Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 877 | 17 April 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

Due to the Good Friday Bank Holiday the sector gets the thrill of receiving this week's Light Lunch a day early. Enjoy! And a Happy Easter to all those who are celebrating - enjoy all that chocolatey goodness!

CLINKS NEWS: Meeting our sector's need for infrastructure support

Clinks is delighted to have been awarded the HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) grant for infrastructure support for small and medium-sized voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations 2025-29.

We have published a blog where we outline Clinks’ focus and the key areas of work the grant will enable us to deliver over the next four years. Read the blog here

CLINKS NEWS: Recommissioning of Rehabilitative services - What the sector needs to know

Clinks is working closely with His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to ensure the voluntary sector receives timely information and is able to participate in the upcoming market engagement events. The next market engagement event for supply chain partners takes place [29 April, 12.30 – 15.30, online, free].

Clinks understand that organisations may have questions which they have not been able to raise during market engagement events and would like to provide a safe space for the voluntary sector to come together to discuss them. Therefore, we have organised a question and answer session on [23 April 10.00 – 11.00, online, free]. Register here. If you cannot attend but have a question, email us at: probation@clinks.org 

There will also be a series of area specific criminal justice forums during May. These events will provide an update about the work of Clinks, providing the opportunity to meet members of our area engagement team and receive information about the support we provide, including engagement opportunities with local partners, as well as a regional overview of the upcoming commissioned rehabilitative services contracts.

To find out more, read our Clinks blog on the Recommissioning of Rehabilitative Services.

CLINKS NEWS: Specialist Policy Officer - last chance to apply!

We are hiring for a Specialist Policy Officer to join our National Influencing & Networks team [£35,019, remote, full time]. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape national policy to support the voluntary sector working in criminal justice.

We are seeking someone with policy experience in criminal justice, a commitment to equity and inclusion, and the ability to produce clear, evidence-based policy to support change. The deadline for applications is [21 April, 12:00] with online interviews held on the [week commencing 28 April]. Find out more and apply now

CLINKS NEWS: RR3 seat for small organisations – apply now

Clinks is recruiting a voluntary sector representative to the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3), specifically for individuals representing small organisations (income between £10k–£100k). 

We are looking for a senior leader with experience delivering criminal justice services through small, locally based organisations, and who can support effective collaboration between the voluntary sector, Ministry of Justice and HMPPS. This is a voluntary role, but appropriate expenses will be reimbursed. The deadline for applications is [6 May, 17:00]. Find out more and apply here

MEMBER FOCUS: Prisoner Support Services 

Prisoner Support Services highlight welfare and crime entanglements by recognising an individual's needs, situations and goals. Through this recognition people can behave responsibly and contribute to society. Removing barriers and limitations will provide adequate support, enable people to mobilise their ideas, goals and move towards aspirational living. This will allow social change. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Skills Builder Impact Academy 2025

​Now accepting organisations for the Skills Builder Impact Academy 2025-26 May - July summer cohort!

Join a group of like-minded organisations in the criminal justice system that are driving their impact with essential skills. A nominated Skills Leader will access online training sessions with 1:1 support from the Skills Builder team to:

  • Earn an Impact Level accreditation and be added to the Impact Directory
  • Gain professional development and networking opportunities
  • Strengthen your impact, measure it, and build capacity.

Learn about StandOut's journey to Impact Level 4 accreditation for their Pre-release programme.

The Impact Academy is open to all organisations and is subsidised by Skills Builder's partners and funders so that the offer is based on your organisation’s turnover. Programme price:

  • Less than £500K: £370
  • £500K - £1million: £750
  • Over £1million: £1,100.

Follow this link to book an initial meeting with the Skills Builder team and find out how you could strengthen your mission with these essential skills. The deadline to apply is the end of this month [April 2025].

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENTS: A criminal justice research symposium

The Criminal Justice Alliance is hosting a criminal justice research symposium in collaboration with MetroPolis [8 May, 11:00-16:00, The Manchester Metropolitan University Business School]. The event will bring together academics, policy-makers, practitioners, and people with lived experience to explore what constitutes a 'safer' criminal justice system, and how we can work towards this vision as a sector using evidence-based research.

The day will feature workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities. Sessions will cover topics including prisons and alternative interventions, sentencing, women’s justice, victims of crime, AI in criminal justice, and fostering lived experience in research and policy. We will conclude with a policy-makers panel event reflecting on key insights from the sessions, including panelist Dr Jamie Bennett, former prison governor and Chief Operating Officer of Youth Justice Board. Book your place here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: The Times Crime and Justice Commission: urgent call for system reform

The Times has launched its Crime and Justice Commission report, the result of a year-long inquiry into the future of policing, courts, sentencing, and prisons. Chaired by journalist Rachel Sylvester, the Commission draws on evidence from over 500 experts—including chief constables, prison governors, judges, and victims.

Key takeaways:

  • Every part of the criminal justice system is under strain—policing, courts, and prisons face mounting crises
  • The report argues for treating the system as a whole, with interconnected decisions and impacts
  • It urges policymakers to move beyond rhetoric and focus on evidence-based solutions to reduce crime and reoffending
  • Technology, including AI and data tools, must be used to modernise justice and match the pace of criminal innovation.

This influential Commission follows similar projects on education and health, aiming to shape practical, long-term policy reform. Read the report here

FEATURED VACANCY: Practice Officer (Women’s Justice) 

Centre for Justice Innovation is seeking a creative, pragmatic and committed individual to join their team as a Practice Officer [£35,000, full time, London/Hybrid]. This is an exciting opportunity where the successful applicant will be actively contributing to the design and delivery of their expanding women in justice area of focus. You will primarily support their work to expand and enhance community justice for women. This means working in partnership with statutory partners such as police, probation, the judiciary and court staff, and third sector organisations including women’s centres, to support evidence-led practice. The successful applicant will be responsible for supporting the Centre's women’s problem-solving court network. Find out more and apply by 27 April here 

FEATURED VACANCY: Family Support Worker     

Ormiston Families is seeking a self-motivated professional with experience of case management of those presenting with complex challenges to join their team as a Family Support Worker [£20,704, part time, Suffolk]. As part of the nationalised Probation Service, our Probation Family Services works with ex-offenders across Suffolk & Herts providing a range of support services to help break and reduce the likelihood of the cycle of re-offending. You will manage those individuals who are under supervision of HMPPS Probation having either been sentenced to a community sentence or serving their licence conditions having been released from custody. You will be working with individuals across a spectrum of risk levels. Find out more and apply by 28 April here

FEATURED VACANCY: Young People's Circles Co-ordinator

Circles South West is seeking a suitably qualified person with experience of working with young people with harmful sexual behaviour to join their team as Dorset Young People's Circles Co-ordinator [£32,000-£38,640 pro rata, part time]. Working with public protection, social care and education partners, you will coordinate Circles of Support and Accountability, and provide one-to-one interventions for young people, enabling young people to make safe choices; better understand and take responsibility for their behaviour, engage in positive activities, improve social connections, and enhance their self-worth. You will recruit, train and supervise small groups of volunteers and co-deliver training around working with people who have harmed sexually. Flexible working is required. Find out more and apply by 2 May here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Service Manager – UR4Driving with The Upper Room [£38,000–£40,000, W12 9LN, full time]; Administrator (Women’s Services in North Yorkshire) with St Giles Trust [£22,000, York, part time]; Remand Accommodation Administrator with St Giles Trust [£23,000, HMP Leeds/Leeds Media Centre, part time]; Senior Specialist Housing IDVA with Advance [£30,000–£31,999, Hammersmith, full time]; Specialist Housing IDVA with Advance [£26,000–£32,000, Hammersmith, part time]; Community Keyworker – Hampshire with Advance [£22,000–£26,000, Portsmouth, full time]; Women’s Court Diversion Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000–£27,000, Bristol, full time]; Women’s Court Diversion Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000–£27,000, Bristol and Avon, full time]; Women’s Criminal Justice Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000–£27,000, Bridgewater, full time]; Administrator with Circles South West [£22,932, home-based, part time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

About Clinks Light Lunch

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