Left Behind: toolkit and resources

Left Behind course toolkit

We’ve produced a Left Behind toolkit for teachers and other professionals to help you have meaningful conversations with children about having a parent in prison.

Left Behind course resources

The resources below are useful tools to help you provide support to children with a parent in prison:

  • My Special Book – A booklet produced for Ormiston, a children’s charity. Young children can document their visit to their parent in prison, and write down how they felt, what they talked about, what they saw and so on. Find My Special Book here.
  • Child’s Journey Worksheets Worksheets produced by Thames Valley Partnership, which professionals can use with children to help them explore their feelings and experiences. Find them here
  • Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration is a multimedia toolkit produced by Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street), containing various resources for children, families and professionals. Find it here.
  •  What’s the Story? What Happens When a Relative Is Sent to Prison: a booklet produced by Families Outside for young people aged 12-16, using a story about a girl whose dad goes to prison, to explore issues and challenges. Find it here
  •  On the Inside is a website with separate areas for children aged 6-10, young people aged over 10, and parents or carers, with age-appropriate information about a parent going to prison, staying in touch, and so on.
  • Danny’s Mum and Tommy’s Dad illustrated storybooks are for children up to six years old, and there’s also one for those aged between four and seven. The books help children explore the impact of having a parent in prison and could be used with children by family members or professionals.
  • The Offenders’ Families Helpline aims to provide information, basic advice and emotional support, and to signpost callers to support services within their local communities. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm. Call 0808 808 2003 or visit their website for more information.
  •  Prisoners’ Friends and Families Service (PFFS) also has a free helpline, which provides a non-judgmental and impartial person to talk to. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm. They also run a national telephone befriending service. Call 0808 808 3444 or visit their website.
  • Court to Custody: this descriptive leaflet, produced by Prisoners’ Friends and Families Service for defendants and their families, details the CJS processes and their impacts from arrest to reception. Find it here.

Our experts are on hand to provide advice and support if you need it. Contact us via email at family.impact@pss.org.uk