Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 901 | 03 October 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks Trustee Opportunity 

Are you passionate about the power of the voluntary sector to change the lives of those impacted by the criminal justice system? Do you want to use your skills and experience to help shape the future of Clinks? Clinks is delighted to be recruiting committed individuals to join our Board of Trustees.

You will be a part of a dedicated team guiding Clinks’ strategy, governance and impact at a time when our work is needed more than ever. To ensure we have a range of perspectives and skills within our Board, we are particularly interested in hearing from people with knowledge or representation of Arts organisations, and/or of Welsh organisations operating within criminal justice. We are open to Trustees with a wide set of skills and experience; especially knowledge of digital, fundraising, business development and acumen, HR and employment law, and exposure to infrastructure support. [Find out more and apply here by 3 November] 

CLINKS NEWS: Welsh Justice data

The Ministry of Justice and His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have published Welsh justice data on their website. This is great news! Having disaggregated Welsh justice data is something that Clinks has been advocating for some time.

Having this data will be of great benefit to organisations working in Wales as it will help identify need. The data will also help to scrutinise Welsh justice policy and give us an accurate picture of how the Welsh justice system is operating. Huge credit must go to Dr Robert Jones of the Wales Governance Centre at the University of Cardiff for his longstanding work on shinning a light on the need to have a consistent Welsh criminal justice data set. Find out more

MEMBER FOCUS: Women's Community Matters

Women's Community Matters wants to make a positive difference to the lives of women, young girls aged 11 and above and young men aged 11-19 in the Barrow area. They want to help in all ways they can, creating a strong resource for women and young people in crisis and those who are vulnerable and at risk.

The service strives to create an atmosphere of empowerment and self-development, removing obstacles and dealing with issues together. The people who benefit from the centre can then play a key role in shaping Women’s Community Matters future and participating in its operation as volunteers, trustees and members. Find out more 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Assessing Inquiry Recommendations

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies’ has uploaded their latest publication as part of the working paper series. In this publication "Assessing Inquiry Recommendations: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Case Study"  Mike Lauder argues that, if the purpose of inquiries is to learn and prevent, then all recommendations should be scrutinised before they are endorsed and implemented – much in the same way that academic work is peer reviewed. In this paper, he proposes a method that could be used to assess inquiry recommendations and trials its application using the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) as a case study.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: The Pains of Progression

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) have published a report "The Pains of Progression", produced for the Building Futures programme, which reviews the progression system for long-term prisoners in Scottish prisons, focusing on HMP Glenochil. ​

Drawing on surveys and focus groups with prisoners, the report reveals systemic delays, poor communication, and a lack of transparency in the sentence progression process—leaving many feeling forgotten and hopeless. It calls for a fairer, more accountable system that fosters personal development, sustains hope, and ensures timely progression through the prison system towards release. Read the report

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Advising people with criminal records

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 our upcoming course on how to best Identify, Support and Advocate for those who deserve another chance [14 October | 9:15-10:00 | online | free]. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Spotlight series: Employment, Education and Training

This webinar is hosted by The Welcome Directory and joined by expert guest speakers to increase your understanding of the importance of the employment, education and training journey for a person leaving prison and how you can effectively signpost and offer appropriate support [14 October | 19:30- 21:00 | online | donation].

You will explore community focused solutions and be part of dismantling the stigma and discrimination faced by the prison leaver community. 

Each webinar is led by a variety of expert guest speakers from organisations, prison chaplaincy, members of faith or belief communities and those with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Find out more and register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: The Role of Food in Rehabilitation

Academy seminar - The Role of Food in Rehabilitation and Resettlement: Good Food and Good Lives [13 November | 16:00 | online | free]. Kevin Wong and Dr Julie Parsons will explore the role of food in enabling people with convictions to live a “good life”.

Drawing on their own research and others, captured in a newly edited book, they will demonstrate how growing food, cooking and eating together has the potential to be both transformative and small steps incremental in facilitating the desistance journeys of people with convictions.

Speaker profiles:
Kevin Wong | Reader in Community Justice and Associate Director | Reader in Community Justice and Associate Director | Policy Evaluation and Research Unit | Manchester Metropolitan University and Dr Julie Parsons | Associate Professor in Sociology and Criminology | University of Plymouth. Register for the free seminar here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Extra funding for courts to deliver speedier justice for victims

The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, David Lammy, announced funding for an additional 1,250 Crown Court sitting days this financial year, bringing the total to a record 111,250 days.

The measure is part of the Government’s Plan for Change to tackle the Crown Court backlog, which currently stands at 78,329 cases, with many victims waiting three to four years for trials. The additional days aim to ensure more cases are heard, speeding up justice for victims and holding offenders to account.

While this investment will provide short-term relief, the Government acknowledges that major reform is required. An Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, is underway and will inform longer-term changes to improve efficiency and restore public confidence in the justice system. Read the press release here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENT: Bad Lads

A new play written by Mike Kenny, "Bad Lads", has been created from a story by Jimmy Coffey and the testimonies of the other Medomsley boys. Directed by Jenny Sealey. A Graeae production in association with Live Theatre. [Touring the UK from 2 October - 15 November]

A story of oppression and resilience.

Bad Lads tells the gripping and devastating true story of the boys held at Medomsley Youth Detention Centre in County Durham in the 1980s. Sold to the public as a “short, sharp shock” for wayward youth, the reality hid something much darker. Find out more and book here

FUNDING: New strategy for Rosa's Fund

Rosa's Fund has launched its new 3-year strategy which will see them continue their mission to fund and champion the UK's women and girls sector. Enabling it to thrive with resilience and sustainability in uncertain times. Their new strategy 'Creating Lasting Change for Women and Girls' is an ambitious plan that builds on 17 years of learning and action. They have worked with funders, partners and the organisations that make up the women and girls sector, to create a vision for the sector that is better funder, more resilient and more sustainable. Their new theory of change is a clear action plan for achieving this - it identifies the problems the sector faces, how they can address them, and the changes Rosa seeks to make. Find out more

FEATURED VACANCY: Senior Practitioner 

Ormiston Families is seeking a dedicated individual to join their team as a Senior Practitioner [£25,880 Full-time, Norfolk]. Your role will be to provide outcome-based support designed to address the needs of children, young people with a parent/carer or close family member in prison who may feel isolated or excluded in their home and community, ensuring that these programmes meet individual need and further the aims of Ormiston Families.

You will carry out initial assessments with parents/carers and partner agencies following referrals and identify and agree individual outcomes for children and young people. You will need to be organised and self-motivated and have a passion for improving the outcomes for children/young people. [Find out more and apply by 10th October here]. 

FEATURED VACANCY: Outreach Worker 

Elizabeth Fry Charity is seeking a dedicated individual to join their team as an Outreach Worker [£29,417 - £33,755, Part-time, Reading]. You will support residents both prior to their move on and for up to six months post move on. The aim is to support them living independently, with practical matters and signposting to additional support services within the community. The proposed working pattern is Monday – Friday, 1pm – 5pm, but alternative working arrangements can be considered. Elizabeth Fry Charity runs a Ministry of Justice Approved Premises in Reading, accommodating up to 24 women. They strive to be an excellent provider of accommodation and support for women in the criminal justice system. [Find out more and apply by 15th October here]. 

FEATURED VACANCY: Head of Practice, Quality & Development 

One Small Thing is seeking a reflective leader to join their team as Head of Practice, Quality & Development [£50,000 - £55,000, Full-time, Hampshire]. You will play a key leadership role at Hope Street, supporting the growth, quality and effectiveness of our trauma-informed residential community for justice-involved women and their children. 

You will contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of services and support strategic planning, service development and quality assurance processes, ensuring the operational model remains responsive to the needs of the women and children One Small Thing supports. You will provide reflective leadership to key members of the team, modelling trauma-informed and responsive practice. [Find out more and apply by 27th October here]. 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Liaison and Diversion Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000 – £27,000, Bridgwater, part time]; Outreach Worker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000 – £27,000, Gloucester, full time]; Women’s Criminal Justice Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000 – £27,000, Bridgwater, full time]; Accommodation Keyworker (Female) with The Nelson Trust [£25,000 – £27,000, Gloucestershire, Avon & Somerset, Wiltshire, full time]; Senior Practitioner with Phoenix Futures [£27,835, N7 8TT, full time]; Prison to Community Recovery Practitioner (Female) with The Nelson Trust [£25,000 – £27,000, Gloucester, part time]; Specialist Caseworker – Emergency Department with St Giles Trust [£30,000, Harrow HA1 3UJ and surrounding areas, full time]; Criminal Justice Keyworker with The Nelson Trust [£25,000 – £27,000, Bristol, full time]; Criminal Justice Keyworker (Maternity Cover) with The Nelson Trust [£25,000 – £27,000, Swindon, full time]; Head of Practice, Quality & Development with One Small Thing [£50,000 – £55,000, Southampton, full time].

EXAMPLE JOB with Example organisation [£24,000, London, full time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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