Creating Connection Through Stories: Jamie’s Journey on My Parent’s in Prison

At Create, we believe that creativity has the power to bridge distance and heal relationships – even in the most difficult circumstances.

My Parent’s in Prison is Create’s unique project working with parents in prison to write and illustrate storybooks for their children. Led by our professional artists, the programme helps participants develop creative writing and visual art skills, while giving them a powerful way to stay connected with their children.

In August 2025, Create artists Carol Topolski and Chloe Cooper delivered a week-long project at HMP Oakwood. Jamie* (48), one of the participants, spoke to us about what the project meant to him.

Building Skills and Community Through Art

“This week we’ve been creating a character and bringing the story to life. At the beginning, I wasn’t enjoying it, but in the days after, I enjoyed it more and more. It’s something new.”

Jamie, who has previously experience with landscape painting, found a new outlet in collage and storytelling:

“As a landscape artist myself, doing this collage is something different that I’ve learned to add to my skills.”

Just as importantly, the project created a calm and welcoming environment where participants could support each other:

“We’ve connected [well] because of the way we’ve united and come together. We talk with each other, and everybody’s calm and respectful. ”

[Usually] I’m a loner, but even though I’ve had lots of people around me [during the project], my anxiety level is really low.

Jamie, MY PARENT’S IN PRISON Participant

Prison can be a difficult place for mental health, but Jamie found that creative expression helped:

“Here you can relax, come with your ideas. In the future, I’m going to create my own little art thing to help people with their mental health. I want to give back to the community.”

CREATING STORIES FOR CHILDREN

Through the programme, Jamie began writing and illustrating a story for his children – something deeply personal and meaningful:

“I tell [my children] about my story on the phone. I don’t want to give away the story – you can’t spoil the masterpiece! ”

It’s good for them to see that even though you’re in prison, you’re thinking about them, making a book for them.

Jamie, MY PARENT’S IN PRISON Participant

The experience allowed Jamie to reflect on his own childhood and the emotional weight of being a parent while incarcerated:

“When I was a child, I was busy trying to stay alive. That’s why it gets me emotional to think about my kids. Because I never had things like this. You could never think of doing things like this in the ghetto growing up.

“It breaks my heart that I’m supposed to be there looking after them, not in prison. So [here] I can give back something to make them feel proud. If we can do things like this and I don’t feel like a worthless dad, it helps me.”

Thank You to Our Funders

This programme is possible thanks to the generous support of The Leigh Trust, The Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation, and The Michael and Shirley Hunt Charitable Trust.

With your help, parents like Jamie are building confidence, developing new skills, and strengthening their relationships with their children – all through the transformative power of creativity.

*Names have been changed to protect anonymity