Sharon Berry

"“I had never been in a prison before, but ended up spending one day a week as writer-in-residence. It was not what I expected. It was not intimidating at all, but very rewarding.”"

"“It became so apparent how something like Storybook Dads was needed so that fathers could keep in touch with their children.”"

"“Prison security is tight and rightly so, and it is hard to get new projects off the ground. It took a long time for people to feel relaxed and for us to be accepted. We had to explain that we weren’t a security risk and be very careful and also explain that the benefits to prisons are great as it keeps prisoners happy. And we are training prisoners to be editors so they are getting good vocational skills themselves. Some people think prisoners should be breaking rocks. But what good does that do them when they get out? If you give them skills it reduces risk of them reoffending.”"

"“Reading to your child is a natural parental activity.”"

"“Many dads get emotional reading to their children when they say their greeting to the child at the beginning and end of the recording. It’s a wonderful way to ensure these prisoners remain in contact with their children and families.”"

"Storybook Dads was a way for prisoners to maintain family ties, while gaining media production skills that might help them rebuild their lives once outside prison, reducing the risk that they would offend again."

"It's daunting for these young men, very often they weren't read to as children themselves, so this was new to them. They come in to the little studio to read Goldilocks and they're embarrassed, they don't know how to do it, and a big part of it is helping them to relax."

"It showed the children that they are loved and not abandoned."