Falling Through the Gaps conference

Date: 15th May 2025
Time: 09:30 - 16:30
Location: The Barracks, Forthside Way, Stirling, FK8 1QZ

This conference will bring together experts, professionals, and advocates to explore the challenges faced by families affected by imprisonment. The event will feature engaging talks, workshops, and opportunities for collaboration, building on the success of the previous Hidden in Plain Sight conference.

This year’s focus is on the impact of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), now incorporated into Scots law. With this legal shift, there is an urgent need to move from awareness to action, ensuring children with an imprisoned parent have their rights upheld and their views heard. The event will be chaired by Cathy Jamieson, former Justice Minister and Chair of the National Prison Visitors Centres Steering Group.

Key speakers include Eleanor Lindsay and Chris Ahern from Perth & Kinross Council, who will discuss efforts to raise awareness of Child Impact Assessments. Dr. Steph Scott and Naomi Griffin from Newcastle University will share findings from the Divided Households Project, which examined how changes to prison visits affect children’s mental health and family relationships. The ASPIRE Project, a Welsh Government-funded initiative, will also present insights on strengthening collaboration between prisons and schools to support children with a parent in prison.

If your work touches the justice system in any way, whether as a social worker, teacher, prison officer, solicitor, healthcare provider, or support worker then this event is for you. Attendees will gain fresh insights, new connections, and practical tools to better support families affected by imprisonment. With more speakers to be announced, the conference promises to be an important opportunity to improve support for affected families.

Cost: £95

• Click here for more information and other updates
• Click here to register your place