Why Christmas is hard for families with loved-ones in prison

For tens of thousands of families across the UK, the festive season is a painful reminder of separation. In particular for children with parent is in prison, the impact on loved-ones is profound, and Christmas often magnifies that sense of loss.

Children with a parent in prison face unique challenges. They may feel confused, isolated, or even ashamed, often hiding the truth from friends for fear of stigma. While others are writing letters to Santa or decorating the tree, these children may be wondering why mum or dad isn’t there to share the magic.

Many families with loved-ones in prison also struggle financially – something that comes into even sharper focus when there are presents to buy and Christmas dinners to cook. More than half of prisoners' family members say that they struggle to pay for some of the basics like food, heating and clothes

How Pact helps at Christmas

Pact helps in a number of different ways:

In the run-up to Christmas, we’ve been holding special family days, which allow mums and dads to spend quality time with their children, getting up and playing with them in an environment which is far removed from the usual restrictions in prison visits.
We've also been running Operation Elf - an annual campaign to provide books and toys that parents in prison can give their children.
Our Visitors’ Centres will remain open for much of the Christmas and New Year period, supporting families to stay in touch during the festive season.
We also run the Prisoners’ Families Helpline and are gearing up to take hundreds of calls over the Christmas period, providing people with crucial information, advice and support.

Some tips if you have loved-ones in prison over Christmas

If you have a loved-one in prison over Christmas, here are a few tips:

Plan ahead. Don’t get caught out by Christmas engineering works on the rail network or changes to buses. Find out more information about individual prisons on the Pact website. Plan your journey well in advance. Remember also that you may be eligible to get help with the cost of prison visits.
Marking the day. The prison rules may prevent you from sending in a Christmas gift but you can always add money to loved-ones’ prison accounts so they can buy snacks, toiletries or extra phone credit. You can also send cards and letters, reminding them that you’re thinking of them at Christmas.
Get help if you need it. The Prisoners’ Families Helpline, run by Pact, will be open. It will operate normal working hours other than Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day when it will be closed. However, other helplines, such as The Samaritans stay open 24 hours a day over the whole period.