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Keeping families together
Storybook Dads is registered as a charity in England and Wales. Registration No: 1101208
Who we are:
Storybook Dads is a registered charity based in Dartmoor Prison. Our aim is to maintain family ties and facilitate learning for prisoners and their children through the provision of story CDs.
From our humble beginnings in 2003 (which consisted of a single mum with a good idea!) we’ve expanded beyond our wildest dreams - and we’re still growing.....
Look at us now:
The editing centre at Dartmoor provides an editing service for over 60 prisons and has provided training and support for 15 prisons to enable them to set up their own editing suites. This means that nearly 80 prisons (including women’s prisons) have access to the project. In 2008 we produced over 3,400 C.D’s - and reached over 13,600 beneficiaries! (Click here to read our 2008 Annual Report)
Gordon Brown was so impressed with our work that he dedicated a chapter in his book, Britain’s Everyday Heroes to our CEO Sharon Berry and how she developed Storybook Dads.
Our editing centre:
At our editing centre in Dartmoor we now have 3 fully-equipped editing suites, 7 staff, 3 volunteers and 10 prisoner/editors. Our editors gain valuable computer skills and can achieve an OCN in sound and audio engineering. In addition they gain experience of working in a busy, dynamic environment.
DVD Dads:
Our latest innovation at Dartmoor is our DVD project which means that the child can see their dad’s face and watch them enjoying reading.
For a child whose mum is in prison, the enforced separation can be even harder. Many are taken into care and visits can be difficult as the prison may be far away.
For these children, the scheme provides a lifeline.
For these children, the scheme provides a lifeline.
Current studies show that half of all prisoners lose contact with their families while they are in custody.
Prisoners who maintain family ties are 6 times less likely to re-offend