Offering a Helping Hand
Offering a Helping Hand is a new booklet, published by Spurgeons, which addresses the impact of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) and other indeterminate sentences on prisoners and their families.
Resources and guidance for families and others supporting people serving IPP
Offering a Helping Hand is a joint publication by Spurgeons and Southampton Law School and draws on collaborative work and families of those serving IPP sentences carried out by Associate Professor at the Law School, Dr Harry Annison. It is also informed by insights provided by Spurgeons' Invisible Walls team at HMP Winchester. The booklet:
- Reflects on the feelings that families of people serving IPP may be experiencing
- Provides links and information about a number of relevant issues and processes
- Identifies more general sources of information that might be particularly helpful
- And identifies other ways in which families can get involved, and gain support
Implemented in 2005, over 8,000 IPP sentences were imposed in total and though this sentence was abolished in 2012 there are currently 3,328 prisoners serving an IPP (including unreleased and recalled) in England and Wales as of June 2020 (MOJ).
''This new booklet reflects a growing recognition that further support is needed by many of those sentenced to IPP, and also their families.'' - Dr Annison
Support for families
Spurgeons delivers a variety of activities and programmes to support both fathers in prison and their families.
Invisible Walls
Read about our award-winning Invisible Walls service at HMP Winchester
StoryBook Dads
Hear about how the StoryBook Dad programme works with fathers in prison
Family days
Our family days are a way for children to connect with their parent in prison
![HuggingFatherandSon[38889]](https://spurgeons.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/HuggingFatherandSon38889-square.jpg "HuggingFatherandSon[38889]")
Top Tips for Families
Read our guide to supporting a child with a parent in prison
Further Information
Support services and useful links for families affected by imprisonment
News and Blogs
Read the latest news and blogs from Spurgeons Prison Family Services
Hope for Every Child
Your gift can make a difference