Families of Offenders
The Robertson Trust published a report in May 2009 (see Publications), which highlighted good practice identified within several of these projects and also made a number of recommendations for action. The Trust was subseqently invited to contribute to the new Scottish Prison Service Standards for Children and Families. All prisons and most Community Justice Authorities now have Children and Families sub-groups, enabling these projects to feed into local strategies.
The over-arching need is for the importance of services for families of offenders to be recognised by statutory services and for specific services to be provided and funded for this vulnerable group of people.
The Trust is now in the fifth year of providing funding for a number of these projects and without our continued support, several are in danger of closing.
The Trust has provided funding of £830,000 for work with families of offenders.
Charities supported:
- Families Outside
- The Lighthouse Foundation (HMP Kilmarnock)
- HOPE (Glasgow and HMP Barlinnie)
- Crossreach (HMP Perth)
- Salvation Army (HMP Edinburgh)
- Circle Scotland (HMP Addiewell)
- Smile Childcare (HMP Edinburgh)
- Kids VIP
- Project HAPPY (Prison Transport for Families)
- Parkhead Citizens Advice Bureau (HMP Barlinnie)