Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 866 | 31 January 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: women’s problem-solving courts

At the recent Clinks and Weavers' Company summit - 'Justice and Women: A New Direction', Drs Ruth Armstrong and Shona Minson presented findings from their report, Justice Changes Her Face. The report explores the development and evaluation of women’s problem-solving courts in the UK and internationally. Drawing on a detailed review of existing literature, evaluations, and court observations, alongside interviews with practitioners and participants, the report examines how these courts address the unique challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system. It highlights the aspects of problem-solving courts that contribute to their effectiveness, many of which reflect principles of systemic thinking, even if not explicitly designed as systems change initiatives. Read the report here

CLINKS NEWS: vacancies on the Employment Advisory Boards (EABs)

Employment Advisory Boards (EABs) were launched to bring business expertise into prisons, and support prison leavers into employment. The Boards work with prison governors and staff to ensure that serving prisoners use their time in prison to gain the skills they need alongside links to job opportunities so that they can leave prison and move into sustainable employment.

The voluntary sector is represented on EABs across the country, and we are working with the New Futures Network and prisons to increase their presence and help EABs find the right voluntary sector representative for their board.

We’re looking for volunteers for the EABs attached to the following prisons: HMP Erlestoke (Wiltshire); HMP Leyhill (Gloucestershire); HMP Bedford; and HMP Wayland (Thetford, Norfolk). This would be to represent the wider voluntary sector and share expertise with their local prison. Meetings tend to take place within the prison, and either meet bi-monthly or quarterly. The frequency is determined by the EAB Chair and Governor.

Please note that, alongside the New Futures Network, we will connect you with your local prison, but each EAB Chair and Prison Governor chooses and elects the official membership of the EAB. Please do send through expressions of interest (name and organisation) to policy@clinks.org by 7 February.

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks annual conference 2024 - key takeaways

We have published a blog covering key takeaways from our busy 2024 annual conference, including Prisons Minister James Timpson's keynote speech. Take a look and see what interests you, with links to the work Clinks is doing across a number of different thematic areas.

Find out more about the topics covered during the days events:

  • Women in the criminal justice system (CJS)
  • Families impacted by the CJS
  • Race and Justice
  • Voluntary sector funding
  • The One HMPPS model
  • Health and wellbeing in the CJS
  • Arts in the CJS
  • The day's musical performances

Read the blog here

CLINKS NEWS: Funding for Voluntary Organisations in Criminal Justice

NPC, commissioned by Lloyds Bank Foundation and supported by an advisory group including HMPPS, the AB Charitable Trust, and Clinks, is researching the funding landscape for voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

This is your last chance to complete a short survey [closes 31 January 2025, 17:00] which will contribute to shaping support, policy recommendations, and long-term solutions for the sector.

Additionally, NPC has shared a blog offering initial insights from the research, highlighting key themes and early reflections. Read the blog and take the survey here

MEMBER FOCUS: Coming Home Project

The Coming Home Project supports women leaving prison from the moment of release through peer mentor matching with a lived experience individual who provides support, signposting and a buddy system.

They then provide a 4-day workshop program: Digital Skills for Work; Employability; Building Resilience - Emotional & Financial; and Lived Experience - Owning Your Story. The 4-day program takes women from behind bars to boardrooms and supports meaningful employment. The core goals are to support women in reconnecting with others, their communities and to rebuild their lives with access to meaningful well paid work – not just run-of-the-mill traditional employment prison pathways. Find out more about the Coming Home Project here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Adultifying Youth Custody

The Alliance for Youth Justice has published a briefing, Adultifying Youth Custody: Learning lessons on transition to adulthood from the use of youth custody for young adults. 

The briefing, funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, explores how the government’s decision to temporarily raise the age young people transfer from the children’s secure estate to the adult secure estate from 18 to 19 resulted in a 253% increase in the number of over 18s in the child estate. The briefing highlights the lost opportunity for systemic reform during this time and further warns of the long-term risk of blurring the boundaries between youth and adult justice systems. Read the briefing here 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: The 2025 Koestler Awards are open

Koestler Arts have now opened the 2025 Koestler Awards for people in contact with the criminal justice system. Entrants can submit up to five creative entries in music, writing, and visual arts and crafts for the chance to receive feedback, win prizes (including cash prizes) and be exhibited. You can send in anything creative in 53 categories. [Entry closes on 11 April]. For an entry pack or more information follow this link. 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: improving mental wellbeing in women's prisons

The Phoenix Trust shared the latest data on the impact of mindful yoga and meditation in women's prisons at the recent Clinks and Weavers' Company summit - 'Justice and Women: A New Direction'. The data finds that women's mental wellbeing was significantly improved during the 11 courses held in two prisons. Addressing mental health is critical to justice reform, says director Selina Sasse. Read more about the findings here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: supporting those with a criminal record

Clinks members are on the frontline of mentoring socially excluded people, many of whom will have criminal record. It won't always be obvious who has a conviction and the specialist support they can access when identified. If you're new to the criminal justice sector or want a refresher, join OffPloy's upcoming course on how to best identify, support and advocate for those who deserve another chance. [11 February, 09:15-10:05, online, free]. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Rupture, a one-woman show

Join Open Clasp on tour with their latest production, Rupture. This compelling one-woman show, developed in partnership with NEPACS and Durham University, highlights the research findings and achievements of the Parental Rights in Prison Project, published in September 2024. Rupture brings to life this vital research on the real-life experiences of mothers in prison.

Created with women in HMP Low Newton, the show [Various dates, locations across the North East and various prices] shines a spotlight on the impact of imprisonment on mothers, focusing on how mothers who have had children removed from their care, navigate their parental rights from inside prison. Please support the show and book your tickets here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: What’s porn got to do with it?

Correction: Last week we incorrectly advertised this event as free. This was our error, so we are including the event again with the correct pricing information.

Join the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, in partnership with NWG, for a webinar exploring how pornography influences harmful sexual behaviour in young people - and what must change. Gain exclusive access to expert-led, data-driven insights and research on preventing child sexual abuse. This is a vital discussion for anyone working to protect and support children and families. [4 March, 10:00 - 12:00, online, £52.74] Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Trauma Informed Network meeting

One Small Thing are running a Trauma Informed Network meeting [6 March, 13.30 - 16.30, London, free].

This is a network event that provides an opportunity to:

  • Meet and reflect upon trauma-informed practice with colleagues from across London
  • Share insights and ideas on how to embed a trauma-informed approach within your organisation or service
  • Collaborate and connect with others who are interested in a trauma-informed approach.

Dr. Sophie Mulvana will share her experience of implementing trauma informed practice within a secure children’s home. The event is targeted at anyone with an interest in finding out more about trauma-informed practice and colleagues who are already delivering their core work in a trauma-informed way. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: opportunity for budding entrepreneurs

The Forward Trust have an exciting opportunity for budding entrepreneurs in contact with the criminal justice system to participate in their next annual "Dragons Den Style" event [3 April, London] in collaboration with the Financial Times. If you, or anyone you work with are interested, the event will be held at the Financial Times London offices and will include the opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to pitch their business idea to a host of industry experts and investors. The Trust's new Chair of Trustee’s Tony Adams MBE will form part of the panel. For more information, including contact details and to find out more about the Trust's Enterprise Services and programme, click here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Third Sector Strategic Partnership Approach

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have developed the Third Sector Strategic Partnership Approach with the intention of providing guiding principles of how to engage and work with organisations that work within the criminal justice system. The Third Sector Partnerships and Programmes team developed the approach through consultation with colleagues and with the Third Sector through a series of engagement events. Through this, the approach was further refined and an action plan developed in response to the feedback that was received.

The approach has been distributed to colleagues across the MoJ and HMPPS and is to be used as a guide in engagement with the third sector whether that be developing policy, strategy or operational activity. The intention is that the Third Sector Strategic Partnership Approach will be adopted and referred to in every interaction the MoJ and HMPPS has with partners in the Third Sector. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Lord Chancellor’s opening remarks at the first Women’s Justice Board meeting

Last week, The Lord Chancellor delivered the opening remarks at the inaugural meeting of the Women’s Justice Board (WJB). Her speech emphasised the need for a gender-responsive approach, recognising that many women in the system have complex needs, including histories of trauma, domestic abuse, and mental health struggles. The WJB is aiming to reduce the number of women in prison by focusing on early intervention, community-based alternatives, and tailored rehabilitation support. Read the Lord Chancellor’s Remarks here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: join the Women’s Justice Board Partnership Delivery Group

The Government is inviting expressions of interest to join the Partnership Delivery Group (PDG) supporting the newly established Women’s Justice Board. The PDG will bring together senior officials from key government departments and external experts to shape policies and address the distinct challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system.

The PDG will support the Women’s Justice Board by:

  • Developing policies to reduce the number of women in custody and promote community-based alternatives.
  • Addressing the root causes of offending, such as trauma, mental health, and domestic abuse.
  • Strengthening collaboration between voluntary organisations, statutory agencies, and other stakeholders.

This is your opportunity to influence strategies that ensure tailored, gender-specific approaches to improve outcomes for women in the justice system. Applications must be submitted by [23:59, Tuesday 11 February 2025]. Express your interest here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Small Grants Scheme 

HMPPS is piloting a Small Grants Scheme for awarding individual grants (under £10k) to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations operating and registered in the UK.

Each individual grant will be competed over two weeks. The variety of grants will be available within selected prisons in the north and northeast, northwest, south central and Wales with the first three of these grants now advertised (the final grant will be advertised no later than 20 February).

See the opportunities available below. The application process is open from [3 February to 16 February].

  • HMP Lindholme (Drama activities) – looking to fund a Drama Group within the prison running either a weekly course for up to 10 weeks or an intensive 2-week programme with daily activities.
  • HMP Lindholme (Music activities) – looking to establish a Music Group within their prison. The programme aims to teach service users how to perform and express themselves through music and it should focus on personal development and well-being.
  • HMP Berwyn (Mural activities) seeking to fund is art-based enrichment activity for service users, in particular, mural painting and thus improving their environment.
  • HMP Berwyn (Craft packs) – available funding for craft packs and supplies that can be used in craft activities that service users can take part in.
  • HMP Leeds (Mindfulness/Peer training) – funding available to provide mindfulness sessions to support service users who have no/little contact with families and significant others (FaSO). Furthermore, they expect that as a result of this project, a group of service users will become peer mentors and will learn how to deliver mindfulness sessions to others.

Find more and apply here: Home - Find a grant under “HMPPS Small Grants Scheme”.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: recovery-oriented systems to address drugs and alcohol

This Insights event by HMPPS shares the reasoning behind them adopting recovery-oriented systems to address drugs and alcohol [5 March, 10:00 - 11:30, online, free].

Join Mike Wheatley, Head of the Drug and Alcohol Group at HMPPS, keynote speaker Professor David Best, Ph.d. and an expert panel of prison and probation recovery, heath and justice, and lived experience leads to learn how HMPPS is transforming its approach to tackling drug and alcohol use within the criminal justice system.  

Discover how a recovery-oriented system of care offers a comprehensive, person-centred, and sustainable way to address drug and problematic alcohol use, supporting individuals to build meaningful, healthy lives while reducing reoffending and harm to society.  Register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: upcoming market informing session

HMPPS are excited to announce an upcoming market informing session for the recommissioning of rehabilitative services for people in prison and on probation. This session [26 February, 14:00 – 17:00, online, free] will provide a high-level overview for how HMPPS plan to recommission its Commissioned Rehabilitative Services. 

The list below is an indication of the topics HMPPS would like to present during the event:

An overview of Commissioned Rehabilitative Services; timescales; geography/lots/value/waves; how they are going to procure; high-level specification; written responses/tender; service enablers; flexibility; partnership; evaluation methodology; contract baseline; paymech, performance and contract levers; mobilisation; market engagement plan for 2025.

It should be noted that any topics discussed will not commit the authority to sourcing these services in the future and the position may change. Register to attend the event

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS: impact of language barriers in the criminal justice system

This webinar by UCL Centre for Education and Criminal Justice explores the impact of language barriers in the criminal justice system for individuals who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL) [5 February, 17:00 - 18:30, online, free]. Experts will discuss the challenges faced by EAL individuals, the risks of miscommunication, and the importance of accessible legal and rehabilitation services.

Join this important conversation to learn more about how language access affects justice outcomes and what can be done to improve equity and fairness. Reserve your spot here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Women's Community Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£23,000 - £24,000, Cardiff, full time]; Prison Facilitator with Shannon Trust [£30,274, HMP Wormwood Scrubs, part time]; Community Network Coordinator with Unlock [£30,000 FTE, remote, part time]; Trustee (Chair of Finance, Audit & Risk Committee) with Synergy Theatre Project [voluntary, quarterly meetings in Brixton House, London, part time]; Communications and Marketing Lead with Shannon Trust [£35,000, home-based, full time]; Housing Interventions Worker (Custody) with The Forward Trust [£26,339, HMP Parc, Bridgend, full time]; Mental Health Support Worker with Inspire North [£27,504 - £28,500 FTE, Batley, West Yorkshire, part time]; Team Leader - RACS/YPP with Inspire North [£29,538 - £32,882 FTE, North Yorkshire, part time]; Housing Support Assistant with Inspire North [£25,879 FTE, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, part time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

About Clinks Light Lunch

This edition of Light Lunch has been sent to the inbox of 8,321 people working (or with an interest) in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.
If you would like to include something in a future edition of Light Lunch, use our submission form.
Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter
Contact us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 4502 6774
Click here to manage your subscriptions. For assistance, email info@clinks.org
Registered office: 82A James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7DE 
Registered charity: 1074546 | Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales: 3562176
© Clinks, 2025

Clinks logo