THE Storybook Dad project at Dartmoor Prison has been awarded £5,000, from Barclays Bank Community Projects fund. The Storybook project provides a service for prisoners, with children, to record a story onto CD, edit it and send it to their child. The scheme which already serves 25 prisons, including four women?s, is now hoping to expand into other prisons using the grant. Storybook Dad is a chance for fathers in prison to have a ?positive impact on their children?s lives?, said project manager Sharon Berry. ?The CDs help to reduce the sense of abandonment and isolation that the children feel?. All editing for the CDs takes place at Dartmoor, by selected prisoners who receive training to use the specialised audio editing software, and gain a qualification in audio production. The Storybook Dad project has had a positive impact on the prisoners involved, with research showing it helps to reduce re-offending. Elaine Arnold, regional SouthWest manager for Barclays?s community project will be endorsing the award and discussing the scheme this Friday.
