Invisible Walls: Keeping Families Connected — Schools, Prisons, and the ‘Golden Thread’ of Belonging

In this moving and eye-opening episode of The Spark Changemakers Podcast, Nikki Giant sits down with Ryan Wood and Julie Jones from Invisible Walls, a not-for-profit organisation in Wales working with children and families when a parent is in prison.

Ryan and Julie share how Invisible Walls was born from a desire to keep families connected, and why something as simple as a school report shared across prison walls can change the course of a child’s life. With honesty and compassion, they describe the stigma and silence that often surrounds parental imprisonment, and how schools, communities, and even school inspectors are beginning to shift their approach to these hidden children.

From quilts stitched with love to school discos raising funds, to ground-breaking parent–teacher sessions held inside prison, this conversation shines a light on the golden thread of family belonging—and the small, human actions that ripple into systems change.

This episode is a reminder that dignity, connection, and compassion can break down walls we cannot see—and open new pathways for children to thrive.

🌀 Topics covered:

• The founding of Invisible Walls and its mission to support families
• How trauma-informed training helps schools respond with empathy, not judgement
• Parent–teacher meetings inside prisons—centring children in the conversation
• The “golden thread” of family ties and why it reduces reoffending
• Stories of community love, from handmade quilts to grassroots fundraising
• Shifting systems: how prisons, schools, and inspectors are beginning to change

Whether you’re an educator, changemaker, or simply someone who believes in the power of kindness, this conversation will inspire you to see the invisible — and remember that every child deserves to feel seen, safe, and connected.

💡Learn more:

• Visit the Invisible Walls website
• Follow Invisible Walls on Facebook
• Learn more about the Lord Farmer review mentioned in the show
• Visit the Project Linus website, providing support to children in need