Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 938 | 26 June 2026

Light lunch

 

In this issue...

 

Clinks is hosting an online forum for voluntary sector organisations working in the criminal justice system in the South East and East. The forum brings together people and organisations from across the region to share experiences, swap ideas, offer peer support and explore practical solutions. Whether you want to showcase your organisation’s work or hear how others are navigating similar challenges, the forum is an opportunity to connect with people who understand the realities of working in criminal justice. Clinks members and partners are also welcome to present at a future forum by contacting charlotte.howell@clinks.org [Tuesday 30 June 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free]

Register here

This three-hour online workshop is designed for voluntary sector staff and volunteers who are new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system, or who want to deepen their understanding of how it is organised and how it works. The session covers an overview of the criminal justice system and the jargon used, the process from arrest to conviction, prisons, probation, local and regional structures, inspectorates and regulators, and the role of the voluntary sector. Places are limited to 20 participants. A small number of free places are available for volunteers and specialist organisations. Clinks can also deliver this workshop in-house for organisations with several staff or volunteers who would benefit. [Tuesday 7 July 2026 | 09:30 to 12:30 | Online | £75 members / £150 non-members]

Book here

MEMBER FOCUS: Toynbee Hall

Toynbee Hall is an East London anti-poverty charity founded in 1884, providing free, independent advice on debt, welfare benefits, legal issues and money management through prisons and community settings. A key focus of its work is supporting people in contact with the criminal justice system to stabilise their finances, reduce reoffending risks and improve long-term outcomes. Its services are delivered using trauma-informed practice, recognising the complex and overlapping challenges many people in the criminal justice system face.

Find out more here

The Justice Data Lab (JDL) helps third sector organisations evaluate the impact of their interventions and provides organisations with a vital source of impartial and rigorous evidence that can be used to improve their work and secure essential funding. If you’d like to learn more about the Justice Data Lab, commission us for work, please email us at justice.datalab@justice.gov.uk . More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/justice-data-lab

Offploy has built a new online tool to help people with criminal convictions understand which countries are likely to ask about convictions as part of their admissions process for holiday travel. The interactive map uses a RAG rating system: countries that ask about convictions and are likely to refuse many conviction types are shown in red; those that do not ask for holiday travellers are shown in green; and those where information is uncertain or not yet confirmed are shown in amber. Micro countries and territories such as Gibraltar, Malta and Hong Kong can be searched using the tool at the top left of the map. Offploy would welcome feedback from Clinks members on any information that appears unclear or where a country is currently shown as amber.

View the map here

Revolving Doors has published a blog post by a lived experience member of their Reimagining Recovery working group, arguing that the current system for addressing addiction-driven crimes is failing. The post calls for effective recovery support that encompasses genuine engagement, understanding root causes, targeted therapeutic support, rebuilding life skills, and practical stability including housing and employment.

Read more here

Restorative Solutions, a Community Interest Company working to make restorative justice accessible to everyone, has launched an occasional national newsletter. The organisation works across the public, private and voluntary sectors, raising awareness, providing training and delivering restorative services in criminal justice and beyond. The second edition of the newsletter is due out within the next two weeks. To sign up to receive it, contact newsletter@restorativesolutions.org.uk 

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the independent statutory body that reviews alleged miscarriages of justice, is offering a free online information session for charities and organisations that support women and girls with convictions. The session will include a focus on women and girls affected by grooming gangs, while remaining relevant and useful for all volunteers and organisations supporting women with convictions. The aim is to help attendees confidently signpost the CCRC’s free service and to give them an opportunity to ask questions. [Wednesday 22 July 2026 | 11:30 | Online | Free]

To register your interest, email outreach@ccrc.gov.uk

The Ministry of Justice Youth Justice Policy Unit is hosting a second webinar on the Youth Justice White Paper on 1 July, building on the first session held in May with Minister Richards. The session will be hosted by Alan Webster, Deputy Director for Youth Justice Policy Unit, and will provide an opportunity to ask questions and explore the White Paper in more detail. Questions can be submitted in advance by close of play on 26 June using the link below. [Tuesday 1 July 2026 | 12:30 to 13:15 | Online (Microsoft Teams) | Free]

Submit questions in advance here

Join the webinar here

For queries, contact YJPUPlanningandPerformance@justice.gov.uk

Women in Prison is hosting a free webinar exploring why women go to prison and what drives women’s criminalisation. The session will include powerful testimonies from women with lived experience of prison and the community, alongside contributions from Women in Prison’s Head of Practice Kate Fraser and Head of Policy and External Affairs Lucy Russell on the approaches needed to better support women. The webinar will be chaired by Vicky Pryce, economist, author of Prisonomics, and Chair of Women in Prison’s Leadership Board. [Tuesday 30 June 2026 | 16:00 to 17:00 | Online | Free]

Register here

The Centre for Justice Innovation is hosting the next in its Expert Voices series, exploring alternatives to the privatisation of children’s social care. The session will draw on new research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies, Centre for Thriving Places, Co-operatives UK and the New Economics Foundation, which challenges the role of profit extraction within the care system and examines alternative models. Speakers include Rosie Maguire from the Centre for Thriving Places and Mike Boddy, Head of Service for Children’s Homes at Hull City Council, who will share Hull’s experience of rebuilding local authority-run care. The discussion will include a Q&A session. [Monday 29 June 2026 | 12:30 to 13:30 | Online | Free]

Register here

London’s co-commissioning partners are hosting a market engagement event for the upcoming Women’s Community Support provision. The session is open to all interested organisations, whether considering bidding as a lead provider or as part of a supply chain. It will introduce the co-commissioning partners, provide a high-level overview of the proposed specification, explain how this aligns with the HMPPS Core Specification, outline key priorities and expectations for delivery in London, and allow for initial questions and engagement. [Monday 28 July 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free]

Register your interest and join here

Offploy is hosting a free online session for organisations working in mentoring and social inclusion, focusing on how to identify, support and advocate for people with criminal records. The session is aimed at those new to the criminal justice sector or those who would like a refresher, and will cover how to recognise when someone may have a conviction and how to connect them with the specialist support they can access. [Monday 14 July 2026 | 09:15 to 10:00 | Online | Free]

Register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Criminal court statistics quarterly

The Ministry of Justice published the latest criminal court statistics on 25 June. The open caseload in magistrates’ courts has reached a new series peak of over 370,000 cases, with more serious non-SJP cases increasing to a post-COVID peak of 184,565. In the Crown Court, the open caseload remained at around 80,000, and the age of cases continues to increase, with cases open for a year or more reaching a series peak of over 22,000. More than half of those long-standing Crown Court cases are sexual offences or violence against the person offences.

Find out more here

FUNDING: grants for work with young people and ex-offenders

The Field Family Charitable Trust is open for applications until 16 July. Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 are available to local registered charities operating in the West Midlands and London within the M25. The Trustees’ interests lie with projects supporting vulnerable young people aged 13 to 25 and older people, with a particular interest in the prevention of young people from offending and the integration and rehabilitation of ex-offenders. The application window may close early if a high volume of applications is received. [Deadline: 16 July 2026]

Find out more and apply here

PUBLICATION: First thoughts on the Women’s Justice Board report and the Women’s Diversion Fund

Naomi Delap and Liz Hogarth have written a piece for the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies reflecting on the recent Women’s Justice Board report and the new £26.5 million Women’s Diversion Fund. They welcome the WJB report as a step towards improving how the justice system responds to women in England and Wales, but argue it is constrained by a lack of ambition and by the limits of what the Board was asked to explore. On the Women’s Diversion Fund, they note that while it is welcome recognition of women’s centres, it has replaced core grants, meaning funding now follows criminalisation rather than prevention. Securing real change, they argue, requires an independent Women’s Justice Board on a statutory footing, cross-government commitment beyond the Ministry of Justice, and properly costed funding for every element, including prevention.

Read more here

PUBLICATION: Beyond the Classroom - new report from Prisoners’ Education Trust

Prisoners’ Education Trust has published a new report, Beyond the Classroom, exploring the importance of distance learning in prisons. The report makes recommendations for prison leaders and the government on how to support and strengthen provision, highlighting the role that distance learning plays in enabling people in prison to access education and develop skills that support rehabilitation and resettlement.

View the report here

Read more here

Brighton Women’s Centre is seeking a dynamic individual to join their team [Full time, £28,672, East Sussex]. In this role you will provide holistic, integrated casework support for women in Sussex supporting them to navigate and access the services they require to address a range of practical/emotional needs, including helping with signposting, advocacy, and referrals. You will deliver one to one, face to face case-work interventions for women in contact with Sussex Police, Probation, or Breach Court. You will also work closely with Probation Officers to identify women who are at risk or in breach of their community order or license agreement and offer interventions to encourage women to re-engage. Find out more and apply here by 17th July 2026

Team Manager with Phoenix Futures [£31500, CM20 3AS, Full Time]; Recovery Support Worker (Female Only) with The Nelson Trust [£27000 to £28500, Stroud, Full Time]; Weekend Support Worker with The Nelson Trust [£25000 to £26500, Stroud, Part Time]; Late Support Worker with The Nelson Trust [£25000 to £26500, Stroud, Part Time]; Care Not Custody Caseworker East Sussex with Brighton Women's Centre [£28672, Pan Sussex with this post being based in Probation, Breach Court and surrounding areas. Also, BWC locations in Sussex. Local travel will be expected to a multitude of venues., Full Time]; Mentor (Women's Trailblazer) with The Wise Group [£25664, North East England, Full Time]; Visits Services Catering Worker with NEPACS [£24784, HMP Northumberland, Part Time]; Visits Services Catering Worker with NEPACS [£24784, HMP Kirklevington Grange, Part Time]; Housing Support Worker with Nacro [£27807, Coventry, Full Time]; Visits Services Play Worker with NEPACS [£24784, HMP Northumberland, Part Time].

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

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