TWO of Scotland’s leading religious figures have visited the country’s national facility for women in custody.
Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Most Rev Leo Cushley, Roman Catholic Archbishop and Metropolitan of St Andrews and Edinburgh, were welcomed to HMP & YOI Stirling on Friday, 19 January.
The establishment replaced HMP & YOI Cornton Vale when it opened last year, and was the third new facility for women, with the Bella and Lilias Community Custody Units (CCUs) opening in Dundee and Glasgow respectively, in 2022.
Along with the bold and groundbreaking Strategy for Women in Custody 2021 - 2025, this has created a step change in how the Scottish Prison Service manages women in its care.
The strategy outlines a trauma-informed and person-centred approach, founded on the principle that all aspects of the care of women in custody should be designed for, and take account of, their likely experience of trauma and adversity.
HMP & YOI Stirling is a smaller and better equipped facility than its predecessor. Women move from there to the Bella and Lilias CCUs, which are the first of their kind anywhere in the UK, where they prepare for release and a return to their communities.
The visits of Mrs Foster-Fulton and Archbishop Cushley also gave them the opportunities to see the prison chaplaincy service, which offers spiritual and pastoral support and guidance to those in custody of all faiths and none.
Paula Arnold, Governor of HMP & YOI Stirling, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Mrs Foster-Fulton and Archbishop Cushley to HMP & YOI Stirling to see our establishment and the important work staff are doing here. We value our partnerships with the Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland, and the important role that chaplains play in supporting people on their personal journey in custody. Relationships, including those based on religion and faith, are key to supporting the wellbeing of our women and helping them towards happier and healthier futures.”
Mrs Foster-Fulton added: “It was a great privilege to visit HMP & YOI Stirling to meet staff and some of the women and hear first-hand about the good work that goes on. People from all walks of life find themselves in prison for a wide variety of complex reasons and as a society we need to move on from judgment, from wagging our fingers and shaking our heads. We believe that God's presence can break into the darkest of cells and uses us to demonstrate that loving presence to one another.
“Church of Scotland representatives serve as chaplains in prisons across the country, providing pastoral and spiritual care for the whole of the prison population. Jesus said ‘I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me'.
“Chaplains form a strong link between the communities inside and outside, supporting families and caring for those most in need, helping them to discover purpose and meaning and develop the resources to live a fulfilled life.”
Archbishop Cushley said: “Chaplains play an important role in prisons across Scotland in helping with the wellbeing and spiritual direction of prisoners.
“Sally and I were keen to visit HMI &YOU Stirling and we are impressed with the facilities provided and the steps taken to ensure the care of women in custody.”
