Our volunteers Pete, Clare, Paddy and Ralphie visit HMP Manchester and HMP Wymott
Clare Grimshaw
We visit HMP Wymott’s progression unit, which is for offenders who have recently completed offending behaviour and treatment programmes for dangerous and severe personality disorders. The men really look forward to our visits on the unit as they aren’t able to work due to their mental health. They tell us the dogs give them a sense of calm and a positive distraction from prison life. We all sit around the table for a chat and a cup of tea while they take turns spending time with Paddy and Ralphie, and they are so gentle.
We received a card today which the men made and they all signed it to say thank you and to please keep going back to visit them.
It’s hard to put into words the massive positive impact Paddy and Ralphie have made in the rehabilitation of these men. Many are from very damaged, traumatic lives. They tell us it’s the only thing they have to look forward to; it gives them non-judgemental, unconditional joy and happiness and an hour of calmness and normality. We take stickers of the dogs in for them and it’s like we’re giving these men the world – each time we visit they ask for different ones to put up in their cells to give them something to smile about. May I also mention that Paddy and Ralphie are ball obsessed, and this image, created by one of the men, represents Ralphie enjoying playing in a ball pool.
If any volunteers are thinking about visiting a prison, please do give it a go. Not once have we felt afraid or threatened. Most of the prisoners we speak to have had traumatised childhoods of violence and abuse. They can’t read or write, have never been acknowledged or listened to and sadly have never been loved. Our visits make a massive difference; the power of our dogs is turning these men around. Self harm has decreased by half in two of the prisons we visit, and calmness and happiness is seen on the wings and landings. It’s incredible to see and to be part of it.
Peter Flemming
We are part of the Safer Custody Team in HMP Manchester. They manage and look after prisoners who are very vulnerable due to neuro diverse mental health diagnoses, self harmers or men who self isolate due to many reasons.
We also do family visits with POPS (Partners of Prisoners). We take the dogs along when families, especially children, are visiting their fathers or family member. The children love it and it makes visiting the prison a positive experience. We give them stickers and photos of the dogs as a positive reminder of our visit after we have left.
This painting was done by a man as a thank you to us for visiting him and other men who are suffering with mental health problems. This man struggles with severe anxiety and depression and our visits give him normality and a feeling of not being in prison. Our visits create a positive, calm distraction from his own negative thoughts. The talents and creativity we see from these men is incredible.
We now have other prisons asking for visits, as they have heard about the positives to taking dogs into prisons. In my opinion, most people in prison deserve a second chance and, as many staff say, some shouldn’t even be there.
Feedback from HMP Manchester
I thought it would be nice to share some feedback from HMP Manchester around the amazing work that Pete and Clare are doing with us.
Pete and Clare have been visiting Manchester now with Paddy and Ralphie for several months and have given support to some of our most vulnerable men. Men who are prolific self-harm individuals and people who are perpetrators of serious violent incidents.
Self-harm has seen a decline and the response from prisoners when they have visited has been amazing. Some of these prisoners have not seen or stroked a dog in a number of years and their response is fantastic.
We can’t thank Pete and Clare enough for giving their time up to help support challenging individuals.
Many thanks
Katy
Safer Custody Analyst
HMP Manchester
Canine Concern Comments
We are currently visiting several prisons with our dogs. The response from all of them is very similar to above. As Clare and Pete have said, the prison staff are with them all the time and they never feel afraid or threatened. As Peter says, everyone deserves a second chance. Having these visits with a calm, trusting dog is certainly a very big part of their rehabilitation.
If there are any prisons out there interested in visits please do get in touch. If you require further information, we can always pass your details on to the prison staff who have already gone through the procedures required for these visits.
If you have a calm, friendly and, of course, obedient dog and are interested in volunteering in a role such as these, then please get in touch and we can advise you on how to get started: admin@canineconcern.co.uk