Pact is the national Catholic charity providing support to prisoners and their families across England & Wales. We hold the Lecture in memory of the late prison reform champion and great friend of Pact, Sir Harold Hood. The charitable trust formed in Sir Harold’s name supports the Lecture and Pact’s wider work.
The 2023 Sir Harold Hood Memorial Lecture was given by Dr Chijioke Nwalozie. He is a senior lecturer in Criminology & Criminal Justice at De Montfort University. Alongside his academic qualifications and prison chaplaincy experience, he is the founding director of Prisons Support Services Nigeria. On his theme, ‘The Church’s Participation in Prison Reform’, and drawing on scripture, Dr Nwalozie affirmed that, ‘When prisoners are poorly treated, the Church must act as a critical stakeholder and vanguard of prison reform’. When addressing the vital role of prison chaplains, he added an unscripted remark: ‘There are many saints in prison. Ask anyone working in chaplaincy and they will tell you.’
In keeping with Pact’s identity as a pioneering, life-changing charity with its roots in the Catholic church, the evening provided nourishment for the head, the heart and the soul. Laura Manders gave a beautiful lived experience testimony in which she described her first ever uncertain attempts to pray, separated from her children and alone in her prison cell. Laura is a senior member of staff at Pact now.
The Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir communicated Pact’s mission and solidarity with those affected by imprisonment, through songs: “Change the World”, “Amazing Grace” (which prisoners return to many times) and, to welcome our speaker, “Wa Emimimo” (a song from Nigeria which means “Come Holy Spirit”).
A number of prison chaplains were among the audience. On our panel, Governor Emily Thomas of Isis Young Offenders’ Institution, highlighted how much she values having chaplains among her team. Her words were echoed by panel member Revd Beverly Fraser, Anglican Managing Chaplain at HMP Highdown womens’ prison. Revd Beverly stressed the absolute centrality of chaplaincy among the wider prison staff.
An estimated 97,000 children will go to bed tonight without their mum or dad because they are in prison. It was a first for Pact to host this lecture in a Catholic School – and yet fitting. We often remind people that there are children in our schools and families in our parishes who are serving a ‘hidden sentence’ alongside their loved one in prison and do not speak of it because of our society’s stigma.
There were recurring themes of bringing hope and of human dignity during the formal part of the event as well as in the many conversations over wonderful refreshments later.
You can read the full text of the lecture here: Sir Harold Hood Memorial Lecture
And you can sign up here to receive PACT’s Fresh Start newsletter and keep in touch with Pact or find out more about Pact at their website
