Children's Centres in Bristol have a nominated 'champion' for children of offenders. The champion is knowledgeable about the impact of parental offending or imprisonment on children and their families, and has an understanding about what their needs may be and how their Children's Centre can effectively respond to these needs. Other Children's Centre staff are able to seek advice or information from the champion when needed. Champions volunteer to take on the role - rather than having it assigned - meaning they are those members of staff that are most interested in developing this area. Most of the champions will have received Hidden Sentence training, held at the local prison.
Three times a year all of the city's champions attend a meeting. External agencies (such as probation, prisons and voluntary agencies) are invited to attend these meetings and to give presentations or deliver workshops, providing an opportunity to further develop the champions' knowledge and understanding. Furthermore, the champions are able to share practice and updates with each other, and take this information back to their respective Children's' Centres. In some Children's' Centres, the champion is also the 'go-to' member of staff that families affected by imprisonment can approach for confidential, non-judgmental support. The champion is identified through posters and other communications with families, to let them know that they are the right person to talk to about any issues surrounding imprisonment or involvement in the criminal justice system. One Children's Centre worker is responsible for overseeing and running the champions scheme funded by Bristol City Council's Early Years. This is part of a wider contract which includes Children's Centre staff working in partnership with Pact to support families with young children who have a family member in HMP Bristol. This small amount of funding means that there is wide coverage of the issue amongst the city's early years provision. The Children's Centres champion scheme has a high impact whilst requiring low resources. The outcome of the champion scheme is that all Children's Centres in the city have an awareness of the impact of imprisonment on children and families - making them more able to respond to families as well as provide a welcoming environment for families to go to for support. The champions meetings provide ongoing professional development in this area, and ensure that Children's Centres continue to engage with the issue.
The Children's Centre champion scheme is linked in to Bristol's multi-agency steering group for children of offenders - who have developed a city-wide strategy and action plan.
