Tough financial outlook leads to some service reductions at Pact

It’s with an extremely heavy heart that we have today announced a reduction in some of the support that we provide for prisoners’ families, because of financial pressures facing the charity.  

These are challenging times for charities of all shapes and sizes. In recent years, the cost-of-living crisis and soaring inflation rates have forced charities to cut costs. More recently, the Government’s changes to National Insurance have hit us hard, costing Pact at least £200,000 this year. 

We remain financially strong but we are not immune from the turbulence currently affecting all charities. We have done everything we can to protect our frontline services but we have had to reduce some of what we do.  

For a number of years, Pact has been running two support services for families caught up in the criminal justice system, paid for largely by charitable donations:  

• A 1-2-1 befriending service to support people with loved-ones in prison.
• A service to support defendants’ families in courts across London.  

The financial pressures facing the charity mean that we have taken the difficult decision to reduce these two services. Both will continue, but in a much more limited form. I’d like to thank the generous donors who have stepped in with financial support. 

I’ve been part of a campaign to make charities exempt from the changes to NI, which are expected to cost the sector around £1.4bn in the next year. I’d urge the Government to reconsider its stance. 

We, like all charities, rely on generous donations to keep many of our services running. If you can help us raise money to support families with loved-ones in prions, or if you know someone who could, please contact our fundraising team: supporterrelations@prisonadvice.org.uk  

Andy Keen-Downs, CEO, Pact