PACT’s award-winning women’s community project Alana House welcomed a visit from a government minister who announced a national funding boost to strengthen life-changing support for women.
The Ministry of Justice has pledged £32m to help women’s services to deliver specialist, trauma-informed support for women involved in the criminal justice system.
The investment follows an independent report from the Women’s Justice Board which recommends community-based alternatives to custody to help women address the root causes of their offending. Evidence shows that more than two thirds of women in custody report being victims of domestic abuse, more than half of female offenders have sustained brain injuries and more than half struggle with drug addiction.
As part of the announcement, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, Lord James Timpson visited Alana House in Reading to meet staff and service-users and hear first-hand about the transformative impact of the project.
Lord Timpson spent time listening to women who shared their personal journeys, many describing how trauma, abuse and instability had shaped their lives. The women spoke candidly about how Alana House’s trauma-informed approach had helped them rebuild confidence, engage with support and stabilise their lives. Their stories highlighted the power of specialist women’s centres in breaking down barriers, preventing reoffending and enabling lasting change.
Natausha van Vliet, CEO of PACT, welcomed the announcement. She said:
“This long awaited investment is a hugely welcome step forward for women across the country. At our women’s community project Alana House, we see every day how trauma, abuse, poverty, and unmet health needs push women into the criminal justice system.
“With this additional, sustained funding, specialist women’s centres like ours will enable us to support and empower more women to achieve positive, sustainable changes.
“We know that when women are given the right support – safe housing, stability, treatment for addiction, and freedom from abuse – they make extraordinary progress. This commitment recognises the effectiveness of community based, trauma informed services in reducing reoffending and preventing future victims.”
“We are pleased to see the Government listening to experts and investing in approaches that keep communities safer while supporting women with dignity and compassion. PACT looks forward to working closely with partners to make sure this funding delivers meaningful, lasting change for the women who need it most.”
Picture shows PACT’s Director of Community Services and Development Kathryn Warner, Laura Thompson, Deputy Director of Women in CJS Policy team, PACT CEO Natausha van Vliet, Lord Timpson OBE, Alana House team leader Lynda Souter, Tom Browning, Regional Probation Director, and Pia Sinha, CEO of Prison Reform Trust and Women’s Justice Board Member.
