News | February 2025

We were delighted to have over 20 NCJAA members at Clinks annual conference this year and for three members to be a core part of the programme. 

Dance United Yorkshire started the event with an outstanding dance piece performed by men in recovery. It was an honour to support the project, meet with the troop and witness the impact of the performance on them and the audience. It received a well-deserved standing ovation. Some of the troupe have shared their thoughts on the day:  

“A big thank you for the opportunity to perform in front of people working in criminal justice. It was an amazing day talking to everyone. Big thank you” 

 “Banging opportunity. Enjoyed myself. And it was good to give feedback to people working in criminal justice service… summat I will never forget. Thank you for the opportunity” 

“It’s a good feeling committing to something and seeing it through to completion. It is extra special seeing as all of us have faced adversity in life and despite this, we have performed something really beautiful together. Massive thanks to Dance United for all their encouragement and patience and thanks for the opportunity” 

The morning session concluded with a Prison Radio Association Secret Lives of Prisons podcast conversation, exploring justice system challenges and the role of the voluntary sector. We (the live audience!) were treated to hosts Paula Harriott, Unlock, and Phil Maguire, Prison Radio Association, in conversation with Anne Fox, Clinks, and Lord James Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, who covered everything from prisons to probation and sentencing to, of course, the voluntary sector.  

There were also a number of workshops and Odd Arts led a fully interactive session, challenging us to think about how creative practices can challenge division and reshape narratives in justice settings. Grounded in trauma-informed practice, the session highlighted the power of theatre to strengthen community connections and contribute to a more inclusive society.

NCJAA Members and Network News: Theatre in Bullingdon 

Unlock Drama CIC has been awarded the DPS tender to partner with HMP Bullingdon, beginning next week. Find out more 

NCJAA Members and Network News: Arts & Homelessness International (AHI) Legislative Theatre projects 

AHI has an opportunity for orgs to apply for Legislative Theatre projects which include any area of policy/rules that should be changed that link to homelessness or homeless prevention (including people coming out of the criminal justice system, care etc): https://artshomelessint.com/what-we-do/advocacy/arts-homelessness-civic-plan/ 

NCJAA Members and Network News: Theatre in criminal justice providing a new kind of language  

Over the past few weeks, Odd Arts has been using theatre to communicate more powerfully and effectively on both a systemic and personal level within the criminal justice system. This blog reflects on a recent activity.  

EVENT: Through the Blue: A Koestler Arts exhibition  

Until 14 March | Oxford | Free 

Koestler Arts and the Old Fire Station present Through the Blue, an exhibition showcasing artwork, music and writing made in criminal justice settings in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. The exhibition has been co-curated by a group of people on probation in Oxford and Reading, who considered more than 600 Koestler Awards entries from the region and selected 70 to be displayed. They were drawn to intriguing works that resonated with their own experience of the criminal justice system and reflected their varied creative interests. Boundaries and thresholds loomed large in their recollections of their own time in prison and are depicted in many of the exhibited artworks: walls, doors, windows, hatches. Means of containing, but also of seeing and moving through. More information here 

There are a number of forums around England and Wales – see our events page for more information. 

We're hosting an event to celebrate International Women’s Day and spotlight some of the amazing women who work in our sector. We are providing a space to hear from women across the Clinks membership and our partners to share their personal experiences, journeys, and the work they do to support women in the criminal justice system. Book here

RESOURCE: Stages of Justice Podcast 

Stages of Justice explores the current pressures on the prison system, including overcrowding, staff shortages, underfunding, and deteriorating living conditions. Within that context, the conversation focuses on how artists and organisations continue to deliver meaningful creative work inside prisons, and why this work remains vital. Listen here