“I was in prison and you visited me…” (Matthew 25:36)

Pact, the national Catholic charity that provides support to men, women and young people in prison, people with convictions and their children and families, is looking for volunteers to help with Prisoners’ Sunday (October 10).

Pact has a vision of a society in which justice is understood as a process of restoration and healing and where the innate dignity and worth of every human is valued.

This Prisoners’ Sunday, Pact is looking for people who will be ambassadors by giving a short talk after Mass about the charity’s work and its impact. A script will be provided.

Volunteers are also invited to be a Pact presence in their parishes, ensuring that posters are displayed and leaflets distributed.

Prisoners and their families have been severely affected by the pandemic. To stop the spread of the virus, people have been confined to cells for 23 hours a day.

Families have suffered prolonged separation, as visits have been largely suspended since March 2020. Now, more than ever, Pact needs the support of our parishes to enable us to continue to support families and to help rebuild relationships.

There are almost 79,000 people in prison in England and Wales and around 90,000 children have a parent in prison.

Research shows that keeping links between those in prison and their families reduces the risk of prisoners committing further crime after release by 39 per cent.

This is a key aspect of Pact’s work. The charity depends almost entirely on the generosity of the Catholic community for donations to fund its core operation and Prisoners’ Sunday is crucial to its ministry.

If you can help or would like to find out about volunteering opportunities with Pact, email parish.action@prisonadvice.org.uk or call 020 3031 6867. Visit prisonadvice.org.uk for more information about Pact’s work.