Voices Unlocked

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In this episode of Voices Unlocked, we discuss how media and social media coverage can affect children and families when a parent is imprisoned. Liv shares her experience of seeing a video involving her mum spread online when she was 13–14, leading to intense questions at school, worsening mental health, withdrawal from friends, truancy, and efforts to hide s...

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In episode 15 of Voices Unlocked, the hosts welcome Abby, who shares how she found Time Matters after her mum went to prison and how she became responsible for supporting her younger sister and grandmother while coping with the shock and emotions of a parent’s sentence. Abby discusses the importance of taking things day by day, seeking support, and allowing s...

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com Episode 14 of Voices Unlocked features Janine, a Time Matters board director, sharing how she met Lorna and how her childhood was shaped when her stepdad - who was like a father to her - went to prison when she was 12/13. She describes police raids, a lack of safeguarding and support, stigma and ostracisation at school, housing insecurity, and becoming parent...

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In Episode 13 of Voices Unlocked, Lorna and Liv welcome special guest Nanny Carol and begin with a disclaimer that they are not therapists, sharing lived experiences that may be heavy. Carol and Liv discuss their close-knit family, childhood memories, and Carol’s saying “I love you every day and twice on Sunday.” The conversation focuses on Liv’s mum being ar...

Email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Liz and Lorna reflect on the podcast’s growing support before discussing practical “do’s and don’ts” for supporting children with a parent in prison. Liv shares how a handmade teddy from when her mum was in jail, letters, tattoos, and a “missing you box” helped her cope with ambiguous loss and anxiety, and explains how crea...

In this episode of Voices Unlocked, Liv and Lorna discuss what “release” is really like after prison, challenging the idea that it’s simply the end of the journey. Liv shares her experience of her mum coming home, including the surprise of probation, daily reporting, and being placed on an ankle tag with strict curfew rules, and how confusing and scary that felt as a child. They explore how releas...

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 moth...

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...

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 experie...

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 w...

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 researc...

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...

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 sub...

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...

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...

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...