Veronica

Veronica is a co-founder and Chair of AFFECT.

With the knowledge of what it is like to have an offender in the family, with more than forty years visiting prisons & psychiatric hospitals and by working to bring about improvements for prisoners and their families, she has hands-on and practical experience of the needs of the families of the accused and imprisoned.

She has spent much of her life trying to bring succour to those in distress. As a young woman she became acutely aware of the difficulties, needs and traumas of families where the breadwinner was in prison. One of the first things she ever did was to provide Christmas presents and food for the families of prisoners. Indeed she still does this, as the need arises.

For more than thirty years, as a teacher, she concentrated her efforts on children and families with difficulties. Now, retired, she has the time to concentrate her energies, though AFFECT, on the “hidden victims of crime” – the families of the accused and imprisoned.

She has spent many years and worked on numerous campaigns to bring about improvements in prisons and mental hospitals. While doing this, she has worked with many people, for instance:

Cardinal Arch Bishop of Southwark – Basil Hume,

The Chief Rabbi – 1990,

The previous Arch Bishop of Canterbury,

Catholic Bishops,

Lord Longford – Frank Packenham,

Prison Governors,

The 1970s head of the Parole Board – Sir John Hunt,

and many not so well known, but working equally hard for reform.

Her life’s experience, and training, all come together in her work for AFFECT. She is the author / editor of four of the publications available from AFFECT; “Arrest”, “Attending Court”, “Family Stories”, “Guide to the English Courts”, and is working-on & planning more. In association with MediaWise, she was the author of “Coping with the Press”.

Qualification / Experience:

	Prison visitor for nearly forty years.
	Experience of visiting psychiatric hospitals. over many decades.
	8 O/Level
	3 A/Level
	Degree in Teaching (Majoring in Art and Mathematics)
	Teacher for more than thirty years. (specializing in "special needs children.")
	Head of year and Pastoral Care
	Awarded two national awards for work with children.
	Potter, employing art and play therapy in her work.
	Pottery with psychiatric and learning difficulty adults.
	Author and Historian.
	Trained in "Basic Counseling Skills".
	Practical experience of working with the authorities to bring about change.
	Mother, foster parent and grandmother.
	Been described as "truly Child centred", "an earth mother." The needs of others have been paramount in her life

My expectations of AFFECT:

	That no one is ever, turned away.
	The families are viewed as the hidden victims of crime.
	We help in everyway that we can.
	We use our wealth of knowledge, training and experience to assist those experiencing an offender in the family.
	No judgements are made, we are non judgemental.
	We offer a place of safety, a listening ear, and practical support,
	We offer face-to-face and telephone counselling, befriending, etc
	Group lunches where we share a meal and our experiences, or just sit and listen.
	Introductions to others.
	To be available, if necessary, at any time of the day or night.
	For some we are part of their extended family.
	We are there from Arrest - to Trial - and to throughout the Sentence.
	We try, at all time to provide the service that our members request.
	We are Committee run, but the views and needs of our members are paramount and under constant review.
	What we don't know we will find out.
	We produce our own and distribute literature and videos donated to AFFECT, to cover most aspects of the procedure the families may experience.
	Through our website we give information about Procedures, Prisons, Visiting Centres, Assisted visits, Courts, Probation, Organisations, Help lines, etc.
	We try to keep abreast of changes in the law.
	We are here for the need of our members.
	To try and take away the isolation felt initially by so many of our families.
	To be available to the family throughout the time of their trauma at a time when they are experiencing feelings akin to bereavement.
	Networking with all others organisations in this field.

I see AFFECT as a service to others.

For more information please email information@affect.org.uk.