The Mothers’ Union is proud to continue their work in prisons across Devon.
‘The Big Book Share’ has been running for over six years in Devon and is currently run by the wonderful Maureen Styler who has always been involved in supporting prisoners and their welfare.
The Big Book Share was designed to encourage prisoners to read by promoting a special family time, during which prisoners read to their children or where this was not always possible the child and their parent receive the same book which they can read in their own time and then discuss or continue reading when they have their visits together. We use many well known children’s authors and we cover many age groups with our hand picked selection.
All the funds are raised by The Mothers’ Union and then books purchased and supplied.
We currently work with three prisons in Devon –
- Dartmoor Prison visitor centre
- Channings Wood near Newton Abbot
- Exeter Prison
The Big Book Share aims
- To enable parents in prison to contribute to their children’s reading development
- To enable parents to play an important part in family life outside prison
- To build closer links between families and prisoners and improved communications between them
- Prisoners’ increased awareness about children’s books sharing them with their children
- Prisoners’ increased confidence in choosing stories, reading aloud, talking about books, making up their own stories
- Prisoners’developing a pleasure of reading and developing their own literacy skills
- Prisoners’increased social, communication and interpersonal skills, as well as improved attitudes and behaviour
- Enjoyment on all sides
