Waterstones Children’s Laureate brings joy of reading to children with dads in prison

The current Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2024-2026) – the multi award-winning author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce – joined families at a prison in the Midlands on Friday to read to children visiting their dads in prison. The event, hosted by Pact in partnership with HMP Featherstone, formed part of an initiative that aims to strengthen family bonds and empower parents in prison to actively support their children's literacy development.

The family-focused event formed part of Pact’s Family Literacy in Prisons (FLiP) course, developed in collaboration with the University of Sheffield’s Professor Dame Cathy Nutbrown, the UK’s leading academic expert on family learning. Parents participate in a one-day workshop followed by a child-friendly visit where they can gift a book - kindly donated by BookTrust, the UK's largest reading charity - and read with their children. The initiative helps parents in prison to engage in their child’s literacy development and build stronger relationships, thereby reducing the likelihood of reoffending and drastically improving children’s life chances.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce was named Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2024-2026) earlier this year. The role, managed by BookTrust, celebrates creativity and storytelling, promotes the vital importance of reading and children’s literature, and champions the right of every child to enjoy a lifetime enriched with books and stories.

Frank launched his ‘Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future’ campaign on appointment to this prestigious role, pledging to address ‘invisible privilege and inequality’ within books and reading, and calling for national provision so that every child – from their earliest years – has access to the transformative ways in which they improve long-term life chances. Children visiting their dads at the Staffordshire prison were delighted to hear him read the Gruffalo and perform magic tricks as part of their special day.

Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce shared: “Sharing the day with families at HMP Featherstone has brought home to me the importance of connection - as a motivation for being better for people in prison, but also in the way that fun builds trust and trust builds family. And there is nothing more empowering than a family. These are families that have been damaged, and it's astonishing the power of story, the power of shared reading, and the power of shared fun in rebuilding and fixing that damage.”

Pact’s Children and Young People’s Lead Aimee Hutchinson said: “Every year, there are around 200,000 children and young people with a parent in prison. While many go on to lead happy lives, far too many face challenges that can severely limit their potential to grow and thrive.

“Bringing parents and children together to share the joy of reading helps to repair some of the harm caused by imprisonment, allows families to build lasting bonds, and instils a love of books that has lifelong benefits for children. We are hugely grateful to Frank, BookTrust, and HMPPS colleagues for making this event possible.”

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Media contact

Laura Beesley, Head of Communications
07702 517486
media@prisonadvice.org.uk