Clinks Newsflash | is policy change keeping pace with the state of the sector?

Is policy change keeping pace with the state of the sector?

We’ve launched our seventh state of the sector report which delves into the experience of voluntary sector organisations working in criminal justice.

This research gives Clinks the opportunity to celebrate organisations' successes, but it also highlights the challenges that they and the people they work with are up against, including a number that are deep-seated and systemic.

Our research finds that:

People’s basic needs are still not being met. The numbers of service users are rising and their needs continue to grow more complex and urgent. Organisations told us about the damaging impact of welfare reform and a severe housing crisis. They also spoke passionately about the crisis situation in prisons and the wellbeing of people in prison.
There are challenges in securing grants and recovering costs on contracts. As grant funding decreases, organisations are increasing the proportion of funding coming from fees for service. Those that are delivering under contract or sub-contract, are struggling to achieve full cost-recovery and being forced to cut overhead costs and subsidise contracts from other sources of funding and their own reserves.

The knowledge this year’s research has given us about the health of the sector, the needs of organisations and their strengths puts us in a better position to advocate for the voluntary sector and support organisations through challenges and changes.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete this year's survey, your responses are vital to our research.

We will continue to support the sector to tackle the challenges identified in our report.

Clinks Newsflash | is policy change keeping pace with the state of the sector?

Is policy change keeping pace with the state of the sector?

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