Pact

A group of people stand together in a prison visitors' centre. At the centre a mother and daughter wearing pink tops have their arms around each other’s shoulders and backs. In the top right corner is the Pact charity logo. Text on the image reads: “International Women’s Day. Every women’s prison should have an independent, prison‑based social worker.”

Women in prison face specific challenges: ++ rates of self-harm, children being removed from the home, and experiences of abuse.

Pact has piloted dedicated social workers in women’s prisons - and evaluation has found this makes a major difference. #IWD

pact1.link/socialworkers

A scene inside a prison corridor shows two people standing at a medical treatment window labelled “B Wing Treatments/Medical Room.” Various notices and posters cover the wall around the window. Overlaid text reads: “Social Market Foundation briefing: ‘Good prisoner health is not only a moral issue but it can also deliver wider benefits, including improved public health and reduced reoffending.’” The top right corner includes the Pact charity logo.

New report by Jake Shepherd @smfthinktank.bsky.social outlines the challenges in prison healthcare — long waits, complex needs, and stretched services.

We're pleased that it recognises the crucial role of families and carers in keeping prisoners fits and healthy.

www.smf.co.uk/publications...

Drumroll please... Here are the answers!

1. Winnie the Witch 🧙
2. The B.F.G. 🥒
3. Harry Potter - aka Harry Potterto! 🪄

Find out more about Pact’s work on reading in prisons: pact1.link/flip-reading

Reading initiatives in prison make a huge difference – but when they involve the whole family their impact multiplies, helping to:

📖 Build attachment
📖 Strengthen positive identity, agency and responsibility as a parent
📖 Inspire prisoners to pursue education and be role models for their children

A potato decorated with a paper hat and drawn face, with text asking to guess the potato book character. Answers in comments!

A potato decorated woolen hair and a drawn face, with text asking to guess the potato book character. Answers in comments!

A potato decorated with a drawn face with glasses and a tie, with text asking to guess the potato book character. Answers in comments!

🧐 Can you tell which book character each potato represents? Answers in the comments!

It’s #WorldBookDay, and Pact services across the country are running book-themed activities like dress-up-the-potato for people in prison and their families.

A hand holds a chocolate‑coated ice cream bar. In front of it, a black text box displays a quote: “A few weeks ago, one person told me they hadn’t had an ice cream in three years. I bought one from the kiosk and you’d have thought I’d given them the world. Those tiny things—things we take for granted—can turn someone’s entire week around.” The Pact logo appears in the top right corner.

A few weeks ago, Fran made someone's day by buying them an ice cream.

But Fran makes a lot of people's days. She volunteers as a prison visitor for Pact, going to see people who otherwise wouldn't get visitors.

🤲 Read Fran's story: pact1.link/frans-story

A colourful illustrated comic page showing a person standing with arms raised, surrounded by drawings and handwritten text about prison life. Phrases like “I have no freedom” and “I can’t choose what I do with my time” appear alongside images such as a prison door, letters, a clock, and a small drawing of two children. The page depicts restricted choices, separation from family, and daily routines in prison.

Text on a black background reads, "The comic shows how prison affects your family, not just the person inside. That’s the real bit that sticks in your head. The story makes you think about how people at home feel, not just yourself.” The quote is attributed to 'Kyle, a Big Brother at HMYOI Brinsford'

We worked with Big Brothers at HMYOI Brinsford and @jessiillustrat1 to create:

🎨 A comic for younger siblings about having a brother in prison
🎨 A resource for teachers to help siblings feel heard.

👉 www.prisonadvice.org.uk/get-help/chi...

“Graphic featuring a person standing outdoors on the left side of the image, with a purple background on the right. The right side displays a quotation mark icon and text reading: ‘I’ve seen how profoundly compassionate support can shape the lives of people facing the most difficult mix of health challenges, justice involvement, and family strain.’ Beneath the quote is the name Patrick Gillespie and the title ‘Pact Trustee.’ The Pact logo appears in the lower-left corner.”

We're pleased to introduce our new trustee, Patrick Gillespie.

Patrick recently retired as Service Director for Health and Justice Services at an NHS Foundation Trust, concluding a career spanning 47 years in nursing and healthcare leadership.

Find out more: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/about/team/t...

A torn paper feedback form titled “Baby Sensory Feedback for Dad.” Sections show circled responses: “Newborn” for the age of the child and “Excellent” for rating the session. A handwritten response reads: “Spending time with my family and having that little bit more normality.” The bottom portion with a 1–10 scale is partly torn away. The Pact logo appears in the lower right corner.

Find out more about our services for families: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/get-help/fam...

Close-up of two adults’ hands helping a baby or small child make a purple-painted footprint on paper. A quote is overlaid: “The only feeling in the room is love.” The Pact logo appears in the top-right corner.

One member of the team says:

“We run the sessions to empower dads and to remind them that just because they're in custody, this doesn't stop them from being fathers. They get 1.5 hours to be 1-1 with their child and for the whole time, the only feeling in the room is love."

An adult and a small child with blurred faces sit together on a colourful play mat surrounded by sensory toys, including a toy with buttons and lights. Overlay text reads: “We run the baby sensory sessions to remind them that just because they are in custody, this doesn’t stop them from being fathers.” The Pact logo appears in the top-right corner.

Our team at HMP Nottingham runs baby sensory sessions.

👶 For babies this is the difference between sitting stuck across a table from someone and playing on the floor with dad.

👨‍👦 For dads it reminds them that their identity is more than ‘prisoner’, offering purpose and hope.

Yesterday the #SentencingAct became law. There's much to celebrate:

🤝A shift from unproductive short custodial sentences towards more effective community sentences
🫄Greater protections for pregnant women
❌Removal of the 'naming and shaming' clause

More from Our CEO Andy Keen-Downs⬇️

👬 When a brother goes to prison, younger siblings can feel deep loss that's often overlooked. We worked with big brothers at HMYOI Brinsford and illustrator Jessica Hartshorn to create a comic and resource for teachers to help siblings feel heard.

👉 www.prisonadvice.org.uk/get-help/chi...

Scrap Clause 35 Pact supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their families across England and Wales.

Pact welcomes the Government’s decision to scrap the clause. We now look forward to seeing the Bill come into law - in particular the expansion of community sentences, which are more effective than prison sentences.

🔎 Read more: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/get-help/chi...

Pact brought together 20+ organisations and experts to sign a joint letter to the Justice and Education Secretaries calling for this change.

🤝 Together, we amplified the voices of children and young people who have experienced having a parent in prison or on probation.

Clause 35 would have allowed probation practitioners to publish names and photos of people completing community sentences. This would have:

➡️ Risked exposing children and families to harm
➡️ Made it harder for people to get jobs and rebuild their lives
➡️ Done little to reduce reoffending

Photo showing an adult and child walking across a zebra crossing. At the top left, there is a purple label reading “Major update” and a white label with black text reading “#ScrapClause35.” Below, white text says: “We called on the Government to protect families and children by scrapping plans to name and shame people on Community Payback schemes. They listened.” At the bottom, a bold black box contains white text: “Government scraps plans to name and shame people on community sentences.” The Pact logo appears in the top right corner.

📣 Major update: Government scraps plans to name and shame people on community payback schemes

We are delighted that the Government has listened to our campaign and removed Clause 35 from the #SentencingBill in a decision that protects children and families.

Frank Cottrell Boyce, Children's Laureate, reads to children of prisoners. In the background a poster reads, 'A new chapter is about to begin'

📸 Pictured: Our ambassador, Children’s Laureate @frankcottrell_b, reading to children visiting their dads at HMP Featherstone as part of FLiP.

Find out more: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/get-help/pri...

FLiP isn’t just about books—it’s about:

📖 Building attachment
📖 Strengthening positive identity, agency and responsibility as a parent
📖 Inspiring prisoners to pursue education and be role models for their children

Developed with Professor Dame @CathyNutbrown, the UK’s leading expert on family learning, FLiP supports parents in prison to engage with their children's literacy 📚

Today's @HMIPrisonsnews report on reading for rehabilitation underlines the importance of family-based initiatives.

When reading involves the whole family, its impact multiplies. That’s why Pact runs initiatives like Family Literacy in Prisons (FLiP) ⬇️

Family Literacy in Prisons Pact supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their families across England and Wales.

We were very pleased to see Pact's reading-focused family days mentioned in the report. We will be sharing more about our work on whole-family literacy later today.

Find out more here: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/get-help/pri...

Teal background with black and white text. Heading reads: “Initiatives involving family members make a big difference.” Subtext notes that family-focused schemes and reading days motivate prisoners to improve literacy by connecting learning to personal lives. Pact logo at the bottom right.

📖 Initiatives involving family members make a big difference

Blue background with black and white text. Heading reads: “Libraries and visible reading opportunities transform engagement.” Subtext describes how accessible libraries, events, and family literacy initiatives promote reading in prisons. Pact logo at the bottom right.

📖 Libraries and visible reading opportunities transform engagement

Orange background with black and white text. Heading says: “Targeted interventions and specialist support matter.” Subtext highlights strategies like phonics-based teaching, peer mentoring, and family-focused schemes, emphasizing the role of specialist teachers. Pact logo at the bottom right.

📖 Targeted interventions and specialist support matter

Pink background with black and white text. Heading says: “A whole-prison approach is essential, from leadership to prisoners.” Subtext explains that strong reading cultures require leadership support, staff training, and integration of literacy into daily routines. Pact logo at the bottom right.

📖 A whole-prison approach is essential, from leadership to prisoners

Purple background with white and black text. The main heading reads: “Reading is critical for rehabilitation and prison stability.” Subtext explains that nearly half of prisoners have reading difficulties, making it harder to access services and increasing reoffending rates. Pact logo at the bottom right.

📖 Reading is critical for rehabilitation and prison stability

A brightly decorated children’s play area with small chairs, a green rug, and colorful bookshelves. A teddy bear sits on a table with a sign reading “Pact.” Overlaid text says: “Five key takeaways from the HM Inspectorate of Prisons thematic report on reading in prisons.”

Today His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons @HMIPrisonsnews has released a powerful report on reading for rehabilitation, highlighting how reading helps prisoners build better futures.

5️⃣ key takeaways (thread)

When prisoners and their loved ones are given the support they need, change is possible - we see it every day.

✉️ These quotes are all taken from thank you letters to a member of our amazing team.

A blue graphic with white snowflakes and a white cloud at the top, representing stormy weather. The main text in bold black reads: “Planning a prison visit during Storm Goretti.” Below, in white text: “If you are in an affected area… Check transport before you travel. Find the phone numbers of all prison Visitors’ Centres on our website: prisonadvice.org.uk/prisons.” The Pact logo is at the bottom left corner.

🌨️ Visiting a prison during Storm Goretti?

Check transport before you travel and contact the prison’s Visitors’ Centre for info. Find phone numbers here: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/prisons

Stay safe and plan ahead!