Voices Unlocked

Voices Unlocked

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

  1. 1d ago

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 26 | I Kept My Mum's Prison Sentence Secret for 40 Years

    Kerry was 11 when her mum went to prison in the 1980s. There was no support and nobody to talk to, so she kept it to herself for most of her life. Two years ago she read a news article about children of prisoners, found Time Matters and kept emailing Lorna until she got a reply. Today she's one of their mentor volunteers. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Kerry talks about the police raid on her house the morning after Pancake Tuesday, and about realising during her volunteer training that she'd lived through nine of the ten ACEs. She has come to understand the trauma behind her own mum's drinking, and describes the afternoon at Junkyard Golf when a weight she didn't know she was carrying finally lifted. She also tells the story of being arrested twice in one night as a teenager, and the solicitors' firm that stood by her. It's an honest conversation about finding support later in life, and why Kerry now calls herself the oldest kid at Time Matters. ⚠️ Disclaimer: We are not therapists or counsellors. These are personal lived experiences shared for connection and awareness. Timestamps: 0:00 - A quick disclaimer before we dive in 0:34 - Meet Kerry, straight off the plane 2:25 - Why Kerry kept emailing Lorna 4:35 - Growing up with a mum in prison in the '80s 7:28 - The comments in the school corridor 9:08 - The police raid the morning after Pancake Tuesday 11:29 - Scoring nine out of ten ACEs 12:57 - Understanding her mum's own childhood trauma 14:48 - Meeting Liv at the pottery session 18:32 - The weight that lifted after Junkyard Golf 19:45 - Never going for promotion 23:50 - Keeping it secret for decades 26:36 - Seeing herself in the film That Girl 32:07 - Why resilience can feel heavy 33:09 - Volunteering with Nacoa 37:07 - Losing her mum and what she'd say to her now 41:06 - Telling her story to criminology students 42:25 - Arrested twice in one night 45:20 - The solicitors who stood by her 48:42 - Round of gratitude #VoicesUnlocked #ParentalImprisonment #ChildrenOfPrisoners #TimeMatters #Volunteering #Mentoring #ACEs #ChildhoodTrauma #ChildrenOfAlcoholics #HealingJourney #BreakingTheCycle #PrisonFamilies

  2. Oct 5

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 25 | A Probation Chief Admits What the System Got Wrong

    Rosie joined the probation service in 1986 and retired in 2021 as one of Merseyside's assistant chief officers of probation. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Lorna and Liv sit down with her to talk about what the system got wrong about children with a parent in prison, and what has changed since. Rosie remembers home visits where she walked straight past a child doing their homework to speak to their mum, because children weren't seen as probation's job. She explains how the research on Adverse Childhood Experiences shifted thinking, and why dawn raids and prison transfers can still put children last. Liv shares how she went from hiding whenever she heard a siren to working alongside the police, and how the woman now running her training at work turned out to be one of her mum's old prison officers. Rosie speaks from her own experience and not on behalf of the Probation Service. It's a frank conversation about the children who fell through the gaps between services, and what it takes to make sure they're seen. ⚠️ Disclaimer: We are not therapists or counsellors. These are personal lived experiences shared for connection and awareness. Timestamps: 0:00 - A quick disclaimer before we dive in 0:34 - Meet Rosie 1:55 - From probation officer to assistant chief officer 3:57 - When prison was all about the men 5:14 - The home visits where nobody spoke to the child 7:29 - Falling through the gaps between services 8:28 - The probation officer who earned Liv's mum's respect 11:10 - "Show me the boy" and the myth of the criminal child 14:08 - How the ACEs research changed probation 16:35 - The rise of support services like Time Matters 17:22 - Police raids with children in the house 20:24 - Why Liv used to hide when she heard sirens 21:44 - Learning to trust the police 24:02 - Prison transfers that undo everything 26:54 - The toddler who ran to hug a prison officer 28:19 - Liv's trainer at work was her mum's prison officer 30:56 - The Christmas party raffle 34:18 - HMPPS and the Think Child campaign 36:23 - National Children of Prisoners Day 39:33 - Life after probation at Asylum Link 41:36 - Rosie's message to children of prisoners 42:30 - Round of gratitude #VoicesUnlocked #ParentalImprisonment #ChildrenOfPrisoners #Probation #CriminalJustice #TraumaInformed #ACEs #TimeMatters #FamilySupport #PrisonFamilies #ThinkChild #Merseyside #MentalHealthPodcast

  3. Sep 28

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 24 | The Auntie Who Raised Me When Mum Went to Prison

    Hayley was 16 when her older sister Melanie had Liv. From then on, Hayley was the one getting Liv washed and dressed before work, and the one who picked her up from school the day Melanie went to prison. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Liv's Auntie Hayley tells her side of the story. Hayley remembers the day Grandad Chris came home from court and, for once, wasn't joking when he said Melanie had gone down. She talks about a diagnosis that didn't come until Melanie was 39, the support her sister never got, and going out alone to find her when she went missing. Liv calls it ambiguous loss: grieving someone who is still here. There are lighter moments too, including the night Melanie hid in the dog kennel while the whole family searched for her. This is an honest conversation about being the sibling who holds everything together, and about loving someone you can't fix. ⚠️ Disclaimer: We are not therapists or counsellors. These are personal lived experiences shared for connection and awareness. Timestamps: 0:00 - A quick disclaimer before we dive in 0:34 - Meet Auntie Hayley 1:32 - The auntie Liv thought was her mum 2:33 - Melanie in prison while pregnant with Liv 3:12 - The day Grandad Chris's joke came true 6:48 - When your sister is the one who goes to prison 7:34 - Hayley's first prison visit 9:13 - Grandad Chris, ABBA and dippy eggs 11:58 - Parting hair with a steak knife 12:45 - The school pickup when mum went away 13:19 - Helping raise a baby at 16 15:24 - How the whole family rallied round 18:36 - Bottling it all up 20:27 - A late diagnosis and a system that failed her 24:37 - Why prison gave Melanie structure 25:41 - Searching the streets for Melanie 29:51 - Grieving someone who is still here 32:12 - The night Melanie hid in the dog kennel 34:09 - Spider-Man over the back walls 35:49 - Bringing the boyfriend home 37:01 - What Hayley means to Liv 37:48 - Round of gratitude 40:23 - Who's next on the podcast? #VoicesUnlocked #ParentalImprisonment #ChildrenOfPrisoners #FamilySupport #AmbiguousLoss #Siblings #AuntieLove #AddictionInTheFamily #GenerationalTrauma #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingJourney #PrisonFamilies

  4. Aug 31

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 23 | Growing Up With a Mum in Prison

    She was raised in the shadow of her mum's incarceration - and today, she's a mother to two little girls of her own. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Caitlin (sibling #3 in a family whose story you've been following) opens up about a childhood shaped by secrecy, anger, and neglect... and how she rebuilt her life into one defined by stability, love, and healing. From finding out the truth about her mum at a young age, to being expelled from school and clawing her way back through education, to walking into motherhood terrified of repeating the past - Caitlin's story is one of resilience most people will never fully understand. She shares the moment she confronted the teacher who doubted her, the fear of becoming "like her mum," and what it really means to build a "forever home" after years of instability. This is a raw, honest conversation about generational trauma, breaking cycles, and choosing love — even when it's hard. ⚠️ Disclaimer: We are not therapists or counsellors. These are personal lived experiences shared for connection and awareness. Timestamps: 0:00 - A quick disclaimer before we dive in 0:34 - Meet Caitlin 3:33 - The day she learned the truth about her mum 4:45 - Finding Time Matters and a place to be heard 6:34 - The 11-year-old who couldn't stop crying 8:36 - Meeting Christopher — the moment everything changed 10:17 - Proving every teacher wrong 11:33 - The teacher who didn't recognize her own student 15:14 - Becoming a mum for the first time 16:52 - Her biggest fear: becoming like her mother 23:36 - Three years of homelessness before finding home 26:25 - What she'd tell her 12-year-old self 34:48 - Round of gratitude with the whole family 37:45 - Teasing part two — stay tuned #VoicesUnlocked #ParentalImprisonment #GenerationalTrauma #BreakingTheCycle #MotherhoodJourney #ChildhoodTrauma #FamilySupport #TeenMomStory #ResilienceStory #MentalHealthPodcast #HealingJourney #PrisonFamilies

  5. Aug 24

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 22 | From Prison Visits to Purpose

    In this episode of Voices Unlocked, we sit down with Polly. She opens up about growing up with a mother affected by addiction and imprisonment, being raised largely by her siblings and grandmother, and how a single, painful prison visit reshaped her understanding of family. She shares how she and her siblings each processed their mum's absence differently, what it was like being let down by the education system during her GCSE years, and how she turned early hardship into purpose - now working in childcare and dreaming of running her own support group for children with similar experiences. Polly also reflects on overcoming her fear of the police to help train Merseyside Police on trauma-informed practice, speaking at a Violence Reduction Partnership conference, and the powerful, loyal bond she shares with her siblings. This is an honest, moving conversation about resilience, sibling love, systemic failure, and what real long-term support looks like for young people impacted by parental imprisonment. ⚠️ Content warning: this episode discusses parental incarceration, addiction, and family separation. Please take care while listening. Chapters: 00:00 - Content warning 00:38 - Welcome back to Voices Unlocked 01:25 - Meet Polly: a family friend since childhood 02:39 - Officially welcoming Polly to the podcast 03:18 - Early memories of growing up together 06:12 - How each sibling processed their mum's absence differently 07:00 - Moving in with Nan as a "stranger" 08:28 - The prison visit that changed everything 10:08 - Remembering mentor Paul 12:23 - Time Matters: the longest-standing family 16:18 - From fear of police to training officers 20:12 - Speaking at a conference with no prep 21:36 - Advice to her younger self 23:52 - Sibling bonds and loyalty 26:56 - Failed by the education system 30:28 - If Polly could change one thing 33:10 - Gratitude and final thoughts #ParentalImprisonment #ChildrenOfPrisoners #Resilience #SiblingBond #TraumaInformedCare #SupportGroups #MentalHealthAwareness #FosterCare #YouthEmpowerment #FamilySupport #AddictionRecovery #CareExperienced #TimeMatters #VoicesUnlocked #LivedExperience

  6. Aug 17

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 21 | Growing Up With a Parent's Addiction

    In this deeply personal and educational episode of Voices Unlocked, our host opens up about one of the hardest chapters of her life - growing up with a mother who has struggled with addiction, mental illness, and repeated periods in prison. Alongside her co-host, she unpacks what it really means to live with ambiguous loss, disenfranchised grief, and the fear that comes with a parent's relapse. Together they explore the realities of the justice system, the vulnerability of release from custody, and why more support is needed for both children and adults navigating a parent's addiction. This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about setting boundaries out of love, choosing to heal, and refusing to let someone else's addiction define your future. If you or someone you know has grown up around addiction, incarceration, or family trauma, we hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone - and that healing looks different for everyone. Have a story of your own? Message us on Instagram or email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com Chapters: 00:00 - Disclaimer and welcome back 02:31 - Today's topic: growing up with parental addiction 05:32 - Mum's addiction battle: never a secret 08:05 - Mum's love beneath the addiction 10:16 - Released and gone missing 13:05 - Facing fear, rock bottom, and relapse 16:42 - Choosing to love her from afar 23:19 - Turning pain into purpose 26:45 - Wrapping up: what we're grateful for #Addiction #MentalHealth #FamilyTrauma #Podcast #VoicesUnlocked #Recovery #ParentalAddiction #Healing #YoungAdults #TrueStory

  7. Aug 10

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 20 | Surviving a Florida Prison at 17

    From a Florida prison documentary to finding peace in Greece — Layla's story will move you. In this episode of Voices Unlocked, we welcome Layla, for the realest, most emotional conversation yet. Layla opens up about growing up with an absent, addicted mother, being raised by her nan and granddad, and the wild true story of how she ended up starring in a Channel 4 documentary that placed teenagers inside a real Florida prison at just 17 years old. We talk discipline vs. today's generation, why it took her years to trust a support group, what it's really like sitting across from inmates (including someone on death row), and how she went from an angry teenager who didn't want to live to someone travelling the world and finding genuine gratitude for life. This one covers grief, addiction, sibling bonds, healing, and the kind of friendship that changes your life. If you or someone you know has a parent affected by addiction or incarceration, we hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone - and that healing on your own timeline is more than okay. Timestamps: 00:00 - Disclaimer & welcome back 00:44 - Meet Layla 01:46 - Five years of friendship & the Time Matters connection 02:32 - What finally got Layla to join a support group 07:17 - Raised by grandparents: tough love and discipline 10:24 - Why respect and boundaries mattered growing up 16:46 - The wild backstory: a UK teen flown to a Florida prison 21:53 - Inside the prison: talking to real inmates on death row 30:33 - Living with an absent, addicted mother 35:31 - Big travel dreams and life beyond the UK 36:26 - Seven countries in six months 37:28 - Finding peace and gratitude in Greece 39:54 - What everyone's grateful for 42:47 - Wrapping up & what's next ⚠️ Disclaimer: We are not therapists or counsellors. This podcast shares personal lived experience and is not professional advice. Some content may be heavy — please take care while listening. Got a story, question, or feedback? Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com #VoicesUnlocked #Podcast #TrueStory #ChildhoodTrauma #AddictionRecovery #RaisedByGrandparents #MentalHealthMatters #SupportGroup #FloridaPrison #HealingJourney #Resilience #SiblingLove #TravelStories #Gratitude

  8. Jul 27

    Voices Unlocked Ep. 19 | Debunking Social Work Myths

    Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com The hosts of Voices Unlocked open with a disclaimer that they are not therapists, then welcome special guest Carla, a social worker with lived experience of having a dad in prison and a former placement student at Time Matters. They discuss how Carla connected with Lorna through placement and counselling training, how supportive and non-judgmental the Time Matters children and young people are, and the joy that can exist alongside sadness. The conversation covers stigma and fear around social workers, heavy caseloads and paperwork, why Carla values openness and appropriate sharing, and how media and court reporting can expose families’ addresses and identities without warning or adequate safeguarding. Carla encourages families not to fear referrals, to be honest, and remembers how supportive relationships can change perspectives. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Meet the Guest Carla 01:18 How Carla Met Lorna 04:28 First Prison Visit Memories 05:13 Time Matters Group Magic 07:08 Media Stigma and Real Life 08:59 Lived Experience in Practice 10:02 Social Worker Myths Debunked 11:08 Workload and Paperwork Reality 16:31 Support Gaps and Advocacy Work 19:12 Knowing Your Rights 20:26 Media vs Safeguarding 21:14 When Your Address Is Published 21:47 Clear Communication Matters 23:30 Advice for Worried Families 24:55 Changing Social Work Narratives 26:07 Funny Social Worker Stories 29:29 Why We Stay in the Job 30:51 Lived Experience Builds Trust 34:10 Gratitude and Wrap Up

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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
    2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Voices Unlocked
  • Show Website
    Voices Unlocked

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