Clinks is wholly committed to supporting the effective involvement of people with experience of the criminal justice system to inform policy and practice. We aim to equip voluntary organisations with the tools they need to ensure meaningful involvement of people with experience of the criminal justice system. Our resources showcase current best practice examples from voluntary organisations.

Service user involvement managers’ network

Clinks coordinates a network for service user involvement managers. The network provides a forum for managers from member organisations to share expertise, ideas and experience and to inspire and learn from one another. The network aims to celebrate successes in involving people with lived experience, support organisations to overcome challenges and promote and embed the effective involvement of individuals with experience of criminal justice system.

Network members also help to shape Clinks future work and resources on service user involvement.

To join a network meeting or for more information on the network in general contact info@clinks.org. Subscribe to Light Lunch for information about upcoming events.

Involving people with convictions as trustees and senior managers

The Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Act 2016 included new rules which prevent people with certain convictions from being able to run a charity unless they have clearance from the Charity Commission. These rules came into force on 1st August 2018. The new rules resulted in a wider range of criminal records being covered, as well as existing trustees, new trustees and senior managers. Clinks has supported Unlock to produce guidance on the rules for voluntary sector organisations and for individuals.

Producing guidance on best practice in service user involvement

Clinks has compiled and published guides to service user involvement to assist the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system to embed service user involvement into their work. 

In 2016, we published two guides: Good practice in service user involvement, and a Guide to service user involvement and co-production. These guides were developed in collaboration with organisations who are experts on service user involvement, as well as people with experience of the criminal justice system and services such as substance misuse and mental health support, to produce reports showcasing the best examples of service user involvement, practical guidance including how to recruit and involve service users, and guidance on ethical considerations within service user involvement.