Family Engagement Workers

Our Family Engagement Workers are here to help and support prisoners with any issues such as:

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• Re-establishing contact with children and other family members

• Providing emotional support for you and your family

• Maintaining family ties

• Support with social services

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To access these services, prisoners will need to fill in an application which are available on their wings. The applications will be returned to Jigsaw for processing, after which an appointment will be made to see a Family Engagement Worker.

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Family members can find out about this service by speaking to a member of the Jigsaw Team who will be based in the visitors centre tea bar before visits.

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Remember no question is a silly question, we are here to help and support you at this time.

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Parenting Course: Fathers Footsteps

Jigsaw run a 10 week course that is specifically designed for fathers who are temporarily absent from the family. The course aims to encourage fathers to be active parents whilst temporarily being absent from the family home. On successful completion of the course fathers receive a Level 1 qualification in Parenting. This achievement is celebrated with the fathers and their families on a celebration day at the end of the course.

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Family Visits

Family Days are longer visits centred around Dads spending time with their children.

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There are currently 9 Family Visit days a year. On these days Jigsaw organise arts and crafts, quizzes, bingo and also incorporate refreshments. ​These days provide an opportunity for fathers to spend quality time with their family in a comfortable environment.

 

Family Forum

Online family forums take place to allow families to speak with one of the Governors of HMP Wealstun. Holding these forums online means that families don't need to travel to the prison but can join by downloading the Microsoft Teams app. Speak to a member of Jigsaw staff to find out more about how to attend.

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Counselling Service

The Jigsaw Visitors’ Centre, in partnership with West Yorkshire Community Chaplaincy Project offers a free of charge counselling service to the families of men serving a prison sentence.

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Your counsellor will encourage you to talk in depth about your thoughts, feelings and emotions. The process will help you to find solutions to cope with your situation and see things more clearly and will enable you to achieve greater insight and understanding of yourself. Counselling sessions take place in a safe, confidential and therapeutic space, usually once a week.

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We do not limit the number of times you can meet with your counsellor. The number of sessions will vary from person to person. If you are interested in this service, please contact the Jigsaw Visitors Centre.

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Jigsaw Schools Project

This service is currently on hold but we aim to restart it in future.

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Within West Yorkshire, there are an estimated 10,000 children with a parent or loved one in prison. Working in partnership with St Giles Trust and West Yorkshire Police, we have developed a package of training and support for teachers and education professionals in West Yorkshire to help them to understand and support those children and families in their communities.

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Through the generous support of the People’s Postcode Trust, during 2020 and 2021 we were able to offer a limited number of free training places for schools in West Yorkshire. Our one-day training, delivered at HMP Wealstun near Thorp Arch, Wetherby, gave participants an understanding of and insight into the experiences of children with a family member involved in the justice system.

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Alongside this free training, an early intervention programme and toolkit for schools will help them to better support children and families in the school setting. ​The overall outcome of this project is to increase schools’ awareness of the effects of imprisonment on children and their families, and to provide them with the tools to help these children and young people to achieve to their full potential. By attending the one day workshop and taking up the support we offer, schools will be able to demonstrate their commitment to broadening and deepening their support for some of the most vulnerable children within their setting. 

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