Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 899 | 19 September 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: New partnership with Black Men 4 Change

This week, we were delighted to announced our new partnership with Black Men 4 Change (BM4C), who will be leading on work designed to address racial disparities in the criminal justice system. 

Over the course of the next four years, BM4C will play a pivotal role in connecting and catalysing organisations led by and focused on racially minoritised people, reshaping how we address the issue of race in the criminal justice system

For more information, read about the announcement here

CLINKS EVENT: Families Network Forum

Join us for the Families Network Forum [30 September, 10:00 - 12:00, online, free]. 

These meetings provide updates on policy directly from HMPPS and the MoJ, identify member activity and invite speakers to address relevant topics. Feedback is gathered on key issues, raised by network members, to enable Clinks to feed them into the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) and our wider influencing work. Find out more and register

MEMBER FOCUS: Word on the Kerb CIC

Word on the Kerb C.I.C. is focused on bringing the arts to marginalised communities. The organisation serves individuals affected by the criminal justice system, homelessness, addiction, and poverty, using theatre, storytelling, and workshops to inspire change. Visit Word on the Kerb

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Inside Out Service

Jigsaw has been awarded three years of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to support families affected by imprisonment across West Yorkshire.

Inside Out will extend Jigsaw’s support into the community, offering one-to-one and group-work support to children and parents/carers in five local authority areas: Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Alongside family support, Inside Out will collaborate with schools, early years providers, and family support services across West Yorkshire to increase awareness, build capacity, and ensure that these settings respond effectively to the needs of children impacted by imprisonment. The aim is to launch the service in January 2026. If you would like more information or are interested in working with Jigsaw on this exciting new service, contact Lee.stephenson@jigsawcharity.org

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Financial support for people in prison and welfare benefits

This CPD Accredited Training programme [21 October, Online, £139.00 + VAT] is designed to offer learners a concise guide to benefits for people in prison. It seamlessly complements expert advice on topics such as debt management, financial literacy, and housing, thus expanding the support network for individuals confronting the prospect of sentencing.

The course delves into the unique hurdles faced by people in prison with a variety of sentence types, exploring their implications on benefits and housing. Real-life case studies, interactive quizzes, and seasoned trainers are all utilised to impart the best practices for navigating this complex system. Find out more and book your place

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Chief Executive Officer appointment

On Thursday the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced James McEwen as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). 

James joined the MoJ in 2016 and held a number of roles, including Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Chief Executive, Legal Aid Agency; and Group Finance Director. 

James succeeds Phil Copple CB, who is leaving the agency after a 35-year career that began when he joined the Prison Service as a prison officer in 1990. Read more about James McEwen and his appointment

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Rehabilitation Grant Scheme 2026–2029

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is pleased to invite Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to complete Stage One – Eligibility Assessment for the Rehabilitation Grant Scheme 2026–2029.

The scheme is a [£3 million] initiative running from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029, with individual awards ranging from [£50,000 to £150,000 per financial year]. It aims to fund projects that support rehabilitation outcomes across public sector prisons, probation services, and the youth custody estate.

Stage One opens on Jaggaer on [22 September and closes at 12:00 noon on 6 October]. To access this opportunity search for ‘PQQ_524 - Rehabilitation Grants Scheme 2026–2029’ by registering and signing into Jaggaer.

Clarification questions may be submitted until [12:00 noon on 26 September]. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insights25 Festival tickets

General Release Tickets or the Insights25 Festival  are now live.

His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Insights [17 - 28 November] is delighted to bring you a diverse and exciting peer-led festival programme with hundreds of events and opportunities. Events are free to attend and are open to all who work across the Criminal Justice System. 

Insights25 offers a fantastic opportunity to visit and experience different parts of the justice system, develop professional skills and networks, share learning, and celebrate success.  

You can attend a range of evidence-based practice sessions, behind the scenes tours, project showcases and shadowing opportunities focussed around:

  • wellbeing
  • positive culture
  • effective leadership
  • professional development
  • diversity and inclusion

and of course there are exciting VIP experiences to go behind the scenes and gain access to exclusive locations across the justice system, or receive mentoring and coaching from senior leaders. There really is something for everyone! Find out more and book now.

FUNDING: Better Community Business

The Better Community Business Network's (BCBN) Grant Initiative aims to provide small third-sector grant awards to empower charities and local community projects. This initiative will award a one-off grant of [up to £3k] per charity or to small but credible community projects, which can demonstrate their positive impact on the communities they serve. The BCBN works with various community organisations and charities to support the elderly, homelessness and poverty, ex-offenders, disability groups, health, environment, arts and culture, education and social cohesion programmes. [Deadline for applications is 31 October]. Find out more

FUNDING: Clothworker's Foundation open grants

The Clothworker’s Foundation’s Open Grants Programme funds capital costs that support the infrastructure needs of small and medium sized charitable organisations, working with disadvantaged and marginalised people and communities. Eligible organisations can apply for a grant to cover the costs of building purchases, construction or refurbishment projects, vehicles or equipment, and digital infrastructure projects such as apps, databases and websites. Within this programme, they prioritise organisations that embed lived experience across their work, and projects which will make a significant change to their work. The work of your organisations must fit within one or more of their programme areas listed on their website. Organisations can apply to small grants [up to £15k] or large grants [over £15k], this is a rolling grants programme. Find out more

FUNDING: Triangle Trust 1949 fund

The Triangle Trust 1949 fund’s second funding round for 2025 is now open. The focus is on young women and girls who are already in contact with the criminal justice system or who are at high risk of entering it. Projects will need to either be working towards reducing reoffending behaviours or reducing first convictions. For their Main Grants Programme, organisations applying need to be led by women and the total beneficiaries of the organisation need to be 80% young women and girls. Alongside this they are opening a Small Grants Programme supporting grass roots women-led organisations with an annual income of £50k or less. Grants of [£10,000] are available and applications are welcome from organisations where 100% of the work they do is with women and girls. Find out more and apply here

PUBLICATION: FLOWS Impact Report

A ground-breaking initiative providing urgent legal help to women experiencing domestic abuse has been celebrated at the launch of the FLOWS (Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors) Impact Report. Developed by RCJ Advice, a Citizens Advice and Law Centre, in partnership with Rights of Women, FLOWS combines digital innovation with trauma-informed advice. It enables women to access lifesaving legal protections quickly, safely, and with dignity. 

Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, who attended the event, said - “We should live in a society where women are safe, respected and free from fear. This is why a service such as FLOWS is so important.” Click here to download the report

To note - this was included in last week's Light Lunch, but we are re-including with a working link.

FEATURED VACANCY: Inside Out Strategic Project Lead 

Jigsaw Visitors’ Centre is seeking a passionate and dedicated individual to join their team as an Inside Out Strategic Project Lead [Part time, West Yorkshire]. Your role will be to lead a small team to deliver a community-based family support service for children and families affected by familial imprisonment. Your aim will be to alleviate the impact of parental imprisonment and support children and families in West Yorkshire to thrive. Additionally, engaging schools and early years providers to develop a strategic engagement plan, develop and deliver workshops for school, school support and early years staff and co-ordinate and facilitate school practitioner forums. [Find out more and apply here by 8 October]. 

FEATURED VACANCY: Internship Opportunity for Young Women 

Abianda is seeking a passionate individual to join their team as an Admin & Operations Intern. [Part time, £15,124, London/Hybrid]. Abianda works with young women and girls affected by criminal exploitation. This entry-level role is open to 18-25-year-old young women* who have been affected by criminal exploitation and violence. These experiences could be direct or indirect through relationships or areas and places lived or spent time in. The internship will give you an opportunity to work in different areas of a charity, including operations, income generation, systems change and service delivery. *Non-binary people are welcome, if they feel that they have lived experience that aligns with that of women and girls. [Find out more and apply here by 5 October]. 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Inside Out Strategic Project Lead with Jigsaw Visitors’ Centre [£18,558 – £30,518, HMP Leeds, part time]; Justice Case Worker with The Growth Company [£27,500 – £30,000, Blackpool, full time]; Justice Case Worker with The Growth Company [£27,500 – £30,000, Manchester, full time]; Support Worker 25/54 with Imagine Independence [£23,870, Croxteth Grove, full time]; Peer Mentor (Lived Experience) with The Forward Trust [voluntary, Surrey, part time]; Sessional Worker with Phoenix Futures [£12, NR1 4LU, full time]; Sessional Worker with Phoenix Futures [£12, NR10 5GB, full time]; Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£23,870, Padiham, full time]; Female Senior Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£27,789, Eccles, full time]; Service User Engagement Lead with ADVANCE [£27,000 – £32,000, London, full time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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