The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice.
In this month's issue...
- National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance news
- Arts in criminal justice news and publications
- Events and training
- Resources and opportunities

NCJAA Writing Development Workshops
October 2023 – February 2024 | online | free
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is excited to revive its writing development training programme for individuals and organisations delivering arts-based services and projects in the criminal justice system. Working in partnership with the Royal Literary Fund (RLF), a programme of free, digital workshops will be held throughout 2022/23 to teach vital writing development skills for reports, case studies, and funding applications.
Book now for NCJAA Writing Development Workshop – Writing Case Studies – 14 December 2023
Our next workshop takes place on 14 December and will help you to consider how to structure case studies, what key elements to include, how to adapt tone and style for different audiences such as stakeholders or the broader community and self-editing and proofreading.
Visit the NCJAA website for information about the workshop programme

Clinks annual conference: Making race and justice everybody's business
22 November | Resource for London, Holloway | from £50
This year the Clinks annual conference will provide a platform for our specialist members who are led by/for racially minoritised people. Our programme will allow members to share their expertise on how to best support people from racially minoritised communities, and how we can unite and commit to a future where justice is equitable. Join us to participate in a variety of sessions which will aim to inspire and influence change on an individual, organisational and wider strategic level.
Early bird tickets are on sale until 30 October and tickets are selling fast, so book yourself a space now so as not to miss out. Further details of the speakers and facilitators will be announced closer to the date of the conference via Clinks' regular communications channels. If you have any questions, please email us at events@clinks.org.
Clinks State of the Sector research focus groups
Following our State of the sector survey, we are looking to delve deeper into the current landscape of the criminal justice voluntary sector through focus groups with representatives of a range of organisations. 30% of responses to this year’s survey came from the Arts and Criminal Justice sector, and we are keen maintain that level of engagement with as many representatives from the NCJAA network as possible in this second stage of research.
Participants will have advanced sight of our survey’s findings, directly contribute their voice to our research, and be able to highlight challenges, but also successes, from the last year. Previously, Clinks presented findings from its State of the sector research to senior officials in the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service, and charitable trusts and foundations. The findings also underpin and help shape our influencing work. Clinks is also pleased to be able to offer participating organisations a free place on one of our training sessions. If you would like to take part in one of these focus groups, please register your interest using this form by 30 October.
Creating Roots for well-being through art
This publication is the beginning of the latest blog series Creating Roots for well-being through art. The lead blog is guest written by Mark Jones, Director at Higher Plain and Visiting Professor of Criminology at University South Wales. In the blog Mark shares The Creative Roots Project, an arts project that has been funded by the Arts Council for Wales and G4S and was delivered in Parc Prison from September 2022 to May 2023. Creative Roots was delivered through a multi-skilled arts team under the performance, live art and dance organisation Mr & Mrs Clark.
The Creative Roots project aimed to provide a safe space for people in Parc Prison to take time out of their daily routine to engage in a range of activities on the prison wing. Creative Roots offered an introduction to yoga style mindfulness exercises and different ways of creating art. Residents also had the opportunity to take part in sessions focussed on arts practices such as printmaking, fine art and painting, and photo journalism. Everyone who took part displayed their artwork in an exhibition inside and outside the prison in May 2023. The series also includes commentaries and reflections written by practitioners involved in the Creative Roots project. Read the blog
Performing Recovery - Issue 4
The latest issue of the RAA networks’ Performing Recovery magazine is available now. Featuring Sophie Wilsdon and Jon James who talk over the history, and work of the Bristol Recovery Orchestra. Leon Clowes speaks to Surfing Sofas, the poet in residence for the Museum of Homelessness, and Criminologist Dr David Patton talks about recovery capital and an exciting new publishing project. Read more
Developing creative approaches in youth justice: A guide for youth justice professionals
Sandwell Youth Offending Service (YOS) and the Institute for Community Research and Development, developed this good practice guide with the aim of helping others design and implement creative arts approaches in youth justice, and to understand the impact of what they do. This guide is the resource that the authors wish they had when they set out on their journey – it should be of use to staff right across youth justice services and prove to be a valuable resource.
Published by Sandwell Children’s Trust and the Institute for Community Research and Development at the University of Wolverhampton, 2023; this guide was written by NCJAA research network member Professor Laura Caulfield, Mike Botham, and Chad Smith. Read more
Clinks 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM)
7 November | online | free
The NCJAA is a thematic network within Clinks, therefore we are delighted to be involved with Clinks’ 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 7 November 2023.
The event offers an opportunity to ask questions and comment on Clinks’ work and our priorities for the year ahead, as well as engage in a question-and-answer session with HM Chief Inspector of Prisons; Charlie Taylor. Charlie Taylor will speak to our theme; “The role and value of the voluntary sector working with people in prison, on release, and their families at a time of change and challenge.”
The AGM allows us to carry out business vital to our work, including electing trustees. You can find details of the current trustees here.
Clinks members have the right to appoint a proxy to exercise their rights to attend, speak, and vote at the AGM. Appointment of a proxy must be made using this proxy form. The form must be completed and submitted by Monday 6 November 2023. Register now
WoW BHM 23: Dorothy Kuya Walking Tour
28 October | Liverpool | £10
National Museums Liverpool have commissioned Writing on the Wall to deliver a Creative Heritage Programme working with the archive of lifelong Black British activist Dorothy Kuya (1933-2013). Dorothy Kuya was born in 1933 into Liverpool’s Black community, one of the oldest in Europe. She grew up during a time of monumental upheaval and global change. She began her life of activism after joining the Young Communist League at age 13 and was an early member of the Movement for Colonial Freedom (now Liberation). The Dorothy Kuya walking tour will take you on a journey through three stages of Dorothy’s life and activism. Read more
Working and volunteering in prisons training
8 November | online | £95
Are you new to working or volunteering in prisons? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the prison system? Working or volunteering in a prison can be quite daunting due to the many complexities associated with its unique environment and establishing the role of the voluntary sector within that can be challenging.
Join this three-hour training session for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to raise awareness of the prison environment and provide information on key aspects such as staffing structures and departments, prison procedures and current challenges associated with working in prisons. During the session we will explore ways in which voluntary sector staff can have meaningful and professional engagement with prisons operationally, as well as ensuring safety and responsible ways of working are understood and prioritised. Book now
Clinks Navigating the criminal justice system workshop
9 November | online | from £75
Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system? Join us at this three-hour workshop for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of, and provide the opportunity to, explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works. Book now
Hope: A new film from Clean Break. Co-created by Nicole Hall, Michelle Hamilton, Kirsty Housley, Carina Murray, Natasha Jean Sparkes, and River
30 October | London | from £10
Hope is an uplifting story of personal growth and community activism, exploring what hope means for women facing adversity. Through personal stories, reflection, poetry and movement, Natasha, Carina, Michelle and Nicole navigate how we can hold on to hope in times of uncertainty, and what to do when the world makes you feel there is none to be found. Tickets are now on sale for a number of screening events this Autumn including the film screening launch event and celebration at Kiln Theatre on 30 October. Find out more
Centre for Cultural Value online evaluation training for arts, culture and heritage professionals
online | free
This new, free-to-access course will help you understand the principles and master the practice of carrying out evaluation in the arts, culture and heritage sector. This course is designed for professionals, practitioners, and managers in the arts, culture, and heritage who use evaluation in their work for decision-making, strategy, fundraising, and stakeholder relationship management. This might include independent, freelance, or research agency evaluators, in-house organisation evaluators, project managers and general managers of cultural organisations, artists and practitioners.
This course will also be useful for consultants, freelance artists, funders, policymakers, and board members in arts, culture, and heritage settings, as well as students of arts and cultural management or cultural policy. Registration is now open, and with the first two weeks of course content now available to learners. Find out more

Imprisoned Art: Prison writing project
Apply by email
Imprisoned Art are a small non-profit aiming to shine light on the abundance of talent in prisons and secure hospitals. They are currently collecting submissions for a self-published book of art and writings on the theme of “the experience of imprisonment”. Questions and submissions can be sent to imprisonedart@outlook.com
Vacancies
Musician in Residence, HMP Five Wells - The Irene Taylor Trust
CEO - Good Vibrations
Project Manager - Finding Rhythms
Project Coordinator - Finding Rhythms
Want to post a vacancy?
Clinks members can post job and volunteer vacancies on our Jobs Board for free.
Full instructions for uploading a vacancy can be found here.
For assistance, email membership@clinks.org
Take a creative break

Create your own visual poetry, using this online creative writing tool to help visualise your words.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
The next NCJAA monthly newsletter will be sent on Thursday 30 November. If you have any news, opportunities or events relating to art organisations or projects within the criminal justice system that you would like included, please submit your information via our online form by Monday 20 November.
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This newsletter is written monthly. Email artsalliance@clinks.org if you wish to submit any news.
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