Santa boost for ‘forgotten’ children of prisoners
MORE than 100 “forgotten” children whose parents are in custody received some early Christmas cheer at Parc Prison with a surprise visit to Santa’s Grotto.
During the last two weeks, children have visited the prison’s visitor centre run by Barnardo’s Cymru, where Father Christmas and his elves handed out gifts.
Two Christmas parties for prisoners’ children were also held in the family interventions lounge at the private prison near Pencoed.
Barnardo’s Cymru family support worker at the visitors’ centre Kerry Gordon said: “Santa and his elves were there for two weekends and we had some lovely feedback.
“One family member said it meant their child was extremely excited to be visiting and another remarked on the warm and welcoming environment.”
Workers at Barnardo’s Cymru staffed the grotto, where children could also have their photograph taken with Father Christmas.
Barnardo’s Cymru visitor centre at the prison is used by more than 6,000 people each month with 2,000 of them children, who can play while they wait to visit their fathers.
Dads are also given support inside the prison so they can play with their children and maintain family ties with a range of Barnardo’s services.
Head of family interventions custody and com- munity with G4S Corin Morgan-Armstrong said: “Christmas can be a confusing, lonely and upsetting time for children with a parent in prison, so we are delighted our partnership with Barnardo’s has been able to create some seasonal magic for these often forgotten children.”
The prison is run by private company G4S and it can accommodate 1038 convicted male prisoners and young offenders.
Barnardo’s Cymru works with more than 8,000 young people and their families across Wales, and the charity is marking it’s 150th anniversary in 2016.