For another year running, the branches of the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester teamed up with the charity Spurgeons to spread a little Christmas cheer to families affected by imprisonment, generously donating gifts to the children of parents who are in prison in HMP Winchester.
At a special ‘Family Day’ organised in conjunction with Prison Fellowship, all 72 children visiting a parent at Winchester prison received a present. Wonderful volunteers also dressed up as festive characters to deliver the presents and families were able to come together and enjoy the opening of gifts, singing of Christmas carols and making Christmas arts and crafts.
At the heart of the work of the Mothers’ Union is to support home and family life, campaigning at local, national and international levels to bring about real change for family life, women’s and girls’ rights, and the protection of children. This chimes with the aims of Spurgeons charity, to create family hubs where they are needed most, from supporting households dealing with domestic abuse, to working with children with additional needs. They also provide support services to prison families, organising regular Family Days, and enabling video calls for parents, allowing them to help their children with homework, read bedtime stories, or simply have a conversation. Spurgeons also help families with resettlement after a prison term.
Matthew Waters, a Spurgeons Volunteer, who dressed up as Father Christmas himself on the Christmas Family Day said…
This is my second year of being asked to be Santa, achieving my great ambition 2 years running! It is a total joy and has already become an essential part of my Christmas. It is a real privilege to be asked, and to be a part of the family days over Christmas.
I would like to acknowledge the wonderful support from the Mothers Union. The looks on the faces of the children – as well as the adults – and their responses shows just how important what they provide is. The comments show how well appreciated the whole day is to the families and particularly the children.
Matthew Waters
I think family day is a lovely thing for the family and especially at Christmas time; you have made it so special, thank you to you all!
Anonymous Feedback
The baby seeing Santa with his daddy was the best. All the staff who arrange these days are doing so much good for the dads in prison and their families.
Anonymous Feedback
The Spurgeons team at HMP Winchester expressed their gratitude to all who made the Christmas Family Day visits possible – the volunteers on the day, as well as the members of the MU who so kindly donated gifts for the children.
