Dartmoor prisoners tell bedtime stories to their kids (From Mid Devon Star)

Dartmoor prisoners tell bedtime stories to their kids

4:50pm Tuesday 10th November 2009

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INMATES at Dartmoor Prison are being given the chance to tell their children bedtime stories with special recordings.

Working alongside registered charity Storybook Dads, the Devon County Council’s Family Learning Service has designed a six week course using ‘Story Sacks’, aimed at giving prisoners the opportunity to become reading role models and support their children’s education.

The ‘Story Sack’ is a colourful bag full of resources to encourage children and adults to enjoy reading together.

Each sack is based around a children’s book and has toys and puppets to help children dramatise the story, games, a CD of the story, activity guide and parent guide.

The course aims to make books fun and bring stories to life while giving imprisoned parents the opportunity to maintain important family ties and facilitate learning for themselves and their children.

The weekly Family Learning sessions involve choosing and recording bedtime stories for their children and making personalised story sacks complete with accompanying handmade educational games.

Cllr Stuart Barker, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services said: "I am delighted that Devon County Council is taking part in this innovative and valuable programme.

"Not only does it give prisoners the confidence to make reading with their children a combined learning experience, but helps maintain and strengthen vital ties with their families on the outside.

"It is well documented that prisoners are less likely to re-offend if good family relationships are maintained throughout their sentence."

Penny Westlake, Family Learning Locality Coordinator for the council, worked with the dads at Dartmoor Prison.

She said: "This was a new opportunity to involve dads at the prison in a practical and educational way which benefits their children at home.

"The dads made the books come alive with a variety of puppets, phonics games and numeracy games.

“The course was very successful and I hope we can work with Storybook Dads again after Christmas."

Storybook Dads is a registered charity relying entirely upon charitable contributions. To find out more visit www.storybookdads.co.uk

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