Maintaining Prisoner/Family
Relationships in Prison
The Jigsaw Visitors Centre at
HMP Leeds
By Lee Stephenson
3rd October 2013
Jigsaw Visitors Centre
•The Jigsaw Visitors Centre is an independent charity that
works in partnership with HMP Leeds
•Jigsaw is the main partner to HMP Leeds delivering work
around children & families
• The Visitors Centre has been opened since 1994 but
Jigsaw has operated at HMP Leeds since 2003 when
funding was secured from the New Opportunities Fund.
• Staff team of 15 – Manager, 2 Development Workers,
Finance Officer, Family Support Manager, 4 Family
Workers, 2 Refreshment Workers, 3 Play Workers, 1 play
specialist
• We have 650 – 700 visitors a week accessing the centre
and we are open 7 days a week
The services Jigsaw provides in
the Visitors Centre for Families
•Book in all visitors
•Troubleshoot issues, concerns problems of
families
•1st Time visitor support
•Family support in the Visitors Centre
•Telephone support & helpline for families
•Information booklets, fact sheets, children
activity books
•Play area
•Bi-monthly meet the Governor drop in sessions
•Outside agencies – Referral process
The services Jigsaw provides
in the prison for prisoners
and their families
•Organises 26 family visits/days throughout the year
•Accredited 3 day Relationship without Violence
course followed by 4 support sessions
•Accredited 4 day Positive Relationship course for
prisoners and their partners
•4 week Fathers Inside parenting programme
•Quarterly Family Forums where prisoners and their
families are given the opportunity to ask questions
about regimes, rules and regulations at HMP Leeds
these are chaired by the No.1 Governor
•Provide play visits during weekday term time visits
The services Jigsaw provides in
the prison for prisoners and their
families
• Supervised play provision on weekends and school
holidays
•The Story Book Dads service where prisoners can
make a story recording on a CD and DVD their
children or children in their family
•Family Support Service in the prison addressing any
family issues prisoners may have
•Pregnancy project to prepare expectant fathers and
their pregnant partners becoming parents in
partnership with NSPCC
•Week long drama projects for prisoners and their
children
Why Jigsaw’s Partnership with
HMP Leeds works for families
• Excellent working relationships between Jigsaw
staff and HMP Leeds staff
•Jigsaw Manager is on HMP Leeds Senior
Management Team
•Secondment of a prison officer to Jigsaw full time
to assist with service delivery
•Level of Support from HMP Leeds
•Trusted by HMP Leeds staff
•Added value Jigsaw brings to HMP Leeds
•Knowledge of the prison & criminal justice system
Governor Paul Baker –HMP Leeds
• "Jigsaw have placed themselves firmly at
the centre of HMP Leeds Rehabilitation
Revolution. They are no longer simply a
'nice to have' but are a 'need to have'.
They work with families in such a way that
they are playing a critical role in reducing
reoffending. They should be enormously
proud of everything they achieve."