Storybook Dads

In 2002, whilst working as a volunteer in HMP Channings Wood, Sharon Berry began to realise how difficult it was for imprisoned parents to keep in touch with their children. She helped the Writer in Residence develop the Storybook Dads idea. Sharon moved to HMP Dartmoor and introduced the scheme there, recording prisoners on the wings and editing the stories from home.

It proved so popular that the Governor gave her a prison cell to work from and allowed her to employ a couple of prisoners to help with the editing. Other prisons heard about Storybook Dads and wanted to implement the project too. In order to attract some much needed funding, Sharon started the Storybook Dads charity in 2003.

The Governor of HMP Dartmoor gave Storybook Dads an empty classroom to work from and soon Storybook Dads in Dartmoor were providing an editing service for several other prisons. Sharon also began training other prisons to set up their own editing suite and replicate the project.

Address
HMP Channings Wood,
Denbury,
Newton Abbot,
Devon