In this podcast, we take a look at what it really means to stay close to someone who’s inside and how families can begin rebuilding once they come home.

We start by talking about the emotional weight of having a loved one in prison, such as the confusion, the isolation, and the way every small moment of connection can be crucial. From there, we go through all the key ways to stay in touch during custody, such as visitations, letters, phone calls, and video calls, explaining how each one works, what families should expect, and how to avoid common issues.

We further explore life after prison. For example, the emotional challenges of reintegration, the practical barriers people face upon returning home, and the slow, patient work of rebuilding trust. We highlight tools that can help families move forward, open communication, boundaries, therapy, community support, and services such as Pact (the Prison Advice and Care Trust), CoSA, Bridge Support, and resettlement teams.

Remember that no one has to navigate this alone. There are organisations, helplines, and communities ready to support families at every step, during custody and long after release. If you want to do some independent research, there are really good sources such as prisonadvice.org.uk, a research paper on the Effects on Children and Families (https://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Families-of-Prisoners-A-Review-of-The-Evidence-FINAL.pdf), and further research on issues close relatives experience with these kinds of situations (https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/media/fb1hkrti/serving-a-hidden-sentence-2023.pdf)