Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 911 | 5 December 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Join our team - Digital Communications Officer

Clinks is seeking a Digital Communications Officer [£36070, Full time, Remote] for a 12-month fixed-term role to deliver our core communications functions across the organisation. Working closely with the Director of National Influencing & Networks, the postholder will produce engaging digital content, manage newsletters and reports, support social media and maintain our website. We’re looking for someone with strong digital skills, ideally including video editing, to help amplify the voice of the voluntary sector in criminal justice. Find out more and apply here by [23 December]

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks referenced in House of Lords Sentencing Bill debate

In this week’s Committee Stage debate on the Sentencing Bill, Baroness Porter tabled an amendment based on Clinks' State of the Sector research, seeking to address the impact of the Bill on the community and voluntary sectors. While the amendment was not accepted, we are pleased to see the role of the voluntary sector recognised and platformed.

Baroness Porter highlighted the pressures facing the sector, noting: “State of the Sector 2024 report makes for sobering reading… If the vision that sits behind the Bill is to stand any chance of success, not only do we need to find a way to support and shore up the existing voluntary and community sector but we need to prioritise expanding its capacity and growing it.”

Responding, Lord Timpson said: “We work in partnership with the charity Clinks through the HMPPS and MoJ infrastructure grant to engage a network of around 1,500 organisations.” See the full debate

CLINKS EVENT: 27th AGM (Next Week!)

Our Annual General Meeting [10 December | 12:00 - 13:00 | online | free] 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. Remember, you can also appoint a proxy if you can't make the meeting. Book now

MEMBER FOCUS: Liberty Springboard CIC

Liberty Springboard CIC empowers women with lived experience of the criminal justice system to Springboard to their full potential, regardless of the barriers they face. They are passionate about helping women become the best version of themselves. Using an asset-based approach, we support personal growth and resilience with tailored advice, guidance, and advocacy.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Wales Social Justice Conference partnerships

This week #WSJC2025, created in partnership by Clinks, Community Justice Cymru, Inside Out Support Wales, Maximus, Safer Wales and The Waterloo Foundation, welcomed delegates from across the voluntary and community sector for a day of collaboration, insight, and action around the theme of 'Sustaining the Voluntary and Community Sector'. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: 16 Days of Activism

16 Days of Activism is an international campaign to end gender-based violence, running annually from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day). Many Clinks members have joined the campaign, including; Abianda, Advance, Black Country Women's Aid, Brighton Women's Centre, Cranstoun, Elizabeth Fry Charity, Hibiscus Initiatives, One Small Thing, Rise Mutual CIC, Social Interest Group, The Women's Centre Cornwall and more.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Phoenix Futures mark 20 years in Pentonville

This year, Phoenix Futures are celebrating two decades of delivering substance use support at HMP Pentonville. To mark the milestone, they sat down with the Service Manager, who has been with the service since the very beginning and provides a rare perspective on 20 years of change. Read here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: The Clink Charity retain restaurant 

The Clink Charity won the competitive commercial procurement process to retain their restaurant at HMP Brixton for a further five years. CEO Donna Marie Edmonds says 'This is the culmination not only of a year of hard work, but of 11 years of reducing reoffending, setting exceptional standards and working side by side with our friends and partners in the Ministry of Justice UK, HM Prison and Probation Service and New Futures Network.' Read more

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: CJA Awards

CJA hosted awards celebrating the outstanding individuals, organisations and creatives transforming criminal justice across England and Wales. The ceremony highlighted exceptional leadership, advocacy and innovation amongst Clinks members, with major wins for the Centre for Justice Innovation, Beating Time, The Recruitment Junction and Offploy, alongside recognition for organisations such as Anawim, Black Country Women’s Aid and Prison Radio Association. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: XO Bikes & XO Barbers

Onwards & Upwards launch two training programmes on [12 January | London]:

  • The established XO Bikes bicycle mechanics course,
  • and new for 2026, XO Barbers, which will offer a Level 2 Barbering qualification. 

Both ventures are run by the charity Onwards & Upwards, whose mission is to break the cycle of reoffending by rebuilding lives through training and employment. Referrals are now open. Partners working with people with criminal convictions or those at risk of offending are encouraged to refer individuals ready to commit to change and learn a new skill. Find out more 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Beyond Anger and Violence workshops

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Dyfed-Powys, The Nelson Trust are now delivering Beyond Anger and Violence workshops, a 20-week programme created by the Dr Stephanie Covington, to women across the region. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Human Rights Day 2025

In the lead up to Human Rights Day on [10 December], Prisoners Abroad are sharing more about the increase in overseas arrests of British citizens over the last year and what this means for their work. Find out more

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Judge-only courts

Ministry of Justice, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, The Rt Hon David Lammy MP and Sarah Sackman KC MP announced "new ‘Swift Courts’ [which] will see cases with a likely sentence of three years or less heard by a Judge alone - estimated to take 20% less time than a jury trial" in an effort to ensure "victims will be put first under plans to modernise the criminal courts and cut delays." Read the announcement here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS: Victims at the Heart of Justice Digital Conference

Westminster Insight’s Victims at the Heart of Justice Digital Conference [28 January | online | from £299] will cover how to rebuild confidence in the justice system and uphold the rights of victims through dignity, protection, support, and access to vital services. Book online

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS: The History of Jury Trials

Join a timely and sharp lecture [8 December | 18:00 - 19:00 | online | free] charting the story of the jury trial: from its roots in early English custom to its role as a cornerstone of modern justice. Find out more

RESOURCE: PET 2026–27 Prospectus

Prisoners' Education Trust have published their 2026–2027 Course Prospectus – 'the most forward-looking and accessible edition yet.' The prospectus features cutting-edge courses on AI and environmental sustainability, new digital learning opportunities, and more options to help people in prison focus on the future. Featuring nearly 120 courses, learners can find the prospectus in prison libraries and education departments across England and Wales, as well as on PET's website in prisons. View here

PUBLICATION: Enhancing the rehabilitative impact of electronic monitoring

Nacro Justice ExChange have published a new briefing examining the impact of electronic monitoring on rehabilitation. Their research highlights how electronic monitoring had put in place barriers to rehabilitation, such as being unable to find and take up work and keep in contact with families, factors well evidenced to reduce the risk of reoffending. This briefing explores these issues in more detail along with problems with the fitting and functioning of tags, and specific challenges some groups face. Read the full report

PUBLICATION: Built to Harm: how women's prisons take lives

Inquest's latest report examines the circumstances of seven recent deaths in women’s prisons and situates them within decades of systemic failure. It exposes how the women’s prison estate continues to harm and fail those it imprisons, despite years of calls for change. Read here

PUBLICATION: Probation Quarterly

Released this week by the Probation Institute, Issue 38 of Probation Quarterly features a wide range of practitioner perspectives from the third and statutory sectors, covering topics such as the importance of relational work in supporting desistance, the role of AI in enhancing probation services, and HMIP’s new Dynamic Inspections of Public Protection introduced in response to consistently poor inspection standards. Read here

OPPORTUNITY: HMPPS Statement of Operational Evidence Needs (SOEN) 

HMPPS has developed the SOEN in support of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Areas of Research Interest (ARI) 2025. While the ARI focusses on medium to long term policy-relevant evidence priorities across the department’s full remit, the SOEN focuses on short to medium term operational evidence gaps across prisons, probation and youth custody. One of the SOEN’s key aims is to strengthen collaboration between HMPPS and the research community. By clearly identifying where evidence is most needed, they hope to inspire and guide academic partnerships that lead to meaningful, evidence-informed change. Find out more and register your interest

OPPORTUNITY: Smiley Charity Film Awards

The Smiley Charity Film Awards (The Smileys) has emerged as a cornerstone of positive change in the UK, supporting over 5,000 charities and captivating the engagement of over 1 million individuals through voting. To enter, click here and watch Clinks members entries:

FEATURED VACANCY: Outreach Worker

Elizabeth Fry Charity is seeking a passionate individual to join their dedicated team as an Outreach Worker [£29,417 – 33,755 Part-time, Berkshire]. Elizabeth Fry Charity runs a Ministry of Justice Approved Premises in Reading, accommodating up to 24 women. We strive to be an excellent provider of accommodation and support for women in the criminal justice system. In this role you will support residents remaining in the Reading area, both prior to their move on and for up to six months post move on. The aim is to support them living independently, with practical matters and signposting to additional support services within the community.  Find out more and apply by 5th January 2026 here. 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

READING SUPPORT SPECIALIST with Shannon Trust [£28,274, HMP Full Sutton, full time]; JUSTICE CASE WORKER with The Growth Company [£27,500–£30,000, Blackpool, full time]; SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR – HUB GUIDE with The Growth Company [£24,336, Blackburn/Blackpool/Manchester, part time]; SUPPORT MENTOR with Social Interest Group [£27,000, London, full time]; YOUNG PEOPLE’S COORDINATOR with Koestler Arts [£31,911, London, full time]; WOMEN’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACCOMMODATION ADVISER with Shelter (England) [£31,600, Hull, part time]; RESETTLEMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT WORKER with Imagine Independence [£25,624, Liverpool, full time]; DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER with Clinks [£36,070, 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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