Working with conviction

Seminar and Extraordinary General Meeting

Date

Wednesday 25 July 2018, 15:30 - 18:00

Location

Central London

For more information about events, or to request an invoice, please contact events@clinks.org.

This seminar will celebrate and explore the ways in which people with conviction play a vital role in the work of the voluntary sector in criminal justice and beyond. At the EGM, following the seminar, Clinks members will be asked to pass a resolution which will ensure that, under new ‘automatic disqualification’ rules, Clinks can continue its commitment to involving people with lived experience of the criminal justice system in the leadership of its work. Speakers include:

Chris Stacey, Co-director, Unlock – the implications of the Charities Act ‘automatic disqualification’ rules for involving people with convictions as trustees and senior staff.
Richard Davis-Lyons, Head of Recruitment, Working Chance and Nicole Gall, Candidate, Working Chance – the experience of supporting people with convictions into employment.
Ryan Harman, Advice and Information Manager, Prison Reform Trust and Ghazala Ashraf, Adviser, Prison Reform Trust – providing opportunities for people on release on temporary licence.

The formal notice, including details of the resolutions to be put to the EGM can be found here. Clinks’ Members have the right to appoint a proxy to exercise their rights to attend, speak and vote at the EGM. Appointment of a proxy must be in writing using the proxy form which can be found here and includes details of where to return it no later than Monday 23rd July 2018. Background There are 11 million people in this country with a criminal record. People with lived experience of the criminal justice system have unique knowledge and experience to contribute to the sector. Many organisations are ‘user led’ or actively involve their beneficiaries in the design and delivery of services and as volunteers, employees and trustees. Beyond the criminal justice sector all charities benefit from a diverse range of employees, volunteers and trustees and the skills and perspectives they bring. From 1st August 2018, changes to the ‘automatic disqualification’ rules come into force which mean that there will be more restrictions on those who may run a charity. People with certain convictions will be automatically disqualified unless they obtain a waiver from the charity commission. This event will explore the opportunities and challenges for supporting people with convictions to contribute to the work of the sector through Release on Temporary License, involvement in the development and delivery of services and as charity trustees and staff.