Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 883 | 30 May 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: RR3 - New small organisations seat holder

Clinks is delighted to announce David Dunn, Founder and CEO of Release Mates, as the new small organisation seat holder on the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3). David founded Release Mates after developing a desire to help others on a drug and alcohol recovery unit in custody. Since 2022, with lived experience at its core, Release Mates has gone from strength-to-strength, supporting hundreds of prison leavers by offering targeted interventions helping to stabilise individuals and give them the best possible start to their journey of reintegration. We look forward working with David as he champions small organisations in our bid to build a stronger and more effective partnership between the voluntary sector, the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service. 

CLINKS NEWS: Small Charity Week - platform your organisation

With Small Charity Week around the corner, we would love to take this opportunity to platform and celebrate our valued Clinks members. We are seeking to spotlight organisations throughout the week (23-30 June 2025) via Light Lunch, our website and our social media channels. This could take the form of a guest blog, promotion of a publication, case study or opportunity; or if you just want to shout about the work that you do, then that's fine too! If you work for a small organisation, with an income of 500k or less, and are a Clinks member, we would love to hear from you! Get in touch with our Specialist Communications Officer, Jason Watt, if you are interested. 

MEMBER FOCUS: EnjoyRunning 

EnjoyRunning is a new CIC set up to provide a framework for a feasibility study, and eventual community programme, using running as a part of rehabilitation plans for offenders, particularly those with addiction or mental health needs. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Mentoring With PwC

13 prison leaders are currently paired with 13 Senior Partners from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in a unique reciprocal mentoring model arranged by Andy Mouncey of Run For Your Life CIC.

A celebration event for all involved will be held on [15 July], as well as an invitation to guests at the end of the first year of this project at PwC London Offices.

If you or your organisation would like to find out more and be considered for the 2025-26 intake, please email andy@andymouncey.com for an invite to the July 15 celebration event. In the meantime, you can listen to the pair talking about their experiences on this podcast with Andy.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Ministry of Justice Innovation Den 2025

Are you a tech provider with innovative solutions to improve justice services?

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is inviting expressions of interest (EOIs) for its upcoming Innovation Den 2025, run in partnership with techUK. This initiative connects MoJ decision-makers with SMEs and start-ups offering pioneering technologies that can:

  • Enhance the experience of victims and witnesses
  • Improve data access and user insight
  • Support staff wellbeing and retention
  • Drive efficiency and better outcomes across justice services.

Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to pitch directly to senior MoJ leaders at a Dragon’s Den-style showcase later this year. The deadline for EOIs [28 June 2025]. Submit your expression of interest here: techUK Innovation Den 2025

This is an excellent opportunity to shape the future of justice through collaborative innovation.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Recommissioning of rehabilitative services

HMPPS market engagement events around the future recommissioning of rehabilitative services for men in prison and on probation due to be held beginning of June, will now take place in early July (date TBC). This will also mean that the tender launch for wave 1 will now be no earlier than 1st September 2025. If you would like further information please e-mail ProbationSourcingTeam@justice.gov.uk 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: A YouGov poll reveals our perception of prisons

Few Britons think the prison system is working well, so what changes would they make?

A recent YouGov poll (May 2025) reveals that only 9% of Britons believe the prison system is working well, while 67% think it is failing. When asked what changes they would support:

  • 60% want better rehabilitation and education in prisons
  • 53% back improved mental health care
  • Only 12% support building more prisons
  • Just 7% believe longer sentences are the solution

The poll highlights a clear public appetite for reform over punishment, suggesting that a shift towards rehabilitation, mental health support, and purposeful activity is key to rebuilding public confidence. Read the YouGov article here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: One-stop-shop disclosure toolkit launch

Clinks members are on the frontline of mentoring socially excluded people, many of whom will have criminal record. Offploy has created a one-stop-shop Disclosure Toolkit with a new up-to-date disclosure calculator, advice pages, and...coming soon...an AI powered tool to create an application ready disclosure statement. You are invited to join this event [26 June, 09:15, online, free] as Offploy launch this fantastic resource for people with convictions and their advisors. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Caseworker with St Giles Trust [£26,000, Lambeth, part time]; Caseworker with INQUEST [£38,571, Finsbury Park, London, full time]; Policy and Public Affairs Manager with Criminal Justice Alliance [£38,000–£42,000, London (hybrid), full time]; Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£23,870, Liverpool, full time]; Specialist Caseworker – Emergency Department with St Giles Trust [£26,000, Northwick Park Hospital, full time]; Prison Facilitator – Bank Staff (Central Region) with Shannon Trust [£28,274, Central Region, part time]; Service Manager with Achieve [£35,997–£39,500, Manchester M2 5GP, full time]; Women's Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000–£27,000, Newport, Gwent, full time]; Sessional Helplines Advisor with Respect UK [£34,016, remote, part time]; Helplines Team Leader with Respect UK [£38,349, remote, full time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

About Clinks Light Lunch

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