HMP Standford Hill greatly recognises the importance of strong family relationships and actively promotes this in numerous ways throughout the prison.

We believe that maintaining and encouraging positive family relationships can be an important protective factor in helping prisoners to break the cycle of crime and desist from future offending and may impact on the prevention of intergenerational crime. This is reinforced by a thematic findings paper by HMIP 2016 Life in Prison: Contact with Families and Friends, which states that ‘good family contact has an important role to play, not only in supporting prisoners through their sentence, but in supporting their rehabilitation after release’.

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Standford Hill is committed to facilitating specific family days, as an open prison we are able to make these days as informal and enjoyable as possible. We are assisted by PACT our family services provider, as well as many other very willing volunteers within the prison, including The CGL family worker, KCC libraries and some of our peer support workers. We are committed to transforming HMP Standford Hill into a place of safety and reform. We recognise the need to provide the men in our custody with stable environments, as well as opportunities to change their behaviour and turn away from a life of crime. Relationships with families and significant others play a key role in this. We use the importance of strengthening prisoners’ family ties to help prevent re-offending and reduce intergenerational crime.

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Pact Family Services are contracted to provide the Family and Significant Other provision within the establishment. The team holds the relevant qualifications and experience to enable them to work with visiting children and families. 

 

Family Days and Extended Visits which alternate monthly.

These family days are held within the Visits Hall and allow 21 families to attend and enjoy a selection of arts, crafts and engaging activities, as well as making use of the entertainment that is provided. Not only do those attending have the opportunity to enjoy a whole day together at no cost to themselves, but they are also provided a lunch free of charge via the prison catering team.

 

Activities undertaken during the 2026 Family Days included:

• Bingo

• Karaoke

• Face painting

• Planting sunflowers

• Child-friendly quizzes

• And much more

 

These events are usually themed and are often centred around seasons, celebrations and protected characteristics. For example, we have had Summer Spectacular, and winter wonderland.

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Extended visits allow families to have an extra hour before their visit to enjoy games, free refreshments, a family quiz, or just simply to spend extra quality time together.

  

Baking with Dad provides an opportunity for fathers and children to enjoy fun, interactive baking activities together.

 

Baby Bonding sessions are available for fathers with children under the age of two who would benefit from additional time to build and strengthen their bond with their young child.

 

Movie Night provides fathers with the opportunity to enjoy a special cinema-style experience with their children. Families can come together to watch a children’s film in a relaxed and enjoyable environment, helping to create lasting memories.

 

Family Evening Meal offers prisoners and their families the chance to share a sit-down meal together in the Visits Hall during the evening. Designed to reflect a more natural family setting, the event encourages meaningful interaction and provides a glimpse of everyday family life, whether enjoying a meal at home or dining out together.

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PACT Meet and Greet

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​​​​One of the team members are present within the Visits Hall from 12:30 to carry out Meet & Greet services. This includes welcoming visitors into the hall, offering support, supervising and ensuring their safety whilst awaiting their visit. 

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During visits, a member of the team is available to provide purposeful play for the children within the hall. Within our play area we have a home corner, reading area and various other toys and play equipment. In addition to this, arts and crafts are provided, along with other engaging activities. During the summer months, we also offer outdoor play equipment such as large scale connect four and football goal. Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles etc are encouraged to engage with the children within the area and they are often seen completing activities with the support of the Family Support Worker. 

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Who Are We?

Change Grow Live has grown from a tiny volunteer-led Sussex-based organisation, to a nationwide charity that helps tens of thousands of people each day.

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Our Vision

To develop, deliver and share a whole person approach that changes society.

 

Our Values

• Be open.

• Be compassionate.

• Be bold.

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How Can CGL Help?

Support and advocacy - For those who are CGL clients, regarding the effects of addiction on families and relationship Challenges.

Communicating to professionals - Help with Social Care, Cafcass, Solicitors, Early Help, filling out forms/ writing letters to significant others, applying to courts etc.

Signposting/referral - To services in the community.

Families and significant others – During visits, via our generic email address, contact number, Facebook, Twitter or during a workshop / Family Day event.

Supporting your families - Helping them and you, adjust to your release and transition back into the community.

Family sessions - Where you can work together to build stronger attachments.

Group sessions - Wellbeing, understanding yourself, your needs and any personal and family changes, relationship issues, being a dad in prison.

Special purpose visits – These are visits that must be approved by the Governor. A special purpose visit may be needed if families are struggling and need mediation or time together to build their relationship.

 

CGL Family Days

Families to spend an extended period of time together, taking place on a Friday. The day runs from 10:00am to 14:00pm. This gives all the family the opportunity to enjoy games, activities, and share lunch together as a family.

 

Family Interventions & 1:1 Sessions

Foundations of families – Four – day programme 1st session - Focuses on Family History and the influence of family history and upbringing on past behaviour. 2ND session - We look at Power, Control and Equality 3RD session - We look at past behaviour, specifically looking at anger and anger management. 4th session - We focus on the future and future relationships. Keeping in Touch – Spend time planning and doing creative activities. Some sessions will have a seasonal theme. Tree of Life Workshop - reflect on your past, acknowledge who you are today and where you see yourself in the future. The purpose of this exercise is to reflect on what’s made you who you are, think about what you are doing now and explore what you want to do in the future.

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In -Cell Packs

Addiction in the family / Family, Children & Drugs - To help and support people who are unsure if or how their substance use has affected those around them.

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Barriers to recovery – Barriers to recovery? What does recovery mean to you?

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Communicating Effectively - Effective communication is the process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is received and understood with clarity and purpose.

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Improving Family Dynamic - Strategies for dealing with conflict / Ways to strengthen Family relationships.

Repairing Relationships – Rebuilding relationships / Realistic expectations

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Self-Motivation - We need to explore two things, our mission, and our vision. Mission – what you’re doing now and what you’re all about. Vision – where you’re going.

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Life Baggage - Acknowledging your issues and what things trigger you is the first step in knowing if it is baggage that is holding you back.

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Maintaining Positive contact with your children - It is for parents that are allowed to have contact with their children but might be struggling with how to maintain contact or be a parent from prison.

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Improving Wellbeing – Let’s talk about your………

Trigger • Emotions • Behaviours • Physical • Thoughts • Impact

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Managing Relationships - People in your life who can provide you with emotional or physical support. It’s the people in your life who help you achieve your personal goals.

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Parenting skills - Importance of family, and a healthy relationship with your child

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Parenting in Recovery - Is aimed at individuals who are set to be released soon. The purpose of this in cell pack is to help you think about how you can reintegrate back into your family system. In particular your parental role whilst working towards recovery from addiction.

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Parenting from Prison - Although you may feel that your role within the family unit has changed there are still ways you can continue to support your family from prison.

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