Operation Elf sees parishes support prisoners and their families at Christmas

Just released - Prisoner meets with friend. Image Andy Aitchison

Source: Pact

There are lots of reasons to be concerned about children and families as Christmas approaches this year. Pact is particularly concerned about those affected by imprisonment. It is estimated that more than 90,000 children in England and Wales will go to sleep on Christmas Eve without their mum or dad because they are in prison.

Pact is the national Catholic charity that supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their children and families. The first person we supported, more than 120 years ago, was a child made homeless when her parents were imprisoned. Research, and our own hearts, tell us that nurturing family relationships and keeping mums and dads connected to their children, where appropriate, is the right thing to do. Prisoners who maintain family ties are 39% less likely to return to prison. Supporting relationships helps to builds stronger families and safer communities. Those family relationships help people to make a fresh start.

Pact's Operation Elf enables parents in prison to give a gift to their child, or children, at Christmas in the form of a £15 gift card. Gift cards are donated by individuals, groups, schools and parishes across England and Wales and this year demand is particularly high. With your help, we are working hard to try to support the parents of 2,000 children who will be attending Pact Family Days in more than 60 prisons over the coming weeks.

Support Operation Elf

The simplest way to support Operation Elf is to donate a gift card(s) to the value of £15. Send it to us at Pact by 30th November and we will make sure a mum or dad in prison can give it as a gift to their child. You can pledge your support on our website, and even include your own message. One supporter wrote:

"I wish you all the joys and blessings that celebrating Christmas can bring. I hope you will have family time together and look to the new year with hope."

Post donated gift cards to Pact, Operation Elf, 29 Peckham Road, London SE5 8UA to arrive by 30th November.

Partner with a prison near you

This year, a number of parishes have responded to our invitation to work more closely with Pact Services in their local prison by forming an Operation Elf partnership. Each partnership looks a little different: parishioners are providing things such as gifts, gift cards, and festive treats. Representatives from the parish may also visit the prison to share in the fun at a Pact Family Visit Day and see first-hand how Operation Elf makes a difference to children and families.

The Catholic parishes of Borehamwood are working with a Pact Family Services team to provide gifts for dads in HMP Pentonville to give to their children. St John Fisher in North Harrow are working with us to provide gifts at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. In Clifton diocese, the parish of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Devizes is working with Pact staff at HMP Erlestoke. The Anglican Mothers' Union are strong supporters of Operation Elf.

Marie Norbury, Pact's Faith in Action Volunteering Manager, has visited several Catholic schools who are supporting Operation Elf this year, including St Francis Primary School, Caterham and St Columba's Catholic Boys' School in Bexleyheath. Marie said:

"The young people I have met so far really 'get it'. They have responded warmly to the need and generated their own ideas to raise the funds needed to buy gift cards. I am so moved by their enthusiasm and compassion."

For more information, go to: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/operation-elf