Help support prisoners connect with their kids through ‘Read-Along Dads’

Public support is being sought through a crowdfunder to raise vital funds to continue a powerful program connecting dads in prison with their kids, by creating a recording of them reading a book for their child.

The Crowdfunder is at www.chuffed.org/project/readalongdads 

‘Read-Along Dads’ was founded by a group of local residents in Castlemaine in Central Victoria, which is near the Loddon Prison. Loddon is home to hundreds of low and medium-security prisoners from all across Victoria.

Friends of Castlemaine Library (FOCAL), wanted to help the men keep in touch with their children while they were separated. They also wanted to help the children through this difficult time - and promote literacy skills.

Both the audio recording and a copy of the book itself are sent to the child who can listen to their parent’s voice while reading along. Already the program has involved more than 300 prisoners and their kids.

The feedback from prisoners has been overwhelmingly positive. 

One prisoner who has participated in the project said, “It’s hard to explain the feeling I get out of it when I know that at night I’m the last voice he hears before he goes to bed”. 

However, recently the number of prisoners has doubled with the completion of new facilities, and FOCAL is struggling to find the funds to buy the books and keep recording, let alone involve the hundreds more prisoners and their children.

So the group is turning to the community to help donate to continue the program.

The crowdfunder will run from November 12th to Christmas and has a target of raising $30,000. Just a $60 donation provides kids with the gift of their dad reading them a story.

www.chuffed.org/project/readalongdads