Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 880 | 09 May 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Influencing criminal justice policy in Wales

In our latest blog, Clinks' Senior Development Officer for Wales, Bryn Hall, explains our work influencing government policy in Wales. Bryn highlights ongoing work with the Criminal Justice Board for Wales, the role of Tammi Owen as the RR3 seat holder for Wales, and the role our members play in informing our influencing work. Read the blog here

MEMBER FOCUS: Coaching Inside and Out (CIAO)

Founded in 2010, Coaching Inside and Out (CIAO) pioneered the use of high-quality coaching in prisons, and continues to lead the field. CIAO’s coaches work in some of the most challenging settings, including with people in custody, men in the community and even 11-year-old children in schools. CIAO makes a transformative impact on people’s lives. 

The charity seeks exceptional coaches - curious, supportive, challenging individuals - who are passionate about helping people change their own lives. CIAO particularly welcomes interest from those who bring diversity or personal experience of the criminal justice system. 

Behind the scenes, the support team includes:

  • Clare McGregor, Founder – a Cambridge graduate with 30 years of experience across health, justice and social inclusion.
  • Lisa Jenkins, Head of Business Support – oversees operations and brings extensive experience from education and housing sectors.

Learn more and reach out to Coaching Inside and Out (CIAO) 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Recommissioning of Rehabilitatitive Services for Women

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will be running a market engagement event on [22 May, 10:00–12:00, online, free] to gather your input into the design of the future rehabilitative services for women in prison or under probation supervision.

At a high level, this market engagement event shall aim to provide information on the context of the design activity, including strategic aims. The MoJ will then be seeking your input into the following:

  1. High-level service design principles that will shape future services, including the rehabilitative needs it aims to address
  2. Initial thinking on specific aspects of the future services, and how to best address the above rehabilitative needs.

The MoJ endeavour to share all materials and a survey after the event with attendees and look forward to your participation and collaboration, working together to shape the future services and ensure they are impactful. 

Please note that this event will take place on Microsoft Teams only. You can register via this link 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Professional Standards Review

A review by Jennifer Rademaker highlights serious concerns about bullying, harassment and discrimination (BHD) across His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). The report found 12% of staff experienced BHD in the last year, above the civil service average. Many staff fear reporting incidents due to poor handling and lack of trust.

HMPPS has accepted all 12 recommendations, including creating a new independent complaints unit and appointing an Independent Commissioner for professional standards. Read the HMPPS Professional Standards Review here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Offender engagement in the Arts grant

The MoJ is publishing a market engagement questionnaire on the Jaggaer portal for the Offender Engagement in the Arts Grant funded provision at [10:00, 12 May, until 17:00, 26 May]. The reference to search for the questionnaire is PQQ_483 on the Jaggaer portal and will be published at 10:00.

If you are not registered on Jaggaer, follow this link and find the ‘Click here to register’ icon. 

FUNDING: Racial Equity Programme

The Lloyds Bank Foundation are open to applications for their Racial Equity Programme. This programme is for small local charities and CICs which are led by and working with people who are experiencing economic inequity because of their race or ethnicity. Under this programme the Lloyds Bank Foundation will support charities to strengthen their capacity and capabilities and become more resilient through a range of tailored development support offers, alongside a three-year unrestricted grant of £75,000. The closing date for applications is 29 May. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: 50 years of performance and prison

'Taking Stock of The Field: 50 Years of Performance and Prison' [16 & 17 June, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Manchester, M13 9PL, free], is a gathering of practitioners, scholars, prison staff, and people with lived experience of the criminal justice system to reflect on the practices, politics and practicalities of making performance in the criminal justice system over the last 50 years in Britain. Looking to the past will be valuable for those who will shape the future of the field. In particular the event will focus on:

• The changing landscape of theatre and criminal justice
• The relationship between the academy and artistic practice in this field
• New approaches and orthodoxies in arts and criminal justice
• Public understandings of performance in carceral contexts
• The next fifty years of performance in prisons.

Follow this link for more info and to book your place

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: #SheMatters Women's Criminal Justice Conference

Join Imago Dei for '#SheMatters, the Women's Criminal Justice Conference 2025' [12 September, 10:00, St John’s Church, Waterloo, £50 or two tickets also for £50]. This will be a day of empowering discussions and networking opportunities. This event is dedicated to highlighting the unique challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system (CJS). From inspiring keynote speakers to exhibitors within the CJS, #SheMatters aims to spark change and advocate for a more equitable justice system. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Frontline Advisors

Clinks members are on the frontline of mentoring socially excluded people, many of whom will have criminal record. It will not always be obvious who has a conviction and the specialist support they can access when identified. If you are new to the criminal justice sector or want a refresher, join OffPloy's upcoming course [13 May, 09:15-10:00, online, free] on how to best identify, support and advocate for those who deserve another chance. Register here 

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Training for you and your staff

See below for the latest training opportunities from Society Matters CIC:

  • The Welfare Benefit System - [3 June, 10.00-14.30, online, £79 + VAT]
  • Getting to Grips with Universal Credit (an intro) - [5 June, 10.00-15.00, online, £79 + VAT]
  • Getting to Grips with Personal Independence Payment - [10 June, 10.00-15.00, online, £79 + VAT]
  • Managed Migration to Universal Credit - [11 June, 13.00-16.00, online, £79 + VAT]
  • Carer and Caring Matters - [12 June, 10.00-15.00, online, £79 + VAT]
  • Prisoners and Welfare Benefits - [17 June, 10.00-16.00, online, £79 + VAT]
  • Understanding Immigration and Benefits (advanced) - [19 June, 10.00-16.00, online, £79 + VAT]
  • Challenging Welfare Decisions (advanced) - [24 June, 09.00-16.00, online, £139 + VAT].

Book your place here

RESOURCE: Reframing Justice Toolkit 

After two years of collaboration, the Law Society and FrameWorks UK have launched the Reframing Justice Toolkit - a practical set of five tools to help change how the public understands the rule of law and access to justice.

Amid funding cuts and harmful narratives, this toolkit offers an evidence-based approach to build support for a fair and equal justice system. It is designed for advocates and communicators across the legal and justice fields. Explore the toolkit here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Wellbeing & Activities Worker with Age UK North Tyneside [£26,830–£29,477, North East Region (prisons in Northumberland and Durham), part time]; Volunteer Tech Intern with Beating Time [voluntary, London/remote, part time]; Intervention Worker with Hestia Housing & Support [£14,041, Islington, part time]; Intervention Officer with Hestia Housing & Support [£35,079, Streatham, full time]; Project Worker – Women’s Turnaround Wales with PSS Turnaround Project [£26,742, North Wales, part time]; Justice Case Worker with The Growth Company [£29,000, Blackpool, full time]; Trustee with Prison Reform Trust [voluntary, London/Hybrid, part time]; Finance Manager (part time) with The Irene Taylor Trust [£57,500 FTE, hybrid (London), part time]; Treasurer with Prison Reform Trust [voluntary, London – hybrid, part time]; IRS Wellbeing Service Senior Coordinator with Back on Track [£33,986 – £37,517, Manchester, full time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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