Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 879 | 02 May 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: response to Public Accounts Committee's inquiry on prison estate capacity

Clinks has published its response to the Public Accounts Committee inquiry on prison estate capacity. In this response, we have focussed on the costs of the prison system in England and Wales and some of the challenges it is currently facing. Through that lens, we have set out policy approaches that could seek to balance those challenges with creating better value for money for the Exchequer and achieving more positive outcomes for people across the criminal justice system. Find out more about the inquiry and read the response here

CLINKS NEWS: RR3 seat for small organisations - final call for applications

Clinks is recruiting a voluntary sector representative to the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3), specifically for individuals representing small organisations (income between £10k–£100k). 

We are looking for a senior leader with experience delivering criminal justice services through small, locally based organisations, and who can support effective collaboration between the voluntary sector, Ministry of Justice and HMPPS. This is a voluntary role, but appropriate expenses will be reimbursed. The deadline for applications is [6 May, 17:00]. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS EVENT: Upcoming in May

Our upcoming Clinks events in May are listed below:

Visit our events page to view upcoming training opportunities or events.

MEMBER FOCUS: Untold Creative Training 

Untold is empowering young men in prison to reclaim their story - helping to rebuild lives through creativity, new stories and new skills to provide a fresh start.  

Untold's mantra for each young man they support is: "You are not your story. No single event defines you. Every ending is a beginning, a chance to start a new chapter - an opportunity to start over without being shackled by the past. We'll teach you the skills you need to go boldly into the future. Your potential is still untold. Your story is yours to own." Find out more about Untold Creative Training

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Effective substance use treatment and support

"To be listened to... and actually heard” - Women's perspectives on effective substance use treatment and support, a new report from the Centre for Justice Innovation (CJI), identifies six key characteristics of effective treatment & provides recommendations for central government, local authorities & service providers. Working with The Nelson Trust, the Centre spoke to women accessing treatment in seven different locations, and asked about their experiences of a range of treatment provision and what they wanted from treatment services. Read the report here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Women's experiences of attending court

The Centre for Justice Innovation's (CJI) most recent Expert Voices event focused on how contact with criminal courts specifically impacts on women. You can watch a recording of the event and hear from:

  • Katy Swaine Williams, Associate of the Centre and member of the Women’s Justice Board, who spoke on court proceedings in which victims of violence against women and girls are accused of offending
  • Anna Watchman, a researcher at the Centre, who discussed her research on women’s experiences at Highbury Magistrates’ Court
  • Lucy Slade, the Centre's Policy Officer, who presented her research about the experiences of women with caring responsibilities navigating the criminal court system.

Watch the event here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: 20 years of offender health research

Join the PORSCH Conference 2025: 20 Years of Offender Health Research [15 July, 10.00 - 17.00, The Hub: Durham University, Durham City, DH1 3FP,  Cost £80 - 0, student concessions available]

PORSCH is a network of researchers and practitioners based in the NE of England & Yorks. Dedicated to research and development improving health of offenders, well-being of communities & reduction of offending.

The Chair is Prof Graham Towl, PORSCH Chair Durham University and an introduction will be given by Joy Allen, Police & Crime Commissioner. Confirmed Keynote speakers include:

  • Prof Andrew Gray
  • Prof Alison Liebling University of Cambridge
  • Andi Brierley Leeds Trinity University
  • Paula Harriott CEO, Unlock

Join in the conversation alongside leading academics and passionate practitioners. Find out more and book your place here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: How is funding allocated for the voluntary sector in the criminal justice system?

New Philanthropy Capital has published a new report, in partnership with Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, on the on the allocation of funding for the voluntary sector in criminal justice. 

The findings show that 94% of statutory funding goes to charities with annual incomes above £2 million. Charities with annual incomes up to £500,000 received only 1.42.% of statutory funding. 

Voluntary organisations also found that statutory funding often comes with 'funding gaps', with the cost of delivering contracts not always fully recuperated. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Standard Determinate Sentence (SDS40) release data

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service published data on the Standard Determinate Sentences 40% policy (SDS40).

Following the publication of this data, Russell Webster has published a comprehensive summary explaining the current situation around SD40 and the release of people in prison in England and Wales. The briefing outlines:

  • The introduction of the SD40 scheme and its expansion.
  • That 92% of the total SDS40 releases from September 2024 to December 2024 were from male prisons
  • That despite the volume of early releases, the prison system remains at crisis point with 88,081 of 89,042 spaces in use on 14 April

Read the full analysis here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Arts grant - market engagement questionnaire 

The Ministry of Justice is publishing a market engagement questionnaire on the Jaggaer portal for the Offender Engagement in the Arts Grant funded provision.

The reference to search for the questionnaire is PQQ_483 (on the Jaggaer portal) and will be published at [10:00 on 12 May]. If you are not registered on Jaggaer, please use this link and find the 'Click here to register' icon.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Hope and Probation - Academic Insight

A new Academic Insight from HM Inspectorate of Probation explores how using the lens of hope could help to reimagine probation practice. Drawing on interviews with people on probation, staff and stakeholders, the research categorises three types of hope: hopelessness, institutional hope, and transformational hope. It highlights how a focus on compliance, risk management and high caseloads can drown out deep, meaningful hopes for change. The authors argue that probation should do more to support transformational hope and avoid becoming a ‘tick-box’ service. Read the Academic Insight here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Join the HMPPS Insights25 Festival programme!

His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is delighted to announce that the award-winning Insights Festival is back and will take place [17 - 28 November 2025].

The festival is a free, peer-led programme, for you, by you. It brings together prison, probation, youth services, voluntary sector and wider justice services to learn from insight, data and evidence, share good practice, connect people across the system and celebrate the great work we do. 

Insights25 events will be smaller and more tightly focussed on the strategic aim of empowering, enabling and looking after our people who work across the criminal justice sector and celebrating their important work. We are looking for events that share evidence, learning and good practice on:

  • Creating a positive culture that enables staff to thrive
  • Effective leadership/management approaches that empower staff to perform well
  • Improving staff wellbeing, reward and recognition
  • Improving staff diversity and inclusio and recognition
  • Promoting professional standards and tackling unacceptable behaviour
  • Increasing staff retention or enhancing career development

Applications to host events as part of the Festival programme are now open and [close on 11 July]: Apply to join Insights 25. 

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENT: Prison education through the lens of lived experience experts

Join the UCL Centre for Education and Criminal Justice [17:00 - 18:15, 29 May, online and in person at UCL, free] for a discussion with Martin Collins (Open University Student), Jules Rowan and Andrew Wilkie (Prison Radio Association). 

They will share first-hand accounts of how education transforms the lives of individuals in prison, playing a vital role in rehabilitation, personal growth, and reducing recidivism.

The event is taking place both online and in-person at UCL. Register here

FUNDING: Co-op Foundation Future Communities Fund webinar

The Co-op Foundation is hosting a webinar on [8 May, 16:00, online, free] to launch the second round of its Future Communities Fund programme. The £1.75 million programme round is looking to fund organisations supporting young people with experience of the justice system to re-engage with their communities, following their time in custody. Grants will be awarded on an unrestricted basis and to a maximum value of £150,000 over five years. 

The webinar is for potential applicants to provide an overview of the funding programme criteria and to answer any questions that attendees may have. As part of the funding round, the Foundation is looking to fund approximately ten organisations:

  • With an annual income of £250,000 or less 
  • That are not-for-profit organisations, which are registered and operate exclusively in the United Kingdom 
  • Have two or more unrelated directors or trustees on the Board 
  • That primarily support justice-experienced young people aged 10-25 years old 
  • Which have a sole purpose of supporting justice-experienced young people to re-engage with their community 

Register for the Future Communities Fund round two webinar here. If you have any questions about the webinar, please contact: applyfoundation@coop.co.uk 

OPPORTUNITY: Commissioned Rehabilitative Services roundtables

St Giles Wise is inviting third sector and voluntary organisations across the North East and North West to a series of roundtable events focused on shaping the future of Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS). With the recommissioning process underway, these sessions will explore service user needs, the future of the Community Link Worker model, and opportunities for local partnership working.

Upcoming dates:

[14 May – Durham]

[15 May – Cleveland]

[29 May – Northumbria]

[12 June – Lancashire]

[13 June – Cumbria]

[26 June – Merseyside/Cheshire]

By working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of those transitioning out of the justice system. Let's come together to share our knowledge and expertise and help shape the future of justice services.

Register your place here

FEATURED VACANCY: Head of Listen to Families 

PACT is seeking an inspiring individual to join their team as Head of Listen to Families [£55,500 Full time, London]. This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of healthcare, justice, and lived experience ensuring that families and carers are not just heard but listened to. You will lead a dynamic project that operates in a quarterly cycle of listening, feedback, and action working directly with families, NHS teams, prison services, and policymakers to make real, lasting improvements in prison healthcare. At the heart of this project is our Family Team, a group of people with lived experience of supporting loved ones in prison. [Find out more and apply here by 10th May 2025].    

FEATURED VACANCY: Community Engagement Manager 

PACT is seeking a confident, energetic and committed individual to join their team as a Community Engagement Manager [£34,500 Full time, London]. This is an opportunity for you to draw on your knowledge of criminal justice healthcare and play a key role in the delivery of the first Patient and Public Voice service for the families of patients in London prisons. Your role will work across London prisons to develop the mechanisms by which family voices can create change and inform practice. This role is a great fit for someone who has a passion for working directly with local communities and supporting the delivery of effective participation. [Find out more and apply here by 10th May 2025].    

FEATURED VACANCY: Income Generation Manager (remote/hybrid)

The Recruitment Junction is positioning itself to embark on an ambitious nationwide scaling-up programme, following a significant inward investment. The Income Generation Manager (to £50,000 DOE + bonus) is a newly created role which will lead the charity’s income generation efforts through a blended approach of targeted business development, obtaining long-term grant funding and influencing the role of high-net-worth philanthropy. You will have experience of navigating commissioning frameworks, dynamic purchasing systems and local authority commissioned services and a track record of writing and winning competitive tenders. Additionally, you will have significant experience in generating substantial and multi-year income from charitable trusts and foundations. [Find out more and apply here by 16th May 2025].

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Prison Facilitator – HMP Aylesbury with Shannon Trust [£28,274, HMP Aylesbury, part time]; Community Engagement Manager with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£34,500, London, full time]; Head of Listen to Families (London) with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£55,500, London, full time]; Alliance Caseworker with St Giles Trust [£26,000, Camberwell or Holloway Rd with travel across London, full time]; Family Support Worker – Prisoner Family Services – HMP Norwich with Ormiston Families [£22,932, HMP Norwich Visitors’ Centre, part time]; Support Worker – 25/17 with Imagine Independence [£23,870, Liverpool, full time]; Prison Facilitator – HMP The Mount with Shannon Trust [£28,274, Hemel Hempstead, part time]; Substance Use Practitioner with Phoenix Futures [£27,722, HMP Belmarsh, London, full time]; Administrator with Wales Restorative Approaches Partnership CIC [£26,000, Cardiff, full time].

For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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