10 DOWNING STREET RECEPTION FOR PACT
Sarah Brown, the Prime Minister's wife, hosted a private charity reception for pact on 10th June, at which she spoke warmly and enthusiastically about our achievements and our vital work with the children and families of prisoners.
Meeting guests, including people who had benefited from the charity's services, and supporters of the charity, Sarah was a charming and gracious host, and showed a keen interest in the subject.
Maggie Darling, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequor, also paid a visit, as did Baronness Helena Kennedy. Bishop John Arnold, representing pact's President, the Archbishop of Westminster, and Monisgnor Malachy Keegan, Principle Catholic Chaplain to the Prison Service, were introduced to Sarah Brown.
Guests were surprised and delighted when the Prisons Minister, David Hanson, paid a surprise visit to the reception, particularly as a major parliamentary debate was in session. The Minister saw the advance screening of 'Who Cares?', pact's new short film.
This was followed by the charity's Director, Andy Keen-Downs, unveiling a new booklet for children visiting a parent or relative in prison.
The Prisons Minister praised the film and the children's booklet, and recalled his recent visit to the pact Visitors' Centre at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.
"I had the pleasure to visit the centre at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, and see their work for myself. They clearly do an excellent job", he said.
"The new film is excellent in the way that it captures how very hard it can be for prisoners' families, and it demonstrates I think how vitally important pact's work is to support families and family relationships."
"We understand that maintaining positive family relationships is one of the best ways of reducing the risk of re-offending by ex-prisoners. When someone goes into prison, if we can help families maintain contact, and support families through some of the difficulties they face, we can reduce the risk of re-offending by prisoners, and that's got to be good for the whole of society."
The Minister went on to praise 'My Visit', the charity's new booklet for children.
"As a father of four children myself, I understand the importance of keeping families together. That means we have to make it possible for children to be able to visits parents and relatives in prison and to feel safe and for visits to be as positive an experience as possible."
"pact's new booklet is a really excellent practical initiative and I congratulate the charity on it and on their new film. I want to thank pact for all their good work for prisoners' families."