The urgent need
Children arriving at prison visits often carry feelings of anxiety, fear and confusion. This type of loss is uniquely complex. Alongside grief, many children experience shame, loneliness, anger and misplaced guilt, as well as emotions they struggle to express.
These children have done nothing wrong. At Ormiston Families, we passionately believe they should not be left to carry labels that are not theirs or made to serve a hidden sentence of their own. Where contact with an imprisoned parent is possible, it should be as seamless, warm and child‑centred as possible.
This is why Ormiston Families’ Family Visitor Centres exist: to make visits safe, welcoming and emotionally supportive, and to protect vital parent–child relationships at a critical moment in a child’s life – in turn positively influencing their future life chances.
Introducing our bears
Show You Care with a Bear exists to help our Family Support Workers further enrich a child’s visit with their parent, by giving them the opportunity to create something meaningful together and to take it home afterwards – for a bear to hug and a voice to reassure them that they are loved.
During a visit, the child and their parent create a teddy bear together
Children personalise the bear with clothes of their choosing
Privately, and without the child knowing, Mum or Dad records a personalised audio message inside the bear
Will You Show You Care With a Bear?
We are seeking six generous and committed corporate partners – one for each Ormiston Families Visitor Centre – to adopt a centre and help us create meaningful moments for children who need extra support.
Adopting a centre ensures that children visiting that location throughout the year have access to this powerful support.
- £15 per bear
- 50 bears per centre per year
- £750 to adopt one Family Visitor Centre
This is so much more than a one‑off donation. It is a meaningful partnership with clear and direct impact. With every bear, you show a child they are valued, seen and heard, while standing with us to highlight the needs of children who are so often the invisible victims of offending.
What Adoption Includes
This is not a traditional sponsorship opportunity. It goes far beyond placing a logo on a poster. This is a chance for your team to truly connect with the cause you choose to support, and to see first‑hand the difference your involvement makes.
Your adoption includes:
- Invitation to visit your adopted centre (2–3 times per year)
- Opportunity to create your own branded bear for shared social media storytelling
- Your bear acting as your organisation’s “representative” at visitor days
- Opportunities for photos and updates documenting your bear’s journey
- An ongoing relationship with centre staff
- A visible, human symbol of your organisation’s care
- Automatic inclusion in a special Bear event launching in 2027 (at no additional cost)
This partnership gives organisations a direct connection to frontline family support services, while fully protecting the dignity and privacy of the children and families involved.
Want to Go Further?
Alongside your adoption, we invite you to work with us as a team through additional opportunities, including:
- Collecting age‑appropriate games, books or creative materials
- Seasonal collections such as Easter treats or Christmas gifts
- Supporting Father’s Day or special‑occasion stalls, helping children maintain bonds and self‑esteem
- Providing spare clothing items so no family is turned away due to prison regulations
Our highly experienced Support Workers will guide you clearly on what can and can’t be collected, invite you to see the impact of your support, and provide regular updates throughout the year.
Why Organisations Choose This Partnership
- Low upfront cost with year‑long engagement
- Tangible, visible social impact
- Meaningful and uplifting employee engagement
- Strong alignment with CSR, ESG and social value commitments
- Positive association with children, families and rehabilitation
- Rare opportunity to work directly with a frontline family support service
Ready to make a difference?
To find out more or start a partnership, please contact our Fundraising Manager Julie Long at julie.long@ormistonfamilies.org.uk.
