Linda who has been the coordinator for Storybook Dads in her role at HMP Coldingley since April 2023, and to date has recorded over 150 stories. 

We asked Linda what she finds most rewarding about recording stories?

The feedback we get from prisoners on how much their kids love seeing them. And the confidence boost it gives them to feel they can do something “normal” as a parent, especially if they have never read a bedtime story to their kids before, even more so if we have helped them with an assisted read.

What different ways do you encourage or promote Storybook Dads within your role at HMP Coldingley? 

We promote SBD at our weekly induction briefings for new prisoners, we regularly feature SBD in our monthly library newsletter, sharing new titles and reminding prisoners it is open to uncles and grandads too. My prisoner orderly staff also do a great job of sharing SBD as some of them are dads and love to record for their own kids.

We know reading a story can be daunting for some people so how do you put someone at ease who is nervous about doing a story?

Create a bit of rapport, chat beforehand, ask about their kids, remind them that most people feel a bit nervous first time, that we can edit out any fluffs etc. and to take their time. If they are not a confident reader they can borrow the book beforehand to practise and can book an assisted read.  We get the library orderlies to go in and do the assisted reads now (our orderlies instigated this themselves which was a great idea and lovely to see them supporting each other like this) and I think this makes our dads feel more comfortable than doing it with me I think.

What is your favourite story?

Hard to say as we have so many. I love The Snail & The Whale by Julia Donaldson. I Need a New Bum always makes me laugh. And Wonky Donkey was our most popular title in the last year, also great fun, especially if they do a good Hee Haw!