The Family and Friends Request Show allows people in prison to keep in touch with their loved ones on the outside. The show builds a community of support inside and outside prison through song requests, written messages and voice recordings.
Hosted by our award-winning Life After Prison podcast presenter Jules, it broadcasts every week on National Prison Radio, and it’s also available on Mixcloud so people can listen to it outside prison too.
Keeping in touch with loved ones whilst inside is so important. It combats loneliness, improves mental wellbeing and significantly reduces the potential of re-offending.
The Lord Farmer review looked at ‘The Importance of Strengthening Prisoners’ Family Ties to Prevent Reoffending and Reduce Intergenerational Crime’ and concluded that family ties are the ‘golden thread‘ to prison reform and that ‘relationships are fundamentally important if people are to change‘.
Statistically, prisoners who maintain family ties are nearly 40% less likely to reoffend.
By helping people stay connected – we provide a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in society:
“I love the fact that I can share the love with her through music by requesting our favourite songs. The songs bring back memories that we share and we feel like we’re together again.” – Family and Friends Request Show Listener talking about their sister inside prison.
“When you hear specific songs you relate and connect. It takes you back to a time when you weren’t a prisoner. It’s like sending love, it’s a gift to my family. My family is my rock. I can’t always bring myself to ring if I don’t feel strong. But I can use the words of a song to reach them instead.” – Family and Friends Request Show Listener living in HMP Styal.
“It’s nice to connect with her through the radio. She’s strong and she’s never given up, but we have been affected by her choices, and the music and messages gives us a chance to help her understand that struggle. She’s been in a long time and she understands it now. We’ve come so far as a family. Hearing other people’s requests are equally special as you know the love they will feel to get a message.” – Family and Friends Request Show Listener talking about their mother inside prison.
The Family and Friends Request Show broadcasts every Thursday from 1pm-3pm.
You can request a song for your loved one by clicking here. And once your request is sent, make sure you listen in!
For friends and family members outside of prison you can listen to episodes on Mixcloud by clicking here.
And for your loved one inside, they just need to switch over to the National Prison Radio channel on the TV in their prison cell. Make sure they are tuned in a 1pm on a Thursday.
If you have any questions, concerns or want to find out more about making a request please email info@prison.radio.
And if you’d like to hear what the show sounds like click the play button below:
Stay up to speed with what’s going on with the Prison Radio Association by following us on:
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National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on in-cell TV and reaches up to 80,000 people behind bars across England and Wales.
National Prison Radio was founded by the Prison Radio Association – a registered charity. Shows like the Family and Friends Request Show help people to cope with life inside prison and thrive on release. If you would like to support our work, and enhance the futures of people in prison across the UK you can make a donation at prison.radio/donate.
