Case Study: A new pen pal
Quite a few of my family members have been in trouble with the police before. One of my sisters was on a tag for a while – and now my dad and my brother, Luke, are in prison. They got taken away by the police one day and just never came home. It was really […]
Two years on from the review into deaths in prison custody and little progress has been made
30th November 2023 marked two years since the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Response to Deaths in Prison Custody were published. During these two years, there has been a lack of progress on the recommendations regarding an inquiry into the prevention of deaths, and, at Families Outside, we are extremely concerned about the […]
Care-experience in Scotland: The importance of sibling relationships
Written by a professional with lived experience of the care system and sibling imprisonment. Sibling bonds are often the longest lasting and most enduring relationships we have over a lifetime, offering a foundation of support, companionship and familiarity. For care-experienced people, however, their journey is often marked by separation, isolation and the absence of a […]
Honouring Loved Ones: Families United in Remembrance
Written by a family member. I recently attended a special memorial service organised by Families Outside, in collaboration with Absent Friends, a support organisation dedicated to helping people in Scotland remember their departed loved ones. Taking place on Saturday, 4 November 2023, this heartfelt gathering provided a poignant opportunity for families who have lost […]
Care-experienced children affected by sibling imprisonment are slipping under the radar
An estimated 70% of care-experienced children and young people in Scotland experience separation from their siblings. This can create enormous barriers to maintaining some of the most important relationships in these children’s lives… and this is made even more significant when one sibling is sent to prison. New pioneering research, published on Wednesday 6th December, […]