Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 921 | 27 February 2026

Light lunch

 

In this issue...

Clinks is seeking a senior leader from the voluntary sector to sit on the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) as the seat holder for small organisations. This person will work for a small voluntary organisation (with an income of under £250k) that supports people in the criminal justice system. They will be able to reflect the reality of delivering services through small, locally based organisations, and the opportunities and strengths of, as well as the challenges to, this approach. Find out more and apply by [19 March]

Clinks is seeking an expert from the voluntary sector to sit on the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) as the seat holder for Arts. This person will be a senior leader working for a voluntary organisation focusing on arts-based support for people in contact with the criminal justice system. Find out more and apply here by [3 March]

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: Anne Peaker 2026

The NCJAA is excited to invite you to our annual Anne Peaker lecture [25 March | 16:30 - 19:00 | London & Online | Free]. At this year's event, we are delighted to be joined by keynote speaker Professor Shadd Maruna, who will present a lecture entitled: What Happens if the Art Stops? Why sustained access to creativity is a matter of justice. Book here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: Mentoring Scheme

We are now accepting applications for mentees to join the NCJAA professional mentoring scheme for 2025/26. The scheme provides emerging arts and criminal justice practitioners with specialist guidance and professional development through a free one-to-one mentoring relationship with an expert in the field. Find out more and apply here by [28 February]

CLINKS EVENT: #IWD26

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, Clinks is creating a space to hear from women across our membership and partner organisations, sharing their personal experiences, journeys, and the work they do to support women in the criminal justice system [9 March | 11:00 - 12:30 | online | free]. Book here

This webinar launches our 2025 State of the Sector (SOTS) Report [31 March | 10:00 - 11:30 | online | free], where we will hear reflections from Clinks and NCVO about key trends and takeaways, highlighting the challenges faced by the sector, examples of good practice, future risks and opportunities, and recommendations for change. Book here

MEMBER FOCUS: CAP Enterprise

CAP promotes and supports enterprise in all its forms. Their work is therefore broad - from supporting business start-up initiatives to personal development programmes to social enterprise incubation. Find out more here

Beating Time hosted its first ever Inside Job Community Surgery with Thames Water. Members of the Thames Water team met with Candidates they supported in prison who have now been released. They offered guidance on apprenticeships, talked through application processes, and helped explore the different pathways available based on qualifications and experience. Find out more

Over the past year, Samaritans, alongside their supporters, has called on the government to introduce mandatory suicide prevention training for frontline emergency service workers as part of our United with the frontline campaign. This week they celebrated getting one step closer to making that happen. Read here

This week, ITV spoke to Working Chance and St Giles about why employers need to look beyond stereotypes and recognise the person - and potential - behind a conviction. Watch here

Ormiston Families’ Breaking Barriers Conference [24 April | 10:00 - 15:30 | Ipswich | from £40] will be a day of bold thinking, lived experience, and practical innovation as we get behind recent encouraging changes to government strategy whilst exploring what each of us can do right now to better support children and families impacted by the criminal justice system. Book here

The Sentencing Act 2026 has introduced the power for the courts to defer sentence for up to 12 months with effect from 22 March 2026. This research event [12 March | 12:30 - 14:00 | online | free] will focus on the use of deferred sentences, looking at research conducted for the Sentencing Academy in 2022 and 2025, and at the Choices and Consequences (C2) Programme in Hertfordshire. Find out more

This webinar [17 March | 14:00 - 15:00 | online | free] is ideal for landlords, letting agents, housing advisers, local authority officers, voluntary sector organisations, and anyone working with or affected by the private rented sector. Book here

The Oswin Project reports a 96% non-reoffending rate among motivated service users. People leaving prison face barriers like housing, employment, and probation, and often miss support. Join The Oswin Project for honest conversation, practical scenarios, and collaborative solutions [11 March | 10:00 - 15:00 | Newcastle | free]. Book here

The Working with Trauma Quality Mark is a set of best practice standards in trauma-informed working. One Small Thing are running a free Quality Mark information workshop [10 March | 11:00 - 12:30 | online | free] for organisations and services interested in trauma-informed working and the award. Book here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Highest Ever Courts Funding Deal

Every single Criminal Crown Court in England and Wales will be funded to hear as many cases as possible next year to deliver faster and fairer justice for victims, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced. Find out more

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: HMIP Reports

HMIP have released new reports on independent reviews of progress at HMP Parc and HMP Thameside as well as unannounced inspections at HMP Coldingley and HMP & YOI Low Newton. Read here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Leveson's 135 Recommendations

Sir Brian Leveson unveiled the second part of his criminal courts review. Rebuilding the legal aid workforce through annual fee reviews and trainee grants is included in a smorgasbord of recommendations. Read here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Cancer-Causing Radon Gas in Prisons

High levels of radon gas, which can increase the risk of lung cancer, were detected at HMP Exeter and HMP Lindholme five years ago. Read here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Interim IMB National Chair Appointed

The Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Jane Leech as interim Independent Monitoring Boards National Chair. Read here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Time To Care – One Year On

A year ago, ‘Time to care’ highlighted inadequate support to help women cope in prison. Concerns were raised, including a lack of attention to basic elements of decency and the common use of punitive responses to women in crisis. Read here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS: ACEVOFest 2026

Join for ACEVOFest [24 - 25 March | 09:00 - 17:00 | London & Online | from £125] for their annual festival of leadership for civil society leaders who want to be inspired, challenged, and connected. Book here

FUNDING: HMPPS Small Grants Projects 

  • Three intensive co-design projects working directly with women who have been recalled, sentenced, or remanded. These projects will capture lived experience across the Women’s Estate, delivered across multiple sites, and will include women released into Wales. Each project will use co-production to identify what works, where gaps exist, and how services can better support women through custody and into the community.
  • Local community focused grants for third sector organisations in Tyisha, Llanelli and Bristol aimed at strengthening community based rehabilitation. This funding will support the creation or enhancement of a community connector role or service, helping people on probation access local opportunities, navigate support systems, and build positive relationships within their neighbourhoods.
  • Three pilot projects will test new Official Prison Visitors (OPV) models across a women’s prison, a London youth estate, and a site for vulnerable prisoners, focusing on groups who are most isolated and least likely to receive visits. Together, they will use co-production to understand what works, identify gaps, and generate evidence to shape a more inclusive, effective national OPV service.

Apply here by [2 March]

FUNDING: The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists

The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists are open to grants of generally up to [£15k] for UK registered charities, not-for-profit organisations and educational establishments for innovative projects that use Information Technology to strengthen communities. Within one or more of their priority areas: education, inclusion, tech for charities, and public understanding of technology. Apply here by [20 May]      

OPPORTUNITY: Alumni Advisory Group

Prisoners' Education Trust are looking for passionate people with lived experience of prison education to join their Alumni Advisory Group - to help shape our strategy, strengthen our policy work, and keep learners at the centre of everything they do. They are hosting an online meeting on [17 March] for you to ask questions and find out more about the group. Find out more

OPPORTUNITY: Trauma-Informed Justice for Women

Women, Crime and Criminal Justice Network's annual event [21 March | University of Greenwich] brings together academics and policymakers to critically examine how trauma-informed approaches are understood, operationalised, and evaluated across the criminal justice system, with a specific focus on women. They welcome 250–300 word abstracts for papers, policy reflections, or roundtable contributions. Find out more

OPPORTUNITY: Spokesperson Leadership Programme

Sounddelivery Media’s unique seven month leadership programme aims to diversify the voices we hear in the media and make it more representative of the society we live in. Find out more

VACANCY: PEP Peer Mentor Coordinator 

London Probation Service are recruiting a Probation Employment Pathway (PEP): Peer Mentor Coordinator to lead the delivery of a local Peer Mentoring service, supporting the Engaging People on Probation (EPOP) agenda. Find out more and apply here by [25 March]

Elizabeth Fry Charity are seeking an Outreach Worker [Part Time, £33,755 FTE, Reading] to join their dedicated team at their MoJ approved premises in Reading, accommodating up to 24 women. As an Outreach Worker you will support residents both prior to their move and up to six months post move on, aiming to support them living independently. Supporting them with practical matters and signposting to additional support services within the community. You will be an excellent verbal and written communicator, be IT confident, sustain effective time management and organisational skills, and be committed to the mission and values of our organisation. Find out more and apply here by [19 March] 

FEATURED VACANCY: Research Officer 

The Centre for Justice Innovation is looking to recruit a pragmatic and thoughtful Research Officer [Full Time, £35,000, London / Hybrid] to help them advocate for evidence-based reform to criminal and family justice policy and practice in the UK. You will play a pivotal role in strengthening the evidence-base for innovation across the UK’s justice systems and will have particular focus on improving outcomes for women and families. You will have professional experience of undertaking high-quality qualitative or mixed methods research projects with individuals facing barriers, have excellent writing skills, and sustain a pragmatic approach to solving social problems. Find out more and apply here by [13 March] 

Prison Facilitator/Library Assistant with Shannon Trust [£29264, HMP Ashfield, Full Time]; Housing Support Worker with Nacro [£26584, Wolverhampton, Full Time]; Prison Facilitator – Bank Staff with Shannon Trust [£17, HMP Aylesbury and HMP Bullingdon, Part Time]; Research Officer with Centre for Justice Innovation [£35000, Hybrid, Full Time]; Chair, Board of Trustees with The Hardman Trust [N/A, Remote, Part Time]; Team Manager – Criminal Record Advice Service with Nacro [£31242–£31242, Remote, Part Time]; Women and Families Team Lead with The Nelson Trust [£30000–£34000, Gloucester, Full Time]; Recovery Worker with Social Interest Group [£27000–£27000, W13 9YT, Full Time]; Outreach Worker with Elizabeth Fry Charity [£29417–£33755, Reading, Part Time]; Chair of the Board of Trustees with Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) [Part Time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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