Support for children of prisoners ‘does not go far enough’, says Pact

Catholic prison charity Pact has criticised a lack of ‘detail’ provided by the government after it announced children with a parent in prison would be supported.

A new scheme will enable vulnerable children with a parent in prison to be identified earlier, with the government announcing the scheme “will recognise ‘hidden’ children and connect them to vital support”.

Responding to the announcement, Pact CEO Andy Keen-Downs said, “Identification alone is not enough. These proposals seem to offer little detail about the support that will be provided to children once they have been identified.”

With an estimated 193,000 children in England and Wales having a parent in prison each year, Pact, the UK’s Catholic prison charity, has a special focus on supporting children of prisoners.

Pact try to make prison visits child-friendly and deliver training and resources for schools to help tackle the stigma of parental imprisonment.

Minister for Children, Josh MacAlister, said the scheme would “deliver urgently needed support for children’s mental health, education and wellbeing”.

The scheme seeks to help children with their emotional wellbeing, connecting families with “local services” and “a range of other support”. 

Keen-Downs acknowledged the scheme is “an important step forward to stop children falling through the cracks” but called for specific and ongoing support.

He said: “Children and young people of all ages must be supported – in schools and other settings – by trained adults they can trust.

“This is the first time we have seen ministers take meaningful action to recognise these children and ensure they are not overlooked by the services that should be there to support them.”

Pact’s strategy for supporting children of prisoners involves offering training and resources for professionals, including teachers, social workers, health visitors, regarding the impact of the criminal justice system on children.

Pact’s digital “Schools’ Toolkit” is used by over 350 schools and 45 local authorities in England and Wales. Looking forward, Keen-Downs said Pact’s Young Ambassadors – young people with lived experience of having a parent in prison – will scrutinise the proposals.

He added, “For too long, these children have been hidden in plain sight, facing significant challenges through no fault of their own. It is vital that no child gets left behind.”

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