People you might meet

Diversity team: Many prisons have a diversity team who can provide extra support for prisoners with learning disabilities. Prisoners can put in a request form to meet the diversity team. You might need to help a prisoner with a learning disability to do this.
Chaplain: Each prison has a chaplaincy team with chaplains from the main world faiths. A chaplain visits each part of the prison every day to give extra support to prisoners. You can talk to chaplains about anything that is worrying you even if you are not religious.
Listeners: A listener is a prisoner who has been specially trained by the Samaritans to listen to other prisoners. They can give emotional support to other prisoners. This is completely private.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.