Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 910 | 28 November 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Annual Report 2024/25

We’re delighted to share our Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ending 31 March 2025. Inside, you’ll find plenty of detail on what we’ve achieved together, spotlights on our members, how we’re moving towards our strategic goals, and what’s next on the horizon. Read here

CLINKS EVENT: London Reducing Reoffending Board

As part of Clinks’ work within London, we work collaboratively with Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) on their Reducing Re offending Board. Clinks’ focus is to relay the views and concerns of the sector and feedback within certain areas of the CJS, to MOPAC.
                                                                                                                                                                                    The next theme in December is focussed on youth justice (under 18 as well as 18-25 years), in relation to deferred prosecution and informal diversions. Specifically looking at what the enabler and barriers are, to supporting children and young people who have experienced this. We are preparing to hold a roundtable on the [5 December | 10:30 - 11:30] to have a discussion with organisations on this area and how these aspects can impact on service users. To express interest in representing your organisation at the roundtable, email michelle.lendrum@clinks.org by 3 December.

CLINKS EVENT: Area Engagement Criminal Justice Forums

Voluntary sector organisations working in the criminal justice system are invited to join us at our upcoming Area Engagement Criminal Justice Forums. These events are a chance to meet the team, hear updates about our area engagement and policy work, and learn more about how your organisation can engage with local partners such as Prisons and Probation.

Whether you’re a small grassroots project or a larger charity, these forums are a valuable opportunity to network, share good practice and discuss challenges your organisation may be facing delivering services in the criminal justice system. Register here

  • London [1 December | online | free]
  • North East, Yorks & the Humber [2 December| online | free]
  • South East & East [3 December| online | free]
  • South West & South Central [9 December| online | free]
  • Midlands [11 December| online | free]
  • North West [11 December| online | free]
  • Wales [16 December| online | free]

CLINKS EVENT: Clinks' AGM

You're invited to attend Clinks’ 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) [10 December | 12:00 - 13:00 | online | free]. Our AGM allows Clinks to carry out the business that is vital to our work, including a space for our members to exercise their right to elect our trustees. Book now

CLINKS EVENT: Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller Communities and the Criminal Justice System: what the evidence tells us

To accompany their recent evidence review, Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller Communities and the Criminal Justice System, Traveller Movement's upcoming webinar [3 December | 12:00 - 13:00 | online | free] will explore key findings and recommendations from the report, providing insight into how policymakers, practitioners, and voluntary sector organisations can improve outcomes for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller people in contact with the criminal justice system. Register here.

CLINKS EVENT: Annual Conference 2026

Join us for Clinks' Annual Conference [28 January | 09:30 - 16:00 | London | from £60]; our biggest event of the year brings together voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system from across England and Wales. This year's theme, Stronger Together: Celebrating Community, Championing Progress, reflects the heart of our sector and the power of collaboration, connection, and shared purpose. Book now

MEMBER FOCUS: Social Wellbeing Hub

Social Wellbeing Hub CIC is a London-based community interest company dedicated to supporting individuals facing a variety of wellbeing issues such as lack of confidence, low self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other mental or physical challenges. Their safe space encourages self-expression for mental well-being and career development. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Children with a Parent in Prison Day

Children Heard and Seen launched the first national day dedicated to recognising and uplifting the voices of children impacted by parental imprisonment. 'Children with a Parent in Prison Day' focused on the theme of “Hear Me, See Me”, emphasising the importance of recognising and understanding the voices and experiences of children who are too often invisible in discussions about the justice system. The aim is to celebrate their resilience, amplify their voices, and call for greater support systems that address their specific needs. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Hibiscus’ reflections on the Sentencing Bill

Hibiscus Initiatives warns that the new Bill offers the appearance of reform without the substance, potentially widening existing inequalities. Read the full response

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Become an expert in advising ex-offenders

Clinks members are on the frontline of mentoring socially excluded people, many of whom will have criminal record. It won't always be obvious who has a conviction and the specialist support they can access when identified. If you're new to the Criminal Justice Sector or want a refresher, join Offploy's upcoming course [9 December | 09:15 - 10:00 | online | free] on how to best Identify, Support and Advocate for those who deserve another chance. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: 30 years of Irene Taylor Trust

Irene Taylor Trust are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a special show [28 November | 19:30 - 21:30 | London | from £5] featuring performances from young artists on their projects as well as insights from the past 3 decades. Buy your tickets or stream the celebration here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Rethinking Value in People Focused Services

Join Academy for Social Justice for a seminar [15 January | 16:00 - 17:15 | online | free] with Sandra Hamilton, Transforming Public Services Lead at Stone King LLP, as she explores how redefining social value can reshape the future of public services. Find out more

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENT: CAS3 Market Engagement Event

You are invited to attend a market engagement webinar [11 December | 14:00 - 16:00 | online | free] as part of the next stage of developing the Community Accommodation Service -Tier 3 (CAS3), Future Generation procurement.

This session will provide an overview of our emerging commercial thinking, including exploring potential changes to pre-release, induction, and support elements of the CAS3 provision. Attending this session will provide suppliers with an opportunity to gain and share early insights to inform the development of our future procurement.

The purpose of this event is to share thinking around the potential changes to the pre-release, induction, and support elements as well as gather supplier feedback using interactive polls, and Q&As. Sign up here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENT: Exhibition of Hope

A recent exhibition Exhibition of Hope at the University of Lancashire’s Burnley campus showcased artworks created by people in prison across eleven north-west institutions - all exploring the theme of hope. 

Designed to challenge perceptions of prison and humanise incarcerated artists, the event offered a platform for creative expression without naming the individuals - works were labelled only by the prisons in which they were made. 

Accompanying the visual art was music from Risley Records, compiled from songs by prisoners, whose handmade album covers were displayed in a booth installation. 

One standout piece, ‘Dove Cote - Hope Takes Flight’, featured origami doves and placards bearing prisoners’ ambitions and personal reflections - visitors could add their own messages for the artists to see when the piece returns. Find out more

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENT: Tell Me If I'm Guilty

Tell Me If I'm Guilty by Jenn Banda Bemis in partnership with Open Book, Goldsmiths University [12 December | London | free] offers a glimpse into Goldsmiths University's Open Book Prison Education Programme. It follows the journey of four young incarcerated women and one Goldsmiths Applied Theatre MA student, who worked together on the Theatre and Performance Extended Project at HMP Downview.

The course that inspired this production is delivered by Open Book, Goldsmiths University, in partnership with Clean Break Theatre Company. The Course supports learners to develop a research project and piece of issue based theatre on a topic of their choice. In doing so learners are encouraged to critically engage with the system and structures that led them to be incarcerated and go on a transformative learning journey, which includes options to progress onto degree courses at Goldsmiths and, or programmes at Clean Break, on release.

This production will be supported by an accompanying installation showcasing research and artifacts that demonstrate the value of creative education and co-production between prisons and universities. It will also include an evaluation, led by the Universities of Greenwich and Wolverhampton, examining the impact and outcomes of Open Book’s Prison Education Programme. Find out more

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENT: Shaping the Next Generation of Problem-Solving Court

Join Leeds Beckett University for a thought-provoking webinar [16 January | 12:00 - 13:00 | online | free] exploring the future of Women’s Problem-Solving Courts (WPSCs) in England and Wales. Drawing on recent research conducted on the Greater Manchester PSC model, this event asks a central question: What should these courts do, and be, for women? Find out more

FUNDING: Rugby in HMP Isis

Two grant funding opportunities are available at HMP Isis under the HMPPS Small Grants Scheme:

  1. Rugby activities at HMP Isis for Pre-release cohort. Available funding: [£14,000]
  2. Rugby activities at HMP Isis for Challenging behaviour cohort. Available funding: [£14,000]

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations operating and registered in UK are eligible to apply.

The applications will be open on Find a grant from [1 December – 15 December]. Find out more

OPPORTUNITY: Oakhill youth accommodation and services

The Youth Custody Service has launched preliminary market engagement for youth custody accommodation and services at the site of the current Oakhill Secure Training Centre. They are keen to hear from organisations of all sizes with specialist expertise in areas such as care, education, health, and rehabilitation, including those that may wish to deliver specific elements of the overall service offer or collaborate as part of a consortium. Provide feedback and/or express an interest

PUBLICATION: Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2025

The Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2025 presents new findings from Homeless Health Needs Audits (HHNA) undertaken between 2022 and 2025. The data presented makes clear that the health of people experiencing homelessness has worsened, in particular physical health; and that many people are left to self-medicate for their mental health in the face of inadequate support. The findings highlight the vital role of health services in preventing homelessness, with a clear identified pattern of people experiencing ill health before becoming homeless. Read the full report 

PUBLICATION: Peer Commissioning Restorative Justice Services

Want to know about Peer Commissioning as a part of Restorative Justice Services? User Voice is delighted to launch our latest report Lived Experience in Action: Commissioning Restorative Justice Services. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) commissioned User Voice to set up a lived experience commissioning panel to help design the service specification and evaluate bids for a new restorative justice service across West Yorkshire. Peer Commissioning is a really inclusive and innovative way of including all stakeholders in the design and implementation of services, and we are really proud to share how we did this work together, along with our recommendations. Read the full report

PUBLICATION: Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Harm

User Voice was commissioned by HM Inspectorate of Probation to conduct a research consultation as part of their work surrounding Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Harm supervised by the probation service in England. They are pleased to share the findings from our report “The Voice of Adults at Risk of Harm on Probation - A Thematic Inspection". Read the full report

PUBLICATION: 17 years championing prevention in Wales

The latest Faithfull Paper celebrates 17 years of their work in Wales – championing a public health approach to child sexual abuse prevention. Since 2008 they've worked closely with the Welsh Government, as well as many other partners across Wales. This Faithfull Paper explores what they've learnt, what they've achieved for children in Wales, and what still needs to be done to embed prevention into our society – so that all children are protected. Read the full report

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Finance, Benefit and Debt Mentor with The Wise Group [£25,664, Lancashire & Cumbria (community & custodial), full time]; People Coordinator with St Giles Trust [£28,000, Flexible/Hybrid with national travel, full time]; Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£23,870, Brierfield (Lancashire), full time]; Women’s Wellbeing Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£23,870, Waterloo (Liverpool), full time]; Activities Coordinator with ADVANCE [£26,000–£28,000, Hammersmith, full time]; Senior Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£27,789, Burnley (Lancashire), full time]; Director of Finance and Resources with The Clink Charity [£70,000–£80,000, Herne Hill, full time]; Recovery Worker – HMP Pentonville with Phoenix Futures [£27,772, N7 8TT, full time]; Development Officer with The Howard League for Penal Reform [£33,418–£37,874, London (hybrid), full time]; Housing Support Worker with Social Interest Group [£27,000, HA9 0AB, full time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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