When a parent goes to prison, their children also serve a sentence.
Children of prisoners have done nothing wrong yet suffer in a number of ways, carrying the stigma of their parents' crimes with them every day.
They must cope with losing their parent and the grief of that loss, as well as understand what's happening. On top of this trauma, they must also navigate a world that now sees them as 'the child of a prisoner'. The stigma they now face both at school and in society is an unfair burden.
Having a father in prison can also profoundly impact their wellbeing. Many children of prisoners suffer from anxiety and depression, and struggle with behavioural difficulties.
Could you help children like Eva?
When Eva’s dad went to prison, she and her family didn’t know where he had been taken to.
It took them over 6 weeks to find out where he was. ‘The children did not really get to see him for the first two months of his sentence,’ says Eva’s mum. ‘It was just really different without my dad being
there,’ says Eva.
Read Eva's story here...
How can you help?
Spurgeons help children of prisoners by providing a prison family hub, which supports them through contact, family days, videos of their father reading them a bedtime story, homework clubs and much more.
Sign up for the 100 Miles Challenge
Why 100 miles? Because the average round-trip for a family visiting a father in prison is 100 miles - a long, expensive, and often emotionally exhausting journey. But for many families, staying connected is essential.
Every mile you cover symbolises the journey a child makes to maintain that vital connection with their parent.
Behind the Wall, Beyond the Gate
Spurgeons' Behind the Wall, Beyond the gate program is a pre and post release whole family, holistic approach to resettlement.
Learn more about what we do to ensure a smooth transition from custody to community, and how we support families in those crucial first few weeks.