Pact

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!

An orange and white informational graphic for the Prisoners’ Families Helpline. The main text reads: “The Prisoners’ Families Helpline is here to help anyone with a loved one in prison." The listed phone number reads: "0808 808 2003 freephone.” Opening hours are listed: “Monday to Friday 9am - 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 3pm.”

Do you have a loved one in prison? The Prisoners’ Families Helpline is here for YOU—every day. Get emotional support and practical info at every stage, from arrest to preparation for release.

🤝 You’re not alone.

Call 0808 808 2003 or visit prisonersfamilies.org.

Graphic reads “Operation Elf 2026” alongside the Pact charity logo. A string of polaroid-style photos hangs across the image, each showing boxes of Christmas presents. Captions on the photos read “HMP Lewes”, “HMP Ford”, and “Elves are go!”, highlighting gifts collected for families of people in prison.

Our amazing elves have been busy delivering books and toys to prisons countrywide so parents can give their children a Christmas gift 🎁

But Operation Elf is about a lot more than presents: it's about the chance to be a normal mum or dad, and about keeping families together ❤️

When someone is sent to prison their whole family serves a sentence. This is the different it makes when we give the whole family the support they deserve.

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

Children and families in the community:
👧 Receive emotional support to prepare them to visit their loved ones in prison
👧 Are offered practical support, including transport and accompanying children

Mums:
👩 Are invited to engage in parenting and relationships programmes
👩 Receive one-to-one support from our team, for example help engaging with social workers and other services

Visiting Mum identifies women who are risk of losing contact with their children and offers specialist support to preserve and strengthen these relationships 🤝

Having a parent in prison affects children in every way: from the emotional to the practical, it turns young lives upside down.

The ties between mum and child are stretched to the limit.

A Christmas card reads: "To Pact. Would just like to thank you for everything you've done and for all your support. Without you lot I would not have been able to see my little girl on visits. I'm so grateful. Thank you."

🎄 This week Pact’s team in HMP Styal got this lovely card from one of the women we support through the Visiting Mum programme.

Here's why our team found it so moving... (thread)