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Reading we recommend 

Charities

  •  Talking Forward

    • Talking Forward is a peer support group for family members of those who've offended online. ​It provides a safe space to ask for help and share advice. Their website also has a lot of helpful resources. ​

  • Stop It Now

    • Stop It Now offer support for both the family members of the offender, and offenders themselves. They provide an 'Inform Programme', which supports family members and 'Inform Plus' is there for offenders. You will also find a helpline that offers confidential support and advice, alongside a public forum used to ask questions a range of aspects of this journey. 

  • Lucy Faithfull Foundation

    • Lucy Faithful is a UK-wide child protection charity who work closely with frontline workers and professionals such as police officers, social workers and educational staff to ensure children are kept as safe as they can be. ​They also offer various courses for family members and friends of those arrested, charged or convicted for CSAM.

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  • Children Heard and Seen

    • A charity who are dedicated to helping children, young people and families affected by parental imprisonment. ​

  • Safer Lives 

    • Safer Lives offer a programme of support for offenders 23 years old and over. They help offenders start to understand underlying reasons for their behaviour and how to move forward in a safe and positive way. Their programme also provides support on understanding the criminal justice system.

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I

Lived Experience 

  • Rainbowgirl1980 – After the knock​​​​​​

    • Rainbow Girl is a non-offending partner whose husband went to prison for an online offence. She used writing to help get her thoughts out during this devastating time, it allowed her to feel heard. Her blog posts are great at showing there are others going through this journey also-nobody should feel alone. 

  • Annie Hope Writer 

    • Annie is a freelance writer and storyteller, who has lived experience of a family member receiving 'the knock'. ​On her website, you will find a many blog posts exploring many elements of the journey that family members face, plus some community links to other helpful resources. 

  • The World According To The Knock

    • The World According To The Knock began as a podcast which provides advice on how to handle key parts of the journey after 'The Knock'. It is available on Spotify. The podcast then grew into a website which holds all of the important information and resources. The website also has a forum where members of the community can ask for help and share useful advice. ​​

  • The Knock Club

    • The Knock Club was set up by a group of family members of offenders who support each other. They have many different resources to support families at different times after 'The Knock' and there are stories of hope to show that there is an exit. There is hope. Their leaflet is a great initial first resource to look at when at the beginning of the journey. 

  • Unseen Victims 

    • Unseen Victims supports family members who are dealing with a loved one's accusation or conviction of a crime. They provide telephone support, live chat, email support and Facebook peer support. 

Books

  • The Invisible String by Patrice Karst 

    • This is a book that uses a piece of string as a symbol of connection. The string represents the love that still exists between family members even when they are not present in our lives anymore. 

  • Always and Forever by Alan Durant 

    • This is a story about a small little animal family who lose their father figure when he becomes ill and passes away. The family spend a lot of time dealing with great sadness and being unable to do any nice things. ​However, after a a while, they begin to do activities they use to enjoy with their father again and they remember that in their hearts he will always be there. 

  • The Loved to Bits by Teresa Heapy & Katie Cleminson 

    • This book is a loose link to the situation that children of offending parents face, however, it is a lovely story about how a child still loves his bear even when it gets old and ruined. It could represent that although children's relationship with their parent has to change after 'The Knock', it is still special and love can be shown in different ways. 

  • ​Goodbye Bear By Jane Chapman 

    • This book begins with two friends feeling saddened as their friend, Bear, has passed away. It explores how losing someone you love can be very hard around the time of certain life events, such as Christmas. It brings the helpful suggestion that providing children with one or two of dad's things can help them feel close to them when they are not able to be with them. 

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