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Pact - Prison Advice & Care Trust

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Pact - Prison Advice & Care Trust

Pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust) is a charity that helps UK prisoners and their families. Call the Prisoners' Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003.

31/07/2026

Ministry of Justice statistics published yesterday showed that, for the first time on record, more people were recalled to prison than released during a single quarter.

At a time when ministers are searching urgently for ways to create prison places, these figures highlight an equally important question:

Why are so many people being sent back?

Recall will always be a vital tool for protecting the public. But these record-breaking figures were not driven by rising rates of reoffending. They were driven overwhelmingly by breaches of licence conditions.

Just 22% of recalls in the latest quarter involved a further charge. Over the last decade, recalls linked to a further charge have changed little, while recalls for licence breaches have risen dramatically.

Yesterday, Pact CEO Andy Keen-Downs discussed what needs to change in both The Guardian and The Times: a more proportionate approach to licence breaches, combined with the support people need from day one of their sentence to build stable, crime-free lives after release.

We must set people up for success, not failure.

💬 What changes do you think would make the biggest difference in helping people stay out of prison after release?

30/07/2026

Everyone is talking about prison releases. But new data released today by the Ministry of Justice reveal another side of the prison overcrowding crisis.

For every prisoner released, another is being sent back.

Most recalls are not linked to a new offence. They are triggered by breaches of licence conditions.

What people often need after release is stability: a home, support, contact with loved ones and a real chance to rebuild their lives.

Tackling prison overcrowding can't just be about more people leaving prison.
It's about helping them stay out.

27/07/2026

We welcome Catherine McKinnell to her new role as Prisons Minister.

Prisons are still under huge pressure, but one thing we know for sure is that family relationships make a real difference. At Pact, we see every day how staying connected with loved ones can improve wellbeing, support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.

We hope the new Minister will recognise the important role families play in creating safer prisons and stronger communities.

Read our full statement here 👇

https://buff.ly/wnUdL33

💙

22/07/2026

Staying connected isn't easy when a loved one is in prison.

Families often tell us how different prison visits feel from normal family life, and how much it means to have opportunities to spend time together in a more relaxed way.

That's why we run Family Days: special visits with activities that give families those essential moments of normality.

These are some of the things people at HMP Eastwood Park, HMP Rochester, and HMP & YOI Swinfen Hall have told us about those visits.

These aren't just nice moments. They help families stay connected through the challenges of separation, give people in prison hope, and support the relationships that can play such an important role in rehabilitation and life after release.

Every family deserves to feel close, wherever they are.

💛 If you've ever been in prison, or had a loved one inside, what helped you feel close to the people you love?

16/07/2026

We're delighted to welcome Sinéad Dervin and Marianna Masters to Pact's Board of Trustees.

Sinéad is Director of Transformation at NHS England and a serving Magistrate in North London. With almost 30 years' experience across social care, mental health, criminal justice and the NHS, she has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for people facing multiple disadvantages and tackling inequality through partnership working and system leadership.

Marianna is an experienced governance and public policy leader whose career has spanned the corporate sector, local government, the NHS and the voluntary sector. She brings a strong commitment to improving outcomes for marginalised communities, including people in prison and their families.

Both bring a wealth of experience, insight and passion for social justice, and we're excited to have them supporting Pact's mission to build stronger families and safer communities.

Please join us in welcoming Sinéad and Marianna to the Pact family.

09/07/2026

🏁 Who loves racing miniature cars?
👨‍👦 Who loves opportunities for dads to spend time with their sons?
🥺 Who just has something in their eye, honest?

These are some photos from our recent ‘Lads and Dads’ family day at HMP Maidstone. Pact team member Ellen tells us more:

“I popped over to our prison's woodwork workshop and asked if they could make us a ramp for dads and their lads to race matchbox cars down. It was well loved on the day, and will be a permanent feature on our family days in future.

“One of the dads on the Family Day had been part of the team making the ramp. He asked us if he could make another one to give to his children on a future visit. I made a few enquiries with the prison, and he will now be able to make one for them.”

Other activities included World Cup themed games, pass the parcel (as Maidstone is a foreign national prison no one knew what pass the parcel was, but they all joined in and the dads got especially competitive), Father’s Day crafts, and a musician.

Days like this make a big difference—not just to children, but to their dads too. A reminder that you’re still a dad, even in prison, can be a powerful motivator to keep going and to engage with education, work and rehabilitation.

08/07/2026

Government ministers have today set out proposals to support children with a parent in prison.

We welcome the Government’s commitment to identify and support these children and to improve information sharing between services so that fewer young people fall through the cracks.

But recognising children is only the first step. They need access to support from trained, trusted adults in schools and communities.

Our Young Pact Ambassadors, who have lived experience of parental imprisonment, will be reviewing these proposals and helping us assess whether they go far enough.

Read the full response from Pact CEO Andy Keen-Downs 👇 👇

https://buff.ly/hoHs8Yf

07/07/2026

Published today, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons' Annual Report paints a stark picture of the challenges facing prisons across England and Wales.

As a frontline charity working in over half the prison estate, much of what the Chief Inspector describes is familiar to us: people spending long periods locked up without meaningful activity; squalid conditions; and a lack of safety for prisoners and staff alike.

The report highlights something Pact sees every day: relationships matter. Strong family ties help people cope in custody, prepare for release and build a more positive future. Supporting family relationships remains one of the biggest untapped opportunities for reducing reoffending and creating safer communities.

If you have a loved one in prison and are concerned by the report's findings, support is available through the Prisoners' Families Helpline.

Read the full response from our CEO Andy Keen-Downs CBE 👇🔗
https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/latest/news/pact-responds-to-hm-chief-inspector-of-prisons-annual-report-2025-26/

06/07/2026

We were really pleased to welcome Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, to speak at an event we held this week on healthcare in the criminal justice system.

He spoke about the challenges facing prison healthcare, including mental health, self-harm, an ageing prison population and the difficulties people can face when they enter or leave custody.

What was especially encouraging to hear was his recognition of the important role families and carers play. Families often know when something isn't right, can share valuable information, and provide support that can make a real difference to someone's health and wellbeing.

At Pact, that's something we hear every day from the families we support. 💙

03/07/2026

Supporting children affected by parental imprisonment is complex—and no single service can do it alone.

Too often, agencies work in isolation, meaning children’s needs risk being missed.

🤝 Joined-up working changes that.

When prisons, social workers, schools and community organisations collaborate, support becomes more coordinated, timely and centred on the child—improving outcomes for children and families.

In this blog, Pact Service Manager Tina Kikta shares what effective multi-agency working looks like in practice.

Read more 👇
https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/latest/news/why-joined-up-working-matters-for-children-with-a-parent-in-prison/

Address

29 Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442077359535

Website

http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/

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