A nine month evaluation of Fathers Inside at HMP Ashwell that includes a range of data from programme documents, comparative literature and research, direct observation of the programme, and from semi-structured interviews with participant prisoners, their partners, child-carers and children. It concludes that Fathers Inside brings about changes in parenting attitudes and behaviour from the prison setting and beyond, and acts as the first rung on the ladder for a prisoner to address his offending behaviour.

Key evaluation outcomes of the research identified:

• Levels of compliance with and completion of the programme
• Degree to which programme objectives have been met
• Changes in attitudes towards fathering
• Changes in fathering behaviour.

This evaluation centres around the finalised version of Fathers Inside programme, a drama-based model of parenting education for adult male prisoners, their children and their partners. This was delivered independently of Safe Ground for the first time by the Education Department at HMP Ashwell.

Fathers Inside has a firm basis in adult learning theory. It appears to be making a valuable and singular contribution to parenting education for prisoners. It also affords them a pathway into wider education and qualifications, potentially improving their employment opportunities.

It spurs some of them to continue achieving and it inculcates in them an ability to reflect, possibly for the first time, on how others are feeling. This has the capacity to change their attitudes towards prison staff and to other people beyond their immediate family.