Mothers' Union column with Julia Tum: Giving prisoners the chance of vision

Would they be flutes in which some exciting fizz can be poured? Would you get beer tankards? Would you get a small mirror in which you could look at yourself or use it within an ornamental garden? It might be that you think of Alice through the Looking Glass and disappearing down a rabbit hole? Wrong! All of them wrong!

The Mothers’ Union Members throughout the Leeds Diocese were asked to collect glasses that they knew were no longer needed for those men on remand at Armley Prison. So no, not drinking glasses, or looking glasses, or mirrors, but spectacles.

Imagine having poor eyesight, but not quite understanding why you couldn’t see clearly when others around you could read notices on nearby walls when you could not. Perhaps those men at Armley have never been able to read and no one had ever checked their eyesight and removed the blurriness from their vision.

I have recently had a very unwelcome eye accident and had to wear a patch for five days. The difference it made to my vision was astounding, and for those few days I felt very vulnerable and disorientated.

The Mothers’ Union works closely with different charities and supports many groups of people and causes where our contributions, however small, could make a difference.

The other month Reverend Roger Reece spoke at one of our Gatherings about his work as chaplain at Armley Prison. He is one of seven chaplains representing different faiths and providing confidential support and a listening ear. He enlightened us about how his work there is unique and how it offers hope and non-judgmental compassion.

The chaplains offer respect and a safe space for discussions about grief and anxiety and there is counselling and the opportunity for transformation. They arrange concerts and other cultural events within the prison. These are creative events reminding the men of the better side of humanity and to foster community. The chaplains give reassurance to family and friends since good family relations help with rehabilitation. The chaplains also link prisoners with churches close to where they may live when they leave prison.

The prison is always looking to recruit “Prison Visitors” particularly for those who have no visitors or whose family live a long way away from Armley. As I have written in this column on many other occasions there are groups of us who volunteer in New Hall Prison in Mirfield leading sociable cooking sessions, providing a friendly face on the Mother and Baby Unit and offering visitors tea and coffee on arrival…. which may have been from a great distance.

Rev Roger Reece took away three large bags full of men’s spectacles. Our hope is that they will enable those in Armley to see and read more clearly. And have a better vision of the times ahead. If you have any men's spectacles which you feel you can pass on, or are interested in the work of the MU and volunteering in the prisons, do contact me and we can chat a little more about it. Email: [email protected]