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Andy Keen-Downs CBE

@andykdpact.bsky.social
118 followers 73 following 17 posts

Chief Executive of Pact (the Prison Advice & Care Trust).

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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
We’re seeking a new trustee to chair our Finance Risk and Audit committee . www.linkedin.com/posts/andy-k...
linkedin.com
There are all sorts of ways to volunteer, to make a difference to the lives of people in prison, or their children and families. One is to become a trustee. For the past seven years, Alastair… | And...
There are all sorts of ways to volunteer, to make a difference to the lives of people in prison, or their children and families. One is to become a trustee. For the past seven years, Alastair Gordon...
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
How do we keep people safe in prison? Pact Families ..speaking truth to power @prisonadvice.bsky.social @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
It was a brilliant lecture - inspiring us all to stay hopeful and work for a better future for children - free from poverty, and the control of the oligarchs, and with books in their hands. Thank you so much @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social and @booktrust.org.uk .
hands.bsky.social
Henry (@hands.bsky.social)
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Around 1 in 15 children will have a parent in prison during their time at school. Pact provides practical (CPD-accredited) training and resources to support teachers and other staff in caring for affected families with compassion and confidence.
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Find out more: www.prisonadvice.org.uk/professional...
prisonadvice.org.uk
Schools
Pact supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their families across England and Wales.
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Know a young person with a family member in prison? We’re looking for young people to help with our research.... 📧 Email Jo at mulcahyj1@cardiff.ac.uk ▶️ Watch the video - link below
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Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
With @prisonadvice.bsky.social, we're calling on the Government and NHS to dismantle these barriers and expand the role of families and carers in their loved ones’ treatment. Learn more in our new policy paper: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/news/item/in...
centreformentalhealth.org.uk
Invest in better mental health support for people in the criminal justice system, say charities - Centre for Mental Health
Investing in community mental health services would help to ease the pressure on the prison system by diverting more people from custody.
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Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
🗣️ “I was at my wits' end about my son not getting the right care and medication. When I spoke to the prison, their attitude seemed to be that I was the problem.” Families often play a crucial role in caring for loved ones in prison. But too often, they feel ignored or “locked out” of the system 👇
Mental health in prisons: "my son wasn’t allowed his anti-psychotic medication because it hadn’t been prescribed by a prison doctor. He wasn’t seen by the prison psychiatrist for over a month, at which point he was incorrectly diagnosed with depression.”
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Centre for Mental Health @centreformh.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Prisons are facing a mounting mental health crisis. ➡️ Rates of self-harm have more than tripled in the last decade ➡️ Among prisoners, 56% of men & 74% of women report having mental health problems ➡️ Too many unwell prisoners face long waits for transfer to hospital We need change - now.
centreformentalhealth.org.uk
Invest in better mental health support for people in the criminal justice system, say charities - Centre for Mental Health
Investing in community mental health services would help to ease the pressure on the prison system by diverting more people from custody.
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Investing in community mental health services would help to ease the pressure on prisons and reduce reoffending. That’s the conclusion of a new paper we’ve published today with @centreformh.bsky.social #MentalHealth #PrisonReform #CriminalJusticeReform
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
So much to applaud in @davidgauke.bsky.social Sentencing Review. Prison population crisis must be tackled. @hmpps and voluntary sector partners now need to see the investment needed - not only for Probation & community - but for prisons too. www.prisonadvice.org.uk/latest/news/...
prisonadvice.org.uk
Sentencing Review highlights urgent need for improved regimes and engagement with prisoners’ families
Pact supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their families across England and Wales.
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Send a virtual Easter egg at www.prisonadvice.org.uk/easter-egg
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Wishing a happy and peaceful Easter to all those we support in prison and the community, their children and families, and our partners, supporters, friends, and teams across England & Wales. ✝️☀️🌼
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Amazing day yesterday at Windsor Castle where HRH The Princess Royal presented me with a CBE for services to prisoners and their children and families. Thank you to everyone who has ever supported me personally or the work of the charity I serve and love, @prisonadvice.bsky.social . Happy Easter!
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
It’s great that @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social are doing a thematic on prisoners and their families. Please help spread the word that they want to hear from prisoners’ families.
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
So Trump is coming to meet the King of Canada. I wonder if tariffs will be on the menu? www.canada.ca/en/canadian-...
canada.ca
About The Crown - Canada.ca
Canada is a constitutional monarchy. Learn about Canada’s Head of State, the Governor General and Lieutenant Governors, and the Parliament of Canada.
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Some music for your Sunday from my sister Sarah Jay Hawley . Appropriately named for this platform (but no connection) youtu.be/11tvTarpprg
youtu.be
Blue Skies - Sarah Jay Hawley
YouTube video by Sarah Jay Hawley
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Austerity Budgets across our public services. Cuts to prison and probation funding. Ever longer prison sentences. Voluntary Sector cuts. Focus on prison building. The Result? The inherited socio-economic failure of a decade of bad policy and neglectful government . www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/art...
thetimes.com
Cost of reoffending rises to more than half total impact of crime
Analysis for The Times has revealed that a failure by the justice system to rehabilitate criminals has led to a £23.6 billion-a-year bill to the economy
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
📽️ We spoke on regional ITV News last night about the urgent need for mental healthcare reform for men and women in prison. #MentalHealth #PrisonReform #SaferPrisons
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
The rates of people being recalled to prison have been rising for over a decade. Stats published yesterday show that for every 10 people leaving prison last summer, 7 people were recalled.
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Pact @prisonadvice.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Read the response from our CEO Andy Keen-Downs CBE - www.prisonadvice.org.uk/latest/news…
prisonadvice.org.uk
New figures published today show a 42% increase in prison recalls
Pact supports prisoners, people with convictions, and their families across England and Wales.
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
We supported two brave women who both have sons in prison to speak to @itvnews.bsky.social about what it’s like to be mentally ill inside . Mental Health reform is promised and is needed urgently. Needs a plan to speed up transfers from custody to care for those with serious mental illness.
linkedin.com
Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) on LinkedIn: #mentalhealth #prisonreform #saferprisons
📽️ We spoke on regional ITV News last night about the urgent need for mental healthcare reform for men and women in prison. #MentalHealth…
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Every few months I get the privilege of meeting a group of new Pact staff. We have a ‘Foundations’ day, as part of our onboarding, focused on our mission, vision & values. This week I’ll be doing this in Birmingham. Looking forward to it!
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Prisoners' Education Trust @prisonersed.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
PACT's Family Literacy in Prisons project invites fathers in prison to get involved in helping their children with reading. In the process, they improve both their own literacy and their family bonds. Last month Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce visited HMP Featherstone to see how it works 👇
buff.ly
Frank Cottrell-Boyce's visit to Featherstone Prison
Find out what happened when Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce joined families at a Christmas event at HMP Featherstone.
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
I’m with Lord Alf on this (as with most things ). Standing with @jessphillipsmp.bsky.social
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Nick Mann @nick-mann.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Your regular reminder that we cannot build our way out of the prisons crisis .... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Prisons plan will fall short by 2027, watchdog warns
Boris Johnson's pledge to create an extra 20,000 cells spaces is now not expected to be met until 2031.
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Nick Mann @nick-mann.bsky.social · 22/11/2024
This is a pretty alarming outlook for prisons. There has been so much to welcome since James Timpson took over as Prisons' Minister but without adequate funding in the medium term his hands will be tied.
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Nick Mann @nick-mann.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
A big welcome to @hmiprisonsnews.bsky.social An essential follow for anyone interested in the Criminal Justice System.
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
I’m so heartened that our new government is getting to grips with this. The moral, social and economic arguments for kicking the profiteers out of the care system are overwhelming. Government commissioners need to ask ‘why?’ people want to provide these services. Motives matter.
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Good morning. Just heard this on the radio. Haunting & beautiful. youtu.be/pD9z7Qk-ESE
youtu.be
Sycamore Gap
YouTube video by Release - Topic
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
We cannot build our way out of the crisis in our justice system. We must stop using prisons as ‘places of safety’ . Invest in mental healthcare, diversion,children & families, real rehabilitation, ETE, supported accommodation, the voluntary sector, restorative justice, community payback. End this.
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Andy Keen-Downs CBE @andykdpact.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
I felt quite moved getting this in 4. Almost got a lump in my throat… ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛ ⬛🟨🟨🟨⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Nick Mann @nick-mann.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
Interesting event tomorrow looking at implications of Spending Review on Justice System. I've signed up! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/expert-voi...
eventbrite.co.uk
Expert Voices: The Spending Review(s) and justice reform
Join us on the 13th November for the next of our online 'Expert Voices' events, looking at justice reform and the Spending Review.
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