How prison leaders hope a new programme will help inmates cope with bereavement
Church of Scotland minister says he has observed ‘reduced volatility’ among men who have gone through process
A Church of Scotland minister has spearheaded a new strategy to support prisoners struggling to cope with bereavement.
Rev Douglas Creighton’s work has led to HMP Edinburgh becoming the first jail in the UK to be awarded a Bereavement Charter Mark for the compassionate way in which it helps individuals to process grief.
He is the Facilitating Chaplain there and said a prison sentence is challenging for individuals and their families in many ways but being separated makes it particularly hard to work through bereavement and loss.
Mr Creighton said he has observed “reduced volatility” among men who have completed a programme called the Bereavement Journey.
He revealed that the "team effort" support available is not solely for individuals in custody, it encompasses the whole prison community, including staff.
Working collaboratively with NHS Psychology and specialist organisations At A Loss, Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, Care for the Family and CRUSE Scotland, the establishment’s Chaplaincy team have led efforts to develop existing practice to ensure people receive the space, time and support they need.
Bereavement Care Awareness training has been introduced for the senior management team and first-line managers, which includes having difficult conversations and supporting colleagues in times of grief.
Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly, spent the day at HMP Edinburgh last Friday and met Mr Creighton, Rev Keith Graham, a parish minister and part-time chaplain, and prison staff to learn more about this groundbreaking work.
She described the programme as “extravagant love in action”.
“I spent a most encouraging and informative time at HMP Edinburgh in the company of two Church of Scotland ministers who serve as chaplains and met with senior staff, bereavement champions, some prisoners and a couple of visiting mums,” said the Moderator.
“I was given an insight into the experience of visiting someone in prison – from arrival at the Visitors’ Centre, to going through security checks, to the protocol in the visiting hall.
“I heard of the efforts made to ensure prisoners retain contact with their children so that relationships are maintained as well as possible.
“The main purpose of the visit was to learn about the innovative work being done around bereavement care.
“A prison sentence is challenging for individuals and their families in many ways but being separated makes it particularly hard to work through bereavement and loss.
“Many times it was said ‘being in prison is the punishment, bereavement shouldn’t be a second punishment’.”
Mrs Frew said she was impressed that the prison is the first in the UK to be awarded the Bereavement Charter Mark for its compassionate support in helping individuals process grief.
HMP Edinburgh took part in a UK-wide pilot programme called The Bereavement Journey from an organisation called At A Loss.
It offers prisoners a safe and constructive way to process loss, potentially supporting relational stability, custodial progression and factors associated with desistance from crime.
Mr Creighton said: “Grief is a powerful and often unspoken reality for many people in custody.
“The Bereavement Journey offers prisoners the rare opportunity to talk honestly about loss in a safe environment.
“We have seen how that space for reflection helps people develop healthier ways of coping and relating to others.
“In some cases, I have observed reduced volatility among men who have completed the programme.”
Mr Creighton said he was grateful that the Moderator spent so much time learning about the type of ministry that happens behind the walls of HMP Edinburgh, describing the visit as “really encouraging”.
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