String of Pearls Project

Relate project

From Autumn 2008 String of Pearls Project CIC is working with Relate Exeter on a pilot project based at HMP Channings Wood.

The project started in Spring 2009 and is aimed at supporting prisoners and their families through the difficult period leading up to and after release. This training programme works with groups of prisoners coming up to release and their families outside.

Pre-release programme content - prisoners

One 5 hour day per week over three weeks covering the following course outline:

Basic communication
How well do you know your partner?
The couple's journey so far
Hopes & expectations post release
Multi-agency input ( Barnardo's, etc.)
Other significant relationships impacting on the couple e.g. children, extended family, friends
Dealing with conflicts that arise from being part of healthy intimate relationships
Identifying the couple’s personal styles of dealing with difficulties

These subjects are delivered in a variety of styles, participatory with the emphasis on positive, achievable solutions. Trainers are drawn from Relate and the String of Pearls Project.

Pre-release programme content - families

The families group cover the same programme and are trained by someone from Relate and a String of Pearls Project trainer who is an ex-offender, and able to explain the changes a prisoner may have gone through and their expectations on release.

Post-release

Prisoners and/or their partners and families are now able to access 8 sessions of Relate counselling services. They are given a contact number for Relate as the first point of call if problems arise to support them in making informed choices and how best to use their 8 sessions (accessible at any point during the 12 months following release).

We have received funding to run this pilot project over one year from Lloyds TSB, and are able to continue the project for a further two years with funding from Rayne foundation.

Free OCN accredited training for ex-offenders and families

In conjunction with the above Relate project we are offering Relate OCN accredited training in 1) Mentoring and 2) Introduction to Counselling to any of the participants taking part in the Relate pilot project at Channings Wood.

With funding from Lloyds TSB, Tudor Trust and Lankeely Chase, this training is being offered to other ex-offenders and/or family members interested in gaining these qualifications.

We now have funding to run three 4-day courses in each subject each year to groups of up to 15 trainees.

Visiting Dad DVD

Commissioned by the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Reducing Re-offending Action Plan Group, funded by West Cornwall Together and in partnership with Penwith Police Cadets Group and HMP Channings Wood, String of Pearls Project made a film to highlight the particular problems faced by families from West Cornwall wishing to visit a relative in prison travelling by public transport. It also covers the procedure visitors go through before their visit i.e. booking in, search procedures etc.

This film was made in March 2008 and forms the focus of a presentation to be made by young people in the Cadets Group to key policy makers at Cornwall County Council and support agencies across Cornwall.

The film is also to be made into a looped version and shown at the Family Centre at HMP Channings Wood as guidance for families visiting for the first time.

Copies of the DVD are available - contact us for further information

c/o String of Pearls, P.O. Box 94, Crediton, Devon, EX17 5WX