Pact’s prison-based Family & Significant Other Services are commissioned by HMPPS and offer holistic support to women in prison and their family members to maintain positive relationships.

Family & Visitors’ Centre

Pact runs the Family & Visitors’ Centre at HMP Send, ensuring families a warm welcome when they visit. Our team supports prisoners’ family members, friends and loved ones, offering emotional and practical support before and after a visit.

We can also offer guidance and resources around:

  • Travel and transport
  • Financial assistance for prison visits
  • Signposting to Pact services and other helpful organisations
  • Supporting children and young people affected by imprisonment
  • Raising concerns or making a complaint

Supporting women in prison

Our caseworkers offer emotional and practical support for women to maintain positive relationships with their children and/or families and prepare for a fresh start after release. This work includes relationship and parenting education and support, family liaison, access to welfare grants, and support for women to engage with other relevant services.

HMP Send is one of the women’s prisons piloting our prison-based social workers, who can help keep mothers in touch with their children in the community. Our social workers offer intensive one-to-one support for women, empowering them to engage in matters involving their child, speak for themselves in court, and understand processes and how to work with them. They also provide a vital link with community social workers.

Our specialist resettlement service, Journeys to Freedom, supports women at HMP Send. The programme supports vulnerable women in navigating the transition from prison to the community in three stages: prior to their release, through the gate on the day of release, and in the community.

Family Days

Our team HMP Send organises 15 Family Days throughout the year, specifically designed for women and their children and families. These include adult days, lifer days, extended family days, children’s days, and community family days.

Referral Information

We can receive referrals at any time during a prisoner’s custody at HMP Send.

These can be self-referrals or referrals from prison staff, family members or community professionals.

HMP Send also has a social worker who will work with any prisoner involved with social services.

Referrals Offered:

  • This service does not offer Booking referrals
  • This service does not offer Drop-in referrals
  • This service does not offer Electronic referrals
  • This service offers Other – See referral information referrals