Lily's Story
My name is Keziah, I am part of Imago Dei’s Young Adults’ team, ID Essence..
As Prison Lead and a Community Support Worker, I get to support 18–25-year-olds in both prison and in the community after they’re released.
One of the things I love about my job and the project is being able to support young adults for as long as they would like us to. In the charity sector, support without an end-date is a very rare thing to be able to offer, but is something really valued and so important to our engagees. For those that want long-term support, this allows us to be part of their journey, celebrating and supporting them through whatever highs and lows life brings.
For some of our engagees, us being around for many years means we might first meet them as teenagers, then a few years later see them becoming parents and starting a family. This is the path that Lily’s* journey has taken, here is part of her story of being supported over many years by ID Essence, and moving forward positively away from prison.
LILY
I first met Lily in 2021. She and I had weekly 1-to-1 sessions for her last year in prison, right up until her release in 2022. She made great use of our time together to complete the ‘Managing Emotions’ course, as well as talk through anything on her mind; together we spoke about friendships, relationships, hopes and fears about her release, navigating prison life – essentially whatever was on her mind and she wanted to chat about.
She was a brilliant engagee, and although she lives outside of the area where we can offer face-to-face resettlement support, she was keen to keep in touch in the community. So, since her release in 2022, we have spoken regularly via text conversations and phone calls. She is also one of our amazing ID Essence Experts Board members!
CELEBRATING IN THE HIGHS
Last year, Lily shared the very exciting news that she was expecting a baby! During her pregnancy she sent me ultrasound scan pictures and updates, I even received a phone call from Lily in hospital when she was in the early stages of labour, talking about which address to send some baby gifts to!
Lily has become a proud, adoring, caring and brilliant Mum to her baby. I remember her speaking about her hopes of one day becoming a Mum in our 1-to-1s when she was still in prison. To go from those conversations a couple of years ago, to watching it become her reality in the community is an amazing thing.
SUPPORTING IN THE LOWS
A couple of weeks ago, I dropped Lily a usual “checking in” text message. In response, she shared how she has been really struggling at the moment, particularly with being able to afford essentials such as food, toiletries and clothing for her and the baby. Asking for help and expressing emotions can be really tough for anyone; it takes practice and trust. Having known Lily for 4 years, I know she is someone who enjoys being independent and taking care of things herself, so I could recognise and acknowledge that this message took a lot of courage.
PRACTICAL AND PASTORAL SUPPORT
Lily’s humility to ask for help and honesty about her struggles meant we could do various things over the next few days to support her:
Firstly, we had a pastoral support phone call at the next available opportunity. We spoke for 45 minutes about what has been going on, how she has been feeling, enabling me to offer encouragement and a friendly ear. Together we spoke through support options available and how we could action them, as well as the things she could put in place herself.
Following the phone call, we provided her with a supermarket voucher for her through our ID Essence Hardship Fund, so she could get some emergency necessities the same day.
Next, I applied for a £175 Resettlement Grant on her behalf through one of our incredible charity partners. When the money came through, we ordered some vouchers for her to spend on the essentials she and her baby needed.
We also researched some Parent and Baby groups in her area as a way for her to meet other parents experiencing similar things and reduce some feelings of isolation.
I shared Lily’s need with the wider Imago Dei team and network, and the #SheMatters Charity Shop Manager put aside some items from the shop for the baby that we sent to Lily.
We agreed that I’d check in more regularly for the next couple of months while the dust settles.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
At every stage, Lily has expressed how grateful she is for our support. She will be able to continue to receive our support for as long as she wants it. In her words, she said:
“I really do appreciate all the help you guys are giving me. Honestly makes it feel like I’m not alone 🩷 Thank you guys so much!! 🩷🩷x"”
“Thank you so much for your support and help, whilst I have been struggling with it all.. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without you guys 🥲🩷 my guardian angels 🫶 xx”
We can’t wait to develop the support we’re able to give new Mums, and have some exciting developments in the work, so watch this space for announcements (and if anyone reading this has ideas of resources to offer in this area, please do get in touch)!
As I said at the beginning, being able to offer long-term support means we can celebrate and support engagees through whatever unexpected highs and lows life brings, whether that be in prison or the community, and continues to be one of my favourite things about my job. Thanks for reading about what we do, and some of Lily’s story!
*Not her real name