It is extremely important to maintain the relationship between prisoners and their children and Storybook Dads does this through the magic of storytelling. By preserving the relationship between prisoners and their children, they are 6 times less likely to re-offend.
Storybook Dads help parents in prison to record bedtime stories and messages for their children on CD or DVD. I'm using my Good For Age place in the 2020 Virgin London Marathon to raise money for this hugely effective service.
I travel lots with work and I know how hard it is for families to be apart, even for only a short time. Bedtime stories with my young boys are such a key part of our day and anything that helps families feel connected is so important.
I know that maintaining family links whilst in prison is crucial for prisoners' mental health and to reduce the likelihood of reoffending. I love reading with my own daughter, it is a joy and a comfort for her, so the idea of using stories to connect children and parents who are separated really speaks to me.
After many years of being an unfit asthmatic, I started the couch to 5K training programme in 2015. I remember awful experiences of cross country as a child, and many a tale of being put on all fours in high school after an asthma attack...