A world beyond the prison walls

Families are being helped to grow together despite imprisonment, writes Colm Fitzpatrick

Although to many imprisonment might seem like the end of the world, an Irish-based voluntary group are reimagining and reforming how families can cope and grow together in spite of these difficult circumstances.

The Bedford Row Family Project is a Franciscan/Mercy initiative focused on supporting the families of prisoners, and in particular, children who have been affected by this situation. The Limerick City based voluntary group which was founded in 1999, are inspired to help alleviate any of the stresses that crime and imprisonment can cause within Irish society as well as the structural defragmentation of families.

The effect of imprisonment on families, “extends long before prison and after prison”, said Larry De Cléir [pictured on right], Project Leader of the initiative, adding that, those imprisoned “will most probably have been engaged in anti-social behaviour before prison for many years which would cause the family a certain amount of distress”. During imprisonment, family members can feel stigmatised and shamed, and incur tremendous emotional costs. As a result, the project aims to support families in a holistic way which is tailored to their own needs.

Respect

The initiative helps families by working proactively with family members of prisoners, and ex-prisoners to ease their distress and assist them in making positive life choices, with particular respect to their children. For the most part, said Larry, listening to the families is the most important aspect of the support.

“There’s an awful lot of listening. Most of our work is listening, and advocating on behalf of people,” he said.

“We go into Limerick prison; social workers go in and they help the prisoner. There are also various therapeutic types of work, to help improve the lives of these people in the long term. It’s difficult to come out of prison, there’s a lot of adjustments to make.”

After listening, the voluntary group tries to provide leadership and direction in design and implementation of programmes which can further help the families. This is vital for the children as research shows that having a parent involved in crime is a strong risk factor for the child becoming involved in crime. By supporting children and teenagers when a parent is imprisoned, it can help interrupt and ameliorate the cycle of inter-generational criminal activity.

A ‘Family Link’ Social Worker is also dedicated to developing the important role of integrating the prisoner back into their family network. This is a major element of the integrated package that they aim to offer children affected by imprisonment – encouraging the member in prison to be responsible in the context of a loving relationship within his/her family. Prisoners who maintain contact with family have a significantly higher quality of life on release and are six times less likely to re-offend than those who do not have contact.

The group also reaches out to children who may behave inappropriately in school, have been impaired by alcohol or drug abuse, those suffering from bereavements, and those who are isolated in their communities. One day a week a children’s play therapist is in attendance.  Many children and parents have benefited and are continuing to benefit greatly from this service.

The programme, so far, has been very successful, and has turned around the lives of many people involved in crime and drugs, including those who have struggled for many years. The drug crisis, and particularly, the heroin epidemic which has hit Limerick City has become a major challenge to the project, and is one that they are trying to overcome.

“We get a good bit of feedback”, said Larry, “Sometimes it’s challenging to just listen and give people space. Volunteers help people put their minds at ease. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the volunteers. We try to affirm the positive things in people’s lives and try to give it oxygen. It’s very rewarding. It’s a good reward to help people, and seeing improvements in the families.”

Today the Bedford Row Family Project operates from two centres. One is a two-storey building in Bedford Row in Limerick City centre, with an emphasis placed on the creation of a warm, welcoming atmosphere and comfortable chairs and bright colours being part of the surroundings. The project also operates a Hospitality Service from the Reception Centre in Limerick Prison which is an important source of first contact.

Although the project is open to everyone, its religious foundations still play a role in actively helping those who not only need physical and mental support, but also spiritual nourishment.

“We’re open to all faiths. It’s a faith-based project in so far as a lot of the people who come in here find faith a great support to them”, said Larry.

“If they find their faith is helping them that is fantastic. Most people in Ireland would have been brought up in a Catholic school so that’s part of the fabric of their lives, so we can utilise that for optimum outcome. For example, we have a Mass at Christmas, so people can experience togetherness, which is the original meaning of community.”

For more information about Bedford Row, see http://www.bedfordrow.ie/