Voices Unlocked Ep. 11 | Release, Probation & Rebuilding Family Life After Prison

Voices Unlocked Ep. 11 | Release, Probation & Rebuilding Family Life After Prison

In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna discuss what “release” is really like after prison, challenging the idea that it’s simply the end of the journey. Liv shares her experience of her mum coming home, including the surprise of probation, daily reporting, and being placed on an ankle tag with strict curfew rules, and how confusing and scary that felt as a child. They explore how release can disrupt family routines and create difficult power dynamics when other relatives have been primary caregivers, alongside the emotional impact of lost time and a parent struggling to adjust to a child growing up. Lorna explains probation, licence conditions, and why families may fear probation’s power, while also highlighting how supportive probation can be. Liv reflects on wanting to give back through her work and possibly becoming a probation officer. Chapters: 00:00 Quick Disclaimer 01:42 Release Expectations 04:02 Release Day Stories 05:08 Tag And Curfew Shock 06:19 Family Dynamics After Release 08:49 Routine Changes And Adjustment 11:15 Time Stopped Feeling 14:36 Bonding Moments Return 15:48 What Probation Means 17:35 Kids Fear Probation Power 18:47 Probation Meeting Panic 20:02 Probation Helps Mum Thrive 22:21 Lived Experience Careers 24:26 Probation Is Supportive 26:52 Stigma and Fear of Authority 29:47 Using Your Voice 31:26 Release Advice Take It Slow 34:31 Listener Questions and Guests 35:09 Studio Shoutouts Goodbye

Voices Unlocked Ep. 10 | Sarah Beresford on Children Impacted by Parental Imprisonment

In this episode of Voices Unlocked Pod, Lorna and Liv welcome Sarah Beresford OBE, reflecting on how their connection began and Sarah’s journey from Scottish secondary school teacher into work supporting children affected by parental imprisonment. Sarah recounts a pivotal case where a pupil’s mother received a life sentence and no services considered the children, prompting Sarah to visit the mother in prison and help maintain parenting through school reports, teacher contact, and supported visits. She explains Families Outside and her Churchill Fellowship research, and describes developing Child Impact Assessment resources. Child-led conversation tools adaptable for different family situations to help adults understand how children are feeling and what support they want, with room to change their minds. We also discuss HMPPS Think Child, practical system changes driven by young people (like the clocks and kindness campaign), and the need for kindness, consistency, and sustainable funding for Time Matters. 00:00 Disclaimer and Support 00:34 Meet Sarah 01:03 How We First Connected 02:57 Teacher to Advocate 05:56 First Prison Visit 10:26 Leaving Teaching for Change 10:55 What Families Outside Does 12:34 Children Lead the Work 14:53 Child Impact Tool Origins 17:41 Making the Tool Usable 20:09 Opt In Not Statutory 25:06 Adapting for Every Family 27:23 OBE and Policy Impact 28:43 Next Project HMPS Think Child 29:12 Think Child Origins 30:59 Probation Leaflet Idea 32:36 Be Kind Message 33:58 Clocks And Kindness 35:21 Small Changes Matter 35:57 Photos Letters Memories 38:00 Why Not Keep Asking 39:04 Visit Rules Anxiety 40:50 Child Friendly Visit Halls 43:31 Time Matters Impact 44:31 Funding And Mentoring 47:50 Future Plans And Thanks 48:43 Gratitude And Wrap Up

Voices Unlocked Ep. 9 | Dr Ben Rakes on INCCIP Global Support for Children With Incarcerated Parents

In this Voices Unlocked episode, we welcome Dr. Ben Rakes, who shares his current role teaching academic skills at University Campus Oldham and reflects on decades of work supporting young people affected by the criminal justice system. The conversation focuses on InCIP (International Coalition for Children with Incarcerated Parents), how it emerged from links between the COPING project (2010–2013) and Francis Suby’s Ugandan organisation Wells of Hope, and how InCIP was shaped at the 2015 Dallas conference before its first conference in New Zealand in 2017. Chapters: 00:00 Important Disclaimer 00:34 Meet Dr Ben Rakes 02:20 Surreal Holland Conference 05:00 What InCIP Is 05:22 Francis and Wells of Hope 08:55 InCIP Conferences Grow 10:42 Youth Panels Ripple Effects 12:32 South Korea Youth Empowerment 17:15 Huddersfield Escape Room Story 19:21 Online Conference and Bells Palsy 21:22 Ben Highlights Resilience Debate 24:23 Uganda Realities and Stigma 27:28 Uganda Prison Story 28:48 No Lawyer No Justice 29:39 Children Homes Abroad 31:38 Rethinking Resilience 33:44 Community Builds Strength 35:41 Incip Growth And Vision 36:44 UN Status And Youth Board 42:04 Gratitude And Farewell

Voices Unlocked Ep. 8 | International Stories and Unexpected Connections

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com Lorna and Liv return for Episode 8 of Voices Unlocked with a disclaimer that they’re not therapists and the stories are based on lived experience. They discuss international travel and speaking at conferences, starting with Liv’s first international conference at 15 in Caux, Switzerland, held in a castle with young people from around the world sharing experiences of vulnerability. Liv describes lasting friendships formed there, youth-led activities, talent shows, and how connection supports healing. They reflect on Paris, including Liv’s first time being allowed out to see the Eiffel Tower under careful supervision, and Liv later traveling alone to Brussels for youth-team planning meetings. Liv also shares a difficult period during conference travel when her nanny Liz died from glioblastoma and how safeguarding lead Darren supported her. They preview a future episode with guest Ben about InSIPP and end with gratitude, including a humorous story about Liv accidentally getting into a stranger’s car. Chapters: 00:00 Disclaimer And Care 00:34 Episode Eight Intro 01:06 Switzerland Castle Conference 04:10 Friends For Life 06:10 Healing Through Connection 07:06 Youth Team And Paris 08:30 Eiffel Tower Safety Story 10:22 Solo Trip To Belgium 13:03 Darren And Grief Support 15:10 Favourite Conference Moments 15:53 Bonfire Fireworks Moment 16:23 Talent Show Spotlight 18:09 Castle Views Video Diary 19:02 Youth Leader Year Two 20:01 Stars Fireworks Bonding 21:16 Momo Surprise Reunion 22:09 Ghost Hunt Gone Wrong 24:25 Next Episode Ben InSIPP 25:23 Power of Connection 27:40 Gratitude Kindness Story 30:03 Wrap Up Thanks Goodbye

Voices Unlocked Ep. 7 | Navigating Life as a Parent with an Ex-Partner in Prison

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In episode seven of Voices Unlocked, hosts Lorna and Liv welcome their first guest, Lindsay, a parent whose children have been involved with Time Matters for four years since their dad was imprisoned. Lindsay shares how she found out through friends rather than any official contact, her initial anger, and the difficulty of answering the children’s questions without information. She explains deciding to be honest after seeing how lying can cause resentment, and describes how an initial lie about the army upset her son. The conversation highlights gaps in communication from prisons and probation, the impact of media exposure on children, and the “hidden sentence” families feel. Lindsay credits Time Matters and additional school and counselling support with helping her children thrive, discusses her son’s ADHD and need for positive outlets, and notes that home leave and release transitions can be especially challenging. The episode ends with gratitude and encouragement to seek support without shame. 00:00 Disclaimer 00:34 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:27 Four Years In 02:16 Finding Out He Was Arrested 05:59 Telling the Kids 09:36 No Official Support 13:47 Media and Online Exposure 16:29 Hidden Sentence Impact 17:32 Discovering Time Matters 21:07 Why Time Matters Helps 23:49 Trauma ADHD and Dopamine 25:25 Positive snowball effect 26:49 Park encounter wins 29:00 Boys being vulnerable 31:13 Family for life 32:38 Home leave struggles 35:13 Release rollercoaster 37:25 Advice and ditch shame 40:34 Kids speaking openly 44:42 Gratitude and wrap-up