People change through connection

Our 150th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on a core aspect of our programme work across Britain & Ireland, which includes domestic abuse, Away From It All (AFIA), prisons, and modern slavery. At our recent Annual Gathering, as part of our member-delivered sessions that celebrated our present, the dioceses of Blackburn, Chester and Leeds relayed how crucial family bonds are in our prisons’ work. Maintaining these ties during a prison sentence improves an individual’s chances of finding housing, securing a job, and successfully reintegrating into society.

Over the decades, these connections have provided emotional stability and a purposeful identity, motivating individuals to engage in rehabilitation. Our members bridge the gap between prison and the outside world. Operating independently from prison staff, members offer a neutral, human presence that fosters trust and open communication. In parallel, maintaining contact helps families navigate the trauma of separation, supports active parenting, and keeps families unified through challenging times.

The supportive reach of the Mothers’ Union has extended to nearly every prison across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.  Thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters, we have provided practical resources, education, a friendly face at family visits and a listening ear to reduce loneliness, boost mental health, and build vital skills.

‘The birthing bag went a long way to help welcome my little one and that was brilliant. A bit of sunshine in the dark’. Prisoner

Across multiple women’s and men’s prisons we have been leading the way in education and skills development. Our members have delivered vital parenting, cooking, and awareness workshops on important topics like domestic abuse.  At our Annual Gathering, a member shared a moving comment from a prisoner: ‘The cooking course was the first time I have ever received praise.’

Guided by faith, our members work with the prison chaplaincy to support church services and classes on forgiveness. Members lead inclusive creative workshops like stitching and design, and champion rehabilitation by providing literacy resources and educational puzzle books.

‘My relationship with my teenage daughter has improved so much, we don’t shout at each other on the phone anymore. I definitely have better parenting skills now’. Nurture book recipient

Several initiatives are underway this autumn. An audit of our current prison activities will provide an up-to-date picture and shape our future direction. As a sponsor of Prisons Week (10–17 October) for 40 years, we have circulated campaign materials and encourage members to raise awareness. This vital initiative seeks to end human suffering caused by imprisonment.

Members pray with fervour for all affected by the prison system and we are piloting the distribution of Easy Read Bibles and a lighter Gospel Story to prisoners that are church attendees. Through prison awareness training with the Welcome Directory, our steering group is exploring how faith communities can better welcome prison leavers.

This special year, we boosted our profile by publishing an article in Inside Time newspaper for Mary Sumner Day. We also gave a presentation highlighting our work at His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service Family Week (23-29 August) involving members from the Diocese of Durham that have a branch at Low Newton prison.

Equally modern slavery cannot be tackled without strong community connections. Local networks shatter the isolation traffickers seek to take advantage of, helping to expose exploitation before it takes hold. Many of our members already actively support this effort because they recognise that modern slavery hides in plain sight inside car washes, nail salons, construction sites, and farms for example.

Like our successful domestic abuse campaigns, when people know what to look for, they spot the subtle cues of abuse like restricted movement or an intense fear of authority.

We will begin to launch resources across the coming months building to a launch event in January 2027. In the meantime, we encourage members to follow The Clewer Initiative‘s newsletter or social media pages to get involved with their antislavery day campaign ‘Walk, See, Pray’ with tips on how to pray for your communities to build resilience against modern slavery and exploitation.

Our campaign will include:

1. Spiritual resources such as reflections, prayers or liturgy
2. Training or informational events
3. Practical resources
4. Advice members can implement with families and friends

Behind every statistic on prison and modern slavery is a human face – a child, a mother, or a father longing for a lifeline. Our programme activities help restore their dignity. Connection can heal these families and transform communities. Let our impact so far inspire us to remain a light in the darkness for years to come. As Mary Sumner said, ‘Unity is strength’.

 

 

This article first appeared in the Autumn Connected 2026.