Voices Unlocked

Voices Unlocked
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

🎙️Voices Unlocked Podcast Breaking Silence. Breaking Stigma Supporting youth with incarcerated parents You are more than your story✨

Episodes

  1. 3D AGO

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 10 | Sarah Beresford on Children Affected by Parental Imprisonment

    In this episode of Voices Unlocked Pod, Lorna and Liv welcome Sarah Beresford OBE, reflecting on how their connection began and Sarah’s journey from Scottish secondary school teacher into work supporting children affected by parental imprisonment. Sarah recounts a pivotal case where a pupil’s mother received a life sentence and no services considered the children, prompting Sarah to visit the mother in prison and help maintain parenting through school reports, teacher contact, and supported visits. She explains Families Outside and her Churchill Fellowship research, and describes developing Child Impact Assessment resources. Child-led conversation tools adaptable for different family situations to help adults understand how children are feeling and what support they want, with room to change their minds. We also discuss HMPPS Think Child, practical system changes driven by young people (like the clocks and kindness campaign), and the need for kindness, consistency, and sustainable funding for Time Matters. 00:00 Disclaimer and Support 00:34 Meet Sarah 01:03 How We First Connected 02:57 Teacher to Advocate 05:56 First Prison Visit 10:26 Leaving Teaching for Change 10:55 What Families Outside Does 12:34 Children Lead the Work 14:53 Child Impact Tool Origins 17:41 Making the Tool Usable 20:09 Opt In Not Statutory 25:06 Adapting for Every Family 27:23 OBE and Policy Impact 28:43 Next Project HMPS Think Child 29:12 Think Child Origins 30:59 Probation Leaflet Idea 32:36 Be Kind Message 33:58 Clocks And Kindness 35:21 Small Changes Matter 35:57 Photos Letters Memories 38:00 Why Not Keep Asking 39:04 Visit Rules Anxiety 40:50 Child Friendly Visit Halls 43:31 Time Matters Impact 44:31 Funding And Mentoring 47:50 Future Plans And Thanks 48:43 Gratitude And Wrap Up

    53 min

  2. MAY 18

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 9 | Dr Ben Rakes on INCCIP Global Support for Children With Incarcerated Parents

    In this Voices Unlocked episode, we welcome Dr. Ben Rakes, who shares his current role teaching academic skills at University Campus Oldham and reflects on decades of work supporting young people affected by the criminal justice system. The conversation focuses on InCIP (International Coalition for Children with Incarcerated Parents), how it emerged from links between the COPING project (2010–2013) and Francis Suby’s Ugandan organisation Wells of Hope, and how InCIP was shaped at the 2015 Dallas conference before its first conference in New Zealand in 2017. Chapters: 00:00 Important Disclaimer 00:34 Meet Dr Ben Rakes 02:20 Surreal Holland Conference 05:00 What InCIP Is 05:22 Francis and Wells of Hope 08:55 InCIP Conferences Grow 10:42 Youth Panels Ripple Effects 12:32 South Korea Youth Empowerment 17:15 Huddersfield Escape Room Story 19:21 Online Conference and Bells Palsy 21:22 Ben Highlights Resilience Debate 24:23 Uganda Realities and Stigma 27:28 Uganda Prison Story 28:48 No Lawyer No Justice 29:39 Children Homes Abroad 31:38 Rethinking Resilience 33:44 Community Builds Strength 35:41 Incip Growth And Vision 36:44 UN Status And Youth Board 42:04 Gratitude And Farewell

    47 min

  3. MAY 11

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 8 | International Stories and Unexpected Connections

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com Lorna and Liv return for Episode 8 of Voices Unlocked with a disclaimer that they’re not therapists and the stories are based on lived experience. They discuss international travel and speaking at conferences, starting with Liv’s first international conference at 15 in Caux, Switzerland, held in a castle with young people from around the world sharing experiences of vulnerability. Liv describes lasting friendships formed there, youth-led activities, talent shows, and how connection supports healing. They reflect on Paris, including Liv’s first time being allowed out to see the Eiffel Tower under careful supervision, and Liv later traveling alone to Brussels for youth-team planning meetings. Liv also shares a difficult period during conference travel when her nanny Liz died from glioblastoma and how safeguarding lead Darren supported her. They preview a future episode with guest Ben about InSIPP and end with gratitude, including a humorous story about Liv accidentally getting into a stranger’s car. Chapters: 00:00 Disclaimer And Care 00:34 Episode Eight Intro 01:06 Switzerland Castle Conference 04:10 Friends For Life 06:10 Healing Through Connection 07:06 Youth Team And Paris 08:30 Eiffel Tower Safety Story 10:22 Solo Trip To Belgium 13:03 Darren And Grief Support 15:10 Favourite Conference Moments 15:53 Bonfire Fireworks Moment 16:23 Talent Show Spotlight 18:09 Castle Views Video Diary 19:02 Youth Leader Year Two 20:01 Stars Fireworks Bonding 21:16 Momo Surprise Reunion 22:09 Ghost Hunt Gone Wrong 24:25 Next Episode Ben InSIPP 25:23 Power of Connection 27:40 Gratitude Kindness Story 30:03 Wrap Up Thanks Goodbye

    30 min

  4. APR 27

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 7 | Navigating Life as a Parent with an Ex-Partner in Prison

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In episode seven of Voices Unlocked, hosts Lorna and Liv welcome their first guest, Lindsay, a parent whose children have been involved with Time Matters for four years since their dad was imprisoned. Lindsay shares how she found out through friends rather than any official contact, her initial anger, and the difficulty of answering the children’s questions without information. She explains deciding to be honest after seeing how lying can cause resentment, and describes how an initial lie about the army upset her son. The conversation highlights gaps in communication from prisons and probation, the impact of media exposure on children, and the “hidden sentence” families feel. Lindsay credits Time Matters and additional school and counselling support with helping her children thrive, discusses her son’s ADHD and need for positive outlets, and notes that home leave and release transitions can be especially challenging. The episode ends with gratitude and encouragement to seek support without shame. 00:00 Disclaimer 00:34 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:27 Four Years In 02:16 Finding Out He Was Arrested 05:59 Telling the Kids 09:36 No Official Support 13:47 Media and Online Exposure 16:29 Hidden Sentence Impact 17:32 Discovering Time Matters 21:07 Why Time Matters Helps 23:49 Trauma ADHD and Dopamine 25:25 Positive snowball effect 26:49 Park encounter wins 29:00 Boys being vulnerable 31:13 Family for life 32:38 Home leave struggles 35:13 Release rollercoaster 37:25 Advice and ditch shame 40:34 Kids speaking openly 44:42 Gratitude and wrap-up

    48 min

  5. APR 20

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 6 | Aaron’s Story, Finding Support, and the International Child Peace Prize

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com Lorna and Liv welcome guest Aaron, whom they have known since he was a child through Time Matters, and reflect on his early confidence in support groups and media work, including a BBC News interview. Aaron shares how his dad went to prison when he was nine, why his family chose not to maintain contact, and how rebuilding foundations through his mum’s research and peer support helped him cope. He describes stigma and bullying at school, including threats and being judged as destined to offend, and discusses the importance of vulnerability and safe spaces. They talk about the verbatim theatre production Eight Hours There and Back and Aaron’s later work presenting for BBC The One Show. Aaron also recounts being shortlisted worldwide for the International Child Peace Prize, placing second, and shares his current achievements in the Air Cadets and as a Lord-Lieutenant Cadet. 00:00 Disclaimer 00:34 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:34 Catching Up and Memories 05:36 Aaron Dad Prison Story 06:34 Choosing No Contact 09:49 Rebuilding Foundations 11:44 Safe Space and Vulnerability 14:11 Theatre Project Origins 20:04 One Show and Impact 23:40 School Struggles and Stigma 27:33 Stigma and Expectations 29:27 Breaking the Criminal Gene Myth 30:48 Safeguarding and Enabling Environments 33:01 Motivation and Paying It Forward 35:17 London Trips and Tube Chaos 38:57 Child Peace Prize Spotlight 41:46 Top Three Journey and Global Stage 48:03 Subtitles and Speech Impact 50:35 Cadets Role and New Achievements 52:35 Gratitude and Wrap Up

    55 min

  6. APR 13

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 5 | Film Festival Adventures & Parental Incarceration Stories

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com  In episode 5 of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna share their whirlwind trip to the USA after their short drama film That Girl, about a girl growing up with a mother in prison, was selected for the Idyllwild film festival in California. They recount the chaotic travel and arriving in snowy mountains with only summer clothes, meeting supportive festival friends like Nicole, and the emotional experience of watching the film with audiences and receiving heartfelt feedback. The team won three awards, including best editing, a narrative award, and the overall Festival Director’s Choice Award, and Liv describes how meaningful it was to hear pride from her mum as they rebuild their relationship. They end by encouraging young people affected by parental imprisonment that they are not defined by stigma and can achieve their goals. 00:00 Disclaimer 00:34 Episode Intro and Thanks 00:48 Palm Springs Mix Up 02:09 Why We Went 03:16 Last Minute Travel Chaos 04:22 Cabin Life and Roast Dinner 05:56 Sharing Our Stories 07:14 Awards and Impact 11:23 Family Call and Voice Note 13:14 Rebuilding With Mum 18:22 Bigger Message for Kids 20:42 Media Stigma and Future Topics 22:41 Gratitude and Goodbye

    24 min

  7. APR 6

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 4 | School, Stigma & Support When a Parent Is in Prison

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In episode four of Voices Unlocked, Lorna and Liv discuss what school can feel like for a young person with a parent in prison, including stigma, gossip, exclusion, and the difference between maternal and paternal imprisonment. Liv shares thriving academically while also facing playground comments, anxiety and panic attacks, and a harmful incident where a substitute teacher said she would “end up like” her mum. They highlight the importance of good pastoral support and mentors, the challenges of being taken out of class for interventions, and how schools often lack training. The conversation stresses privacy, safeguarding, and GDPR, warning against teachers or students asking what the parent did or Googling cases, and encourages listeners to share anonymous stories and questions. Chapters: 00:00 Podcast Safety Notice 00:29 Episode Four Setup 01:08 School With Prison Parent 02:20 Women In Prison Stats 05:09 Primary School Memories 06:46 Mentors And Support 07:51 Playground Gossip Exclusion 10:12 Teacher Comment Trauma 12:58 Anxiety And Going Home 13:53 Cousin As Protector 15:59 Netto Bag Bullying 17:15 Reebok Classics Disaster 19:32 School Stigma and Bullying 20:18 Teacher Dos and Donts 22:25 Breaking Crime Cycle Myths 25:40 Isolation and Social Media Triggers 28:09 Privacy Not Staffroom Gossip 33:02 When Support Becomes Oversharing 35:42 Rights Kindness and Wrap Up

    38 min

  8. MAR 30

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 3 | Prison Visits, Contact & Saying Goodbye

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In episode three of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna discuss prison visits and contact for children with a parent in prison, stressing that they are not therapists and encouraging listener self-care. Lorna shares UK estimates of 192,000–312,000 children affected and explains that visit experiences vary due to inconsistent policies across prisons. Liv describes her first visit to see her mum, including long travel, visiting orders, searches, supportive staff, and the emotional difficulty of saying goodbye, as well as a negative experience on a family day and a later, colder prison with fewer child-friendly resources. She recounts being unexpectedly placed on a closed visit behind glass and the impact of not being able to hug her mum. They note improvements in family-focused visits, discuss ways to stay connected (letters, email, calls, video), suggest tools like “Missing You” boxes, and offer advice for first-time visitors, including planning self-care. Chapters: 00:00 Podcast Safety Notice 00:29 Episode Three Kickoff 03:12 UK Stats Explained 05:02 First Visit Journey 07:32 Security And Support 09:00 Meeting Mum Inside 11:21 Goodbyes And Anxiety 15:24 Visits Getting Better 17:13 Family Day Story 21:09 Good Staff Like Nicole 23:05 Why Visits Matter 23:19 Travel And Prison Rules 26:52 Closed Visit Shock 31:18 Should Kids Visit 33:04 What Helped After Visits 34:05 Keeping The Bond 35:35 Letters And New Tech 39:52 Theatre Changing Prisons 42:48 Advice For First Timers 47:23 Self Care And Goodbye

    49 min

  9. MAR 23

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 2 | Finding Out a Parent Is in Prison, Grief, and the Power of Support Groups

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In episode two of Voices Unlocked, the hosts remind listeners they are not therapists and encourage self-care during emotional conversations. They reflect on how their long friendship shaped their lives, then discuss how families tell children when a parent goes into custody and what that moment feels like. Liv shares learning at age eight that her mum was in prison after being told she was “working away,” describing delayed grief, unanswered questions, fears shaped by cartoons, and the stigma that made her feel responsible for defending her mum. Lorna explains concepts including ambiguous loss and disenfranchised grief and why carers may delay disclosure while they figure things out. They highlight the value of peer support groups, differences in coping at different ages, and preview episode three on prison visits and contact, ending with Liv reading her award-winning poem “Dear Mum.” Chapters: 00:00 Podcast Disclaimer 00:29 Episode Two Catchup 03:18 Telling Kids The Truth 04:01 Finding Out At Eight 07:35 Grief And Judgment 10:21 Ambiguous Loss Explained 14:27 Justin Bieber Support Group 17:28 Why Peer Support Works 20:04 Second Time Around 21:51 Support Group Nerves 23:08 New Kids Find Belonging 24:26 Family Connection Magic 24:51 Why Support Groups Help 26:26 Moms vs Dads in Prison 28:02 Finding Out the Truth 30:12 Suitcase Kid Childhood 32:05 Second Time Anger 34:07 Posting Parcels in Uniform 36:14 Halloween Party Detour 39:39 Dear Mom Poem Finale 43:44 Gratitude and Wrap Up

    45 min

  10. MAR 16

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 1 | Meet Liv & Lorna: Creating a Safe Space for Children of Prisoners

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In the first episode of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna introduce their podcast as a safe space to share real-life experiences of growing up with a parent in prison, while noting they are not therapists and encouraging listeners to look after themselves during emotional conversations. Lorna shares how her career developed through prison research into founding Time Matters UK, and how she met Liv when Liv was eight after Liv’s mum went to prison. They reflect on advocacy moments like Liv speaking at conferences and appearing anonymously on the Jeremy Vine show, discuss stigma and lifelong impacts, and outline future topics such as school, prison visits, and support groups, inviting anonymous questions via email. Chapters: 00:00 Podcast Safety Notice 01:20 Mission and Audience 02:56 Meet the Hosts 03:40 Lorna Origin Story 07:03 Liv Childhood Impact 10:11 Learning to Support Kids 14:33 Jeremy Vine Mixup 16:42 Finding Your Voice 17:40 Mum in Prison Lessons 19:27 Why This Podcast Matters 21:28 Let Young People Lead 25:06 Coping Through Helping 29:32 Closing Thanks and Contact

    32 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

🎙️Voices Unlocked Podcast Breaking Silence. Breaking Stigma Supporting youth with incarcerated parents You are more than your story✨

Information

  • Creator
    Voices Unlocked
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Voices Unlocked
  • Show Website
    Voices Unlocked