Footprints supports all people regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. Many of the people we support struggle to read and write, which further isolates them, especially during these lockdowns, when communication relies on technology and messaging. However, Footprints continues to support these people, walking beside them as they begin their journey to a meaningful, brighter future; even if our support has to be over the phone now.
*Names have been changed
Audrea was sexually abused by her mother and partners, leading to huge psychological impacts and resulting in her crime. She served a long sentence and is being released to an Approved Premise. Audrea is 70 years old and is a transgender woman who has not undergone reassignment. She has spent her entire time in prison in male-only facilities and is being sent to a male-only Approved Premise.
We visited Audrea in prison and collected her on her release. She doesn’t read or write well, so we took her to register with the local library, which enables her to access audiobooks. We also planned to register her with reading support once the lockdown lifts. We helped Audrea register for benefits and provided her with some free toiletries and basic makeup donated to the project.
We referred her to Chrysalis, a charity supporting trans and intersex people in the local community, and Tower House Horses, an Equine Assisted Learning program. During the lockdown, we maintained contact with Audrea weekly and often daily and provided food parcels in conjunction with FareShare.
Audrea reports feeling secure in the AP and is becoming more independent. Access to audiobooks has been a good distraction during lockdown, and phone contact has offered her a chance to talk about her frustrations in strict confidence. She has started to cook again, using the parcels from FareShare.
We will continue to support her with her struggles and mental health issues. Once the lockdown is lifted, we will help Audrea engage with basic literacy and numeracy support and find voluntary or paid work.
