Directory of Resources

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. View

Offenders and Families

Find information, books, tools, activities and programmes to support your work with offenders and their partners or family members. View

To 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. View

19. 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: 

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20. 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...

21. 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...

22. 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:

23. Spurgeons Animated Support Guide

Supporting a child with a parent in prison, might be something you never thought you would have to do. The situation may be complicated and you may be navigating the criminal justice system for the first time. But when a child's parent goes to prison, it's important to talk to the child about what's happening. They might be confused, sense something is happening, or they might even have already found out some other way. Please click below to access Spurgeons animated...

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24. Supporting the Families of Sex Offenders

This PDF contains the findings of the conference 'Breaking the taboo: Supporting the families of sex offenders' held on 13 February 2013.

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Our Partner

The Centre is delivered by Barnardo’s in partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
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