Cardiff rugby stars launch new café for prisoners’ families

We were delighted to launch our brand new family friendly café at HMP Cardiff at an event on 23rd January 2019, attended by stars from the Cardiff Blues rugby team.

The event celebrated the opening of our flagship Family Tree Café, which will provide a warm, welcoming environment for families visiting their loved ones in Cardiff prison. The Café, which will serve hot and healthy snacks and drinks, will give families a rest bite from the normal prison environment, and a chance to bond and spend quality time with their loved ones whilst sharing a slice of normality that many of us take for granted – chatting over a cup of tea and a sandwich.

The launch event was attended by guests from the Welsh Assembly and local criminal justice sector professionals as well as families who would be benefiting from the café during their visits to the prison. Guests were are also delighted to get the chance to meet six stars from the Cardiff Blues rugby team who happily attended the event, donning aprons, sampling cakes and snacks, and sharing why they were proud to be supporting the launch of this new establishment which will be benefiting so many families in Wales.

Phil Davies, Cardiff Blues Development Manager said: "The Cardiff Blues Rugby and Welsh Rugby Players Association are very supportive of this excellent initiative being run by Pact and are pleased to work in partnership with this charity in the future."

Andy Keen-Downs, Pact Cymru CEO said: "Our research tells us that the most effective way we can reduce re-offending by prisoners after release is by maintaining strong family ties – but prison visits can be miserable experiences for many children and families – that’s why Pact Cymru are delighted to be working in partnership with HMP Cardiff to make family visits as positive as possible by launching our new ‘Family Tree Café. We’re excited to have the support of the Cardiff Blues and hope to be developing more work with them in the future focused on rehabilitation and reducing re-offending."