Sam
Category: Family Links
When Sam’s parents were arrested, he and his brother were still at school. Within two days Social Services had been in contact, along with a member of the Family Links team.
As the Family Links Worker explained that they were going to help support him and his brother, Sam immediately felt more at ease. They explained that since both parents were in custody, Sam would have to take responsibility for himself and his younger brother. As both young people were in full-time education, Family Links liaised with the relevant agencies to make sure housing benefit would pay the rent on the family home and social services would pay Sam weekly for electric, oil and food. The Family Links worker also helped Sam access funds to buy new clothes and shirts and trousers for school. Most importantly, the team arranged for Sam and his brother to visit their mother in custody.
Speaking of the experience Sam says: “Visiting my mother was a very distressing experience for me. I hated seeing my mother in prison. She was very distressed as she was so worried about my brother and I. She had not spoken to my dad either and was concerned about him too. I found the whole experience very stressful.”
“Over the next six months, until my mother was released, I did not tell any of my friends about my parents, I was so ashamed. The only people who knew were my head teacher, social services and Family Links. These were the only people I would speak to about my situation.”
Concerned about the welfare of his whole family, Sam's health began to suffer. Family Links liaised with his GP, who gave him appropriate medication and referred Sam to a mental health counsellor who he meets on a weekly basis.
As they are not UK citizens, there were difficulties for Sam and his brother to visit the prison. Family Links applied for citizen cards, but there was a delay in the process and Sam had to attend a few meetings with the law centre and immigration to talk to them about the family’s legal status: “My Family Links worker supported me through this and was great, she helped keep me calm and feel at ease about the whole situation.”
In December, Sam’s mother was released without charge. A few months later his father was released on bail. Sam is now at college and his brother is still in full-time education.