Mothers’ Union prison visiting initiative – a ‘humbling experience’
A prison visiting and befriending initiative started last year by some Mothers’ Union (MU) members in the Diocese of Down and Dromore has proved to be a great success.
The ladies embarked on the challenging programme with women prisoners in Ash House, which lies within Hydebank Wood Young Offenders’ Centre on the southern outskirts of Belfast. They did so with the help and support of the Revd Willie Nixon, rector of Killaney and Carryduff, Diocese of Down, who is also the Church of Ireland chaplain at Hydebank.
The idea for the scheme originated in a meeting last year involving Roberta Rogers (Down and Dromore MU Diocesan President), Hilda Arnold (MU Trustee member) and Isobel Miller (Governor of Ash House). The meeting also enabled the ladies to meet and speak with many of the women prisoners themselves – teenagers, young mothers and more mature, middleaged women – who faced long ‘lock up’ periods of up to 12 hours, with little to do.
Initially, the MU members provided craft–type classes, affording the 12–15 women prisoners who attended the opportunity of making jewellery – including necklaces, matching bracelets and mobile phone charms – which they gave as gifts to members of their families. In the run–up to last Christmas, the prisoners made Christmas table centrepieces, which included greenery, ribbons, holly, fir cones, baubles and a candle in the centre. Some gave them to family members to light on Christmas morning and others kept them in their cells. The classes resumed after Christmas and will continue until Easter, during which time the prisoners will be making earrings, knot and charm bracelets, rings, Easter cards and ‘thank you’ cards. After Easter, it is hoped that the new classes will include making felt brooches, knitting, no–bake tray bakes and confectionery.
In addition, there is an on–site caravan which can be used for ‘extended’ visits, when prisoners’ family members can visit for up to six hours. During that time, the prisoners can cook a meal for their visitors and enjoy as normal a family day as possible.
Down and Dromore MU has purchased a swing and see–saw for the garden at the caravan and, as spring approaches, it is hoped that the children visiting will have some fun outdoors. Also, many of the prisoners’ family members and friends live a considerable distance from Hydebank and find it difficult to visit on a regular basis. A number of MU members are now involved in visiting the women prisoners, either weekly or fortnightly, and spending some time with them at the visitors’ centre.
Last Christmas, an anonymous donation from an MU member enabled gifts to be bought for all the female prisoners. The gifts were distributed by Liz Miller, Diocesan MU Social Policy representative and wife of the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt Revd Harold Miller.
Commenting on the programme, Mrs Rogers said: “Relationships are being developed with the prisoners and it is hoped that we can join with them at worship in the prison at particular times of the year.
“It is a humbling experience and everyone involved enjoys the classes and finds them very rewarding. One lady told us she had been in prison for five years and no one had ever done anything like this before for her; she now really looks forward to her classes on Thursday evenings.”
Photo caption: L–R Emma McCurry, Roberta McCury, Sally McCurry (Prayer Rep), Marion Edwards (Action & Outreach), Carol Bingham (Vice President), Roberta Rogers (Diocesan President) & Hilda Arnold (Indoor Members Rep)
(This article first appeared in The Church of Ireland Gazette, 9 March 2012)