime. Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day. Amen.

Prayer from http://prisonsweek.org/2018-prayer-campaign

Photo courtesy of Steve Halama @ Unsplash

Sara Iles, FCG Education Asst

"Top 100 Charity!"

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) is a national charity that provides support to prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. A few years ago, I had the benefit of attending a Pact course entitled The Hidden Sentence; Pact developed the course and named it based on a phrase that they have so often heard from prisoners’ families as a description of how their lives can feel - The Hidden Sentence. It was challenging and inspiring to be part of this training and I am so pleased to see that Pact are going from strength to strength in their work! They have just been ranked as one of the best charities to work for. Congratulations from all at FCG! Pact has a long history of serving prisoners, families and communities and was established by Christians over 120 years ago!

Pact says: “We are proud to announce that Pact has been ranked as one of the top 100 best not-for-profit organisations to work for in the UK for the second time! We are absolutely delighted to see that we have risen 24 places to 55th in The Sunday Times list. We would like to say a huge thank you to all staff who took part in the Best Companies B-Heard survey and thank them for their fantastic feedback. We will be looking at all of the results carefully so that we can continue developing Pact as a great place to work. Pact CEO, Andy Keen-Downs said to our staff: You have told us that you work for Pact for the very best of reasons. You’ve said that your work really matters to you – that it’s not just a job - it’s part of your life, and you are here because you share our values. We do work that most people in Society would never dream of attempting. We have a uniquely values-driven, passionate, brave and determined workforce. That’s why we keep growing and improving. That’s why we are a Top 100 charity.”

Pact support people to make a fresh start, and minimise the harm that can be caused by imprisonment to people who have committed offences, to families and to communities.

What Pact do:

• Build stronger families and safer communities.

• Reduce risk of harm to prisoners and their children.

• Remove barriers and increase awareness in public services.

• Influence commissioning, policy and legislation.

Please pray with us the work of Pact, their staff, volunteers and services to be upheld and supported!

You can read more about the wider work which FCG do to support ministry in prisons HERE

Revd Sara Iles, FCG

Photo by Ethan Hoover, from Unsplash