A NEW visitor centre has opened at Loss Moss prison allowing the children and families of inmates the chance to relax and play.

It also offers support, information and impartial advice about housing, finance and travel , children and health issues.

The Low Moss centre in East Dunbartonshire, which has been running since July, is one of four new family visitor centres to open in Scottish prisons this year.

The others are at Glenochil, Shotts and Inverness and the Scottish Government has provided £1.8million to open the centres and support seven existing centres.

Early Years and Childcare Minister Maree Todd officially opened Early Years Scotland's new family visitor centre at Low Moss.

She said: “We are committed to doing all we can to make Scotland the best place for children to grow up.

“We know children can suffer greatly from the effect of a family member bing imprisoned, particularly a parent.

“The family visitor centre in HMP Low Moss is a brilliant example of an innovative approach to enhancing the experience of families visiting prison.”

Jean Carwood-Edwards, chief executive of Early Years Scotland, said all too often, children and families of prisoners feel they are made to pay for crimes they haven't committed.

She added: “They are innocent and often in need of understanding and assistance and that is why we work with children and their parents or carers wen they come to visit at the six prisons Early Years Scotland currently supports.

“Children affected by parental imprisonment are often the very children who are in most need of support but sadly, they are least likely to receive it. They keep quiet, often due to feelings of unfounded shame and stigma.

“The family visitor centre has only been open for a very short time and already we are seeing and hearing children and families say how much of a difference this welcome extra layer of support is making to their lives, epecially when they are often already dealing with difficulties that are complex and multi-layered.”

Low Moss governor Sharanne Findlay said: “This family centre will be a massive resource for the families of the men in our care and we hope it will give as much help and support as people require.”