News & Events

August 2024

In Tune continues to make a significant impact on families affected by imprisonment. Over the past few months, we've conducted sessions with parents and children - both individually and as a whole family - at HMP Glenochil, HMP&YOI Polmont, and HMP Edinburgh.

During songwriting sessions, imprisoned mums and dads have created original songs for their children over two to three days. The final day involves recording the song within the prison, and later, sharing it with their families by CD or an emailed link.

We've also held weekly sessions across 10-week blocks, offering families two hours each week to come together and simply be a family. These sessions provide an opportunity for imprisoned parents and their children to engage in creative and meaningful play—exploring new instruments, learning new songs, and enjoying music-based games. This time together allows parents to fully embrace their roles and gives children the chance to bond with their mums or dads in ways not possible during general visits.

Recognising the need to continue adapting In Tune to best serve those it’s designed for, we've recently explored new session designs based on conversations with both prison staff and families. For example, we introduced a new format at HMP Edinburgh, where groups of dads created an original group song for their children in just one day. This involves writing a completely new song from scratch in under three hours. Later that evening, their families come to the prison to enjoy a live performance of the freshly written song, followed by time spent playing games and learning instruments together.

The live element of In Tune is a departure from our usual approach, but it has been a welcome change. The immediate reactions and emotions shared by the families during these one-day sessions have been incredibly rewarding. As part of the In Tune team, it’s heartwarming to witness the children's faces light up as their dads perform—whether it's pure delight or, depending on their age, a bit of embarrassment! Either way, it's a memory that will be cherished for years to come.

(We’ve written a short post on what this day typically looks, and feels, like here)