My Fellowship was inspired by three children whose mother was sentenced to life in prison. As the teacher responsible for their pastoral care, I was shocked that the children's needs were not considered at any stage of the criminal justice system. As a direct result of my Fellowship, in which I explored the role of schools in supporting families affected by imprisonment, I joined Scottish charity Families Outside as its Child and Family Support Manager, with a focus on increasing support for children with a family member in prison.
Since 2015, I have worked as an independent consultant specialising in children affected by imprisonment. As an associate of the Prison Reform Trust (PRT), my recent focus is on children with a mother in prison. In July 2018, PRT published my report (What About Me?) which highlights the devastating impact of maternal imprisonment on children. I am currently exploring the use of Child Impact Assessments for children with a primary carer in the criminal justice system and hope to influence policymakers to ensure children are considered in criminal justice processes. My Fellowship profoundly changed my life, and the children I met during my travels continue to inspire me.