The NICCO Directory of Resources provides details of the huge number of tools, activities, practice models and guidance that have been developed by agencies to support offenders and their children and families.
Whether you are working directly with children, supporting offenders to maintain parental contact, helping a parent to prepare their child for a prison visit or simply want to develop your own understanding of the criminal justice system, this directory provides you with a range of resources to support and inform your work.
To support working with Children
Find activities, books, films, sound bites and worksheets to support your work with children and young people. ViewOffenders and Families
Find information, books, tools, activities and programmes to support your work with offenders and their partners or family members. ViewTo support Professional's Practice
Find delivery models, case studies, local and national policies and guidlines, practice guides, briefings and resources for professional learning and development. View7. My Diary
This 20 page well illustrated booklet from Families Outside is written from the perspective of a young person whose Dad is in prison. It is written in the style of diary, going through the thoughts and feelings associated with finding out about his Dad's imprisonment, keeping it a secret at school, telling teachers and friends and going to visit Dad inside. It was written alongside the production of the video Child Diary which explores what its like for children to have any family member...
8. My Special Book
These simple worksheets produced by Ormiston Families are designed as a tool for young children to document their visit to either their Mum or Dad in prison. It covers aspects such as who they are going to visit with, how they will get there, how they felt and what they talked about with their parent. There is space for the child to write, as well as draw pictures, of what their parent and visit looked like to them. Please download My Special Books below:
9. My Visit
This booklet explains the experience of visiting a prison to children using illustrations and easy-to-understand words. There are spaces for children to draw pictures with parents, carers, family members or professionals. It is available to download for free from Pact below:
10. New activity books for children visiting prisons in Northern Ireland
Two activity books and fun-to-follow maps have been developed by Barnardo’s NI Parenting Matters Service and are available for families visiting each of the prisons in Northern Ireland. Parenting Matters Manager Deirdre Sloan said: “Making a visit to prison can be very intimidating. It can also be a lengthy process and these new resources give children, 8 years and under, engaging activities to help occupy them. We have also created booklets for 8-18 year olds which parents...
11. Resource Guide for Teens with a Parent in Prison or Jail
This guide is for young people who have a parent in prison. It has been written by young people and provides help and advice to others who also have a parent in prison. The guide aims to express the voices of young people who are often silenced. The guide is broken down into sections and covers key issues such as basic needs, where young people might stay and guardianship, mental health, counselling and medical services, visiting prison, potential legal questions young people may have and...
12. Someone in my family has sexually abused children
This publication by Action for Prisoners' Families (now Action for Prisoners' and Offenders' Families, part of Family Lives) aims to support children with a family member who has sexually abused children. It is not intended for children to read unsupported, but rather for an appropriate adult (perhaps a parent/family member or professional) to read it with them. Download a copy of the leaflet below:
