CEO Expand Sharon Berry OBE In 2002, whilst working as a volunteer in HMP Channings Wood, Sharon realised how difficult it was for imprisoned parents to keep in touch with their children. She helped the Writer in Residence develop the Storybook Dads idea. Sharon moved to HMP Dartmoor and introduced the scheme there, recording prisoners on the wings and editing the stories from home. It proved so popular that the Governor gave her a prison cell to work from and allowed her to employ a couple of prisoners to help with the editing. Other prisons heard about Storybook Dads and wanted to implement the project too. In order to attract some much needed funding, Sharon started the Storybook Dads charity in 2003. Sharon's Story History of Storybook Dads
Patrons Expand Terry Waite CBE Terry is an English humanitarian and author and in the 1980s he was the Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs. He traveled to Lebanon to try to secure the release of four hostages, including John McCarthy. He was captured on 20th January '87 and spent almost five years in captivity, with four years in solitary confinement. During his capture, he was blindfolded and beaten. He lived much of the time chained in a room without natural light. He was finally released in November 1991. Today he is deeply engaged in many humanitarian causes including the homeless, overseas development and prisoners. He became a Storybook Dads Patron in 2006. Read more about Terry Julia Donaldson MBE Julia Donaldson is author of the world's most-loved children's books including The Gruffalo, What the Ladybird Heard, Stickman, The Scarecrows' Wedding and Room on the Broom. Julia's stories are without a doubt the most read stories at Storybook Dads and Storybook Mums across the UK. Read more about Julia