This case study demonstrates the positive impact that PFFS's Swan Centre and Befriending Service had on Jenny's life after her step-father was sent to prison.
Background: Jenny* is now 20 years old. Eleven years ago when she was 9 she was forced, along with her mum and baby brother to leave the city where all her family and friends lived. This came about because her mum's boyfriend Rob was arrested for killing another man. Struggling to understand what was going on Jenny just went along with the decision. Death threats forced the family to move 128 miles away from all that they knew. Issues raised The family lived in 6 different women's refugees, banned from having visitors or giving out their address to their family. As a young child this was particularly difficult for Jenny, unable to keep in touch with her friends. At least once a month the family would do the two and a half hour journey to the prison to visit Rob who continued to play a large role in the life of Jenny and her brother.
Support Offered: After a while Jenny's mum found out about Prisoners' Families and Friends Service (PFFS) and the Swan Centre. She attended the Centre a couple of times. When it came to the summer holidays the Swan Centre paid for all the family to go on a trip with lots of other families in the same position. The family thoroughly enjoyed the holiday, benefiting from being around other families who were struggling with similar issues and who accepted them. After the holiday the family engaged a lot more with the Centre which provided both emotional support, financial guidance and advice on a number of issues. PFFS informed the family about the Assisted Prison Visits Unit through which the family could claim back travelling expenses to the prison. PFFS also supported the family in finding secure council accommodation so they could leave the refuge. Once settled into their new flat PFFS worked with Jenny's mum in getting school and nursery places for both children in the immediate area. Settling in at school was difficult, particularly for Jenny, and her mother was called to the school several times. Her PFFS befriender was able to go with her to all the meetings and, where necessary, advocate on her behalf. Jenny's mother said that it was through this that she learned that to be successful in any sort of negotiation, shouting is not the answer! She still insists today that if it hadn't been for the support, guidance, patience and understanding of her befriender she would have never have put in the effort needed for the school to keep Jenny on because she didn't understand well enough the importance of education. Today Jenny is studying for a degree at University.
Outcomes: Having someone in prison can be the hardest the thing for a child or young person. Having the Swan Centre to go to with other children in the same sort of situation made Jenny's life easier as she knew she wasn't alone. Prisoners' Families and Friends Service and the Swan Centre became like a second family to Jenny. Rob, who married her mother, came out of prison in 2009 and PFFS continued to support the family through this difficult time of readjustment: 'We had got so used to being without Rob that for some time my brother and I found it hard to welcome him back and share him with our mum. This was something we used to talk about endlessly with our friends from PFFS who were, or had been, going through the same thing. Talking helped!' Five years following her step-father's release Jenny is a university student. In her spare time she volunteers at PFFS and this summer has organised and led a weekend trip to Dorset and a paintballing day for 11-17 year olds. She continues tirelessly to drive new initiatives for the PFFS young people and fundraise.
* Names have been changed to protect identities
