by Reuben Vincent
In August 2005, the black volunteer-led ‘Parents Of Prisoners Support Group’ was started in the kitchen of one concerned woman in response to widespread concern that parents and relatives of those in prison had nowhere to go and nobody to talk to about their traumatic situation.
The first meeting saw an attendance of ten, a mixture of people with relatives in prison; families of ex-prisoners and those who just wanted to help out. Founder, Vivian Osborne (pictured) spoke about that first meeting:
“People who attended said they felt alone, the only ones in this situation and wanted emotional and practical support; relief from loneliness and to share their experiences.”
There was a general acknowledgement that the group’s priority was to work in the Burngreave area as that was where it was most needed. Many attendees also thought that one-to-one support was needed to help offenders cope with being in prison.
One parent spoke in detail about the depth and range of suffering faced by the relatives of prisoners:
“The relative is serving the sentence just as much as they are – you’re going through it in your own way and you go through an immense grieving process.
“At times like Christmas or their birthday the pain of it all intensifies, leaving you feeling even more alone and sad and it’s these times when support is even more needed. Even though they’ve committed a crime, you still want to help them – it’s still your child at the end of it all.”
Emotional Strain
Vivian also spoke of the emotional strain placed on the relatives making prison visits:
“There is a long and tiresome process checking for weapons etc.When you do get to see them, you don’t have any privacy – you’re being watched all the time.Then it’s all over and you have to go home without them.You want to take them with you but you can’t. It’s all very emotionally wearing.”
With its ongoing expansion, the group, now based in SYAC (South Yorkshire African-Caribbean Business and Enterprise Training Centre) on The Wicker, is looking for additional help and support. They currently have eight members on the management committee, including secretary Levi and treasurer Val, and have applied for lottery funding to pay for two part-time workers to further expand the service.
Joined-up services
Vivian said: “We want to offer an integrated approach to dealing with the problems faced: joined-up services with easy access to the right information and agencies. For example, we can direct people to the Burngreave Mentoring Project for further help. We also want to work more with the prisoners themselves, to try and help them reintegrate into normal society once they have served their sentence by helping them with training, skills, work and re-entry to school.”
They are always looking for more volunteers:
“We are looking for people with past experience who can help, by giving motivational talks to prisoners and offering knowledgeable support. But anyone can help, with simple things like transport for relatives to and from prison or by being on the management committee.”
Positive outreach
Vivian made it clear that making a difference to parents of prisoners really gave a good feeling:
“It is not the most popular area to work in, but it’s work that has to be done, and it’s a worthwhile feeling I get from doing it. So many people come up to me and say ‘I’ve got a relative in prison’ and this makes me realise that I am a part of a positive outreach to the community.”
“I think we all need to be reminded that these young people in our prisons, for all the wrong they may have done, are still human beings like you and me. They still deserve the opportunity to fulfil their potential and the right to a second chance. There is a stereotypical, negative attitude around this issue that they have done wrong; have lost their right to ever be decent citizens again and a tendency to accept these offenders as ‘lost’ to the criminal justice system. We have to recognise the motives for their crimes and why they have ended up where they are. As well as helping them while they are in prison we need to try to deal with the problem earlier and eliminate the need for anyone to be imprisoned.”
The group is black-led but welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you would like to find out more about the group or help in any way, contact:
Room 7, SYAC, 120 The Wicker, S3 8JD;
Telephone: 0114 275 6301
Email: parents1@btconnect.com
Meetings are on the first Monday of every month with the next on Monday 6th November, 7–9pm in the conference room at SYAC. All are welcome.
The group is looking for a new name, so watch out for the relaunch soon.