Government minister Sir Nic Dakin visited PACT last week to witness first-hand the transformative work of our women’s community project Alana House.
Alana House provides a safe, women-only space offering holistic, trauma-informed support to women facing multiple disadvantages, including justice-involved women. The centre empowers women to make positive life changes through tailored support and a compassionate, non-judgmental approach.
During his visit, Sir Nic, who is parliamentary undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Justice, toured the Alana House women’s centre in Reading, meeting women who have benefited from its services and hearing their powerful stories of how Alana House has supported them to build resilience and make sustainable, positive changes.
The visit also included a roundtable discussion chaired by the CEO from Clinks, with PACT staff, Reading central MP Matt Rodda and regional partner agencies HMPPS Women’s Group and Thames Valley Liaison and Diversion Service. The discussion focused on the critical role women’s centres could play in delivering the recommendations of the recently published sentencing review.
The minister heard evidence about how effective women’s centres are at supporting women with reducing their re-offending and keeping families together. The conversation highlighted the importance of sustainable funding for women’s services and a whole-systems approach in addressing the complex needs of women in or at risk of entering the justice system.
Established by PACT in 2010, Alana House is grounded in the principles of the Corston Report, which advocates for gender-specific, trauma-informed support across nine key pathways. Originally created to support justice-involved women – many of whom are themselves survivors of trauma – Alana House has since evolved to serve all women with complex or multiple disadvantages.
In 2024/25, Alana House supported 242 women through its Reading centre and outreach services across Berkshire. The most common areas of need were experiences of domestic abuse and sexual violence (86%), mental health challenges (80%), and issues related to children and families (55%).
PACT chief executive Natausha van Vliet said: “I am deeply proud of the life-changing support Alana House provides and the courage shown by the women who come through our doors. It was an honour to welcome the Minister today and share the incredible work happening here every day.
“We were especially pleased to host a roundtable discussion on the importance of a whole-systems approach and the vital role women’s centres play in the justice sector. With the right support, women can and do transform their lives.”
