Andy Keen-Downs, Chief Executive of the Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) delivered a Catholic Union Pub Talk that was extremely well attended earlier this week. Chaired by Catherine Pepinster, journalist, the talk covered a range of issues.
Andy Keen-Downs CBE says: “Leaving prison can be as frightening as going into prison. Prisoners and their families need support along the way. We must not forget the hidden sentences for those family members who suffer stigma, abuse and hardship. As many as 200,000 children per annum are affected by a parent being in prison and we know with absolute certainty that maintaining good, healthy and mutual familial relationships is a lifeline of support and reduces crime rates; it helps prevents children suffering collateral damage when their parents are imprisoned”.
Prisoners and their families have lots of knots in their lives, charities such as Pact helps to untie these knots and support people as best they can. Pact will publish an ecumenical report later this month, providing a united Christian voice, with constructive proposals for urgent prison reform.
A key date in the diary is Prisoners’ Sunday which this year falls on 12 October 2025. It is an opportunity to think about how we, as individuals, as a Church, and as communities, serve our brothers and sisters affected by imprisonment. Catholic Social Teaching, in particular the concepts of human dignity, solidarity and supporting the poor, is a rich source of inspiration for tackling the prison crisis.
Catherine Pepinster, Journalist, says: “There was standing room only at Andy’s pub talk demonstrating just how important the prison crisis is. Twenty per cent of prisoners are Catholic and, as believers, it is surely right that we help to support those imprisoned and their families as best we can both during their time in prison and on their release”.
The Catholic Union’s Pub Talks have proved a popular series of events with people in public life exploring a subject of particular interest to Catholics. Previous speakers include Lord Alton, Ruth Kelly, Catherine McKinnell, Jon Cruddas, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Ann Widdecombe, Alex Macqueen, Lord Glasman, Andrew Hawkins and Stephen Pound.
