Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 903 | 17 October 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Annual Conference - save the date

Clinks is delighted to announce that our Annual Conference 'Stronger Together: Celebrating Community, Championing Progress' will take place on [28 January 2026 at Conway Hall in London].

Please save the date! We look forward to celebrating our sector with you. Keep an eye out for Clinks' socials, website updates and future editions of Light Lunch for details and further information. 

CLINKS NEWS: State of the Sector - have your say

We are continuing to call on all voluntary organisations to make their voices heard, through contributing to State of the Sector 2025. The information gathered is genuinely vital in enabling us to keep advocating both for and with the sector. 

Please complete this year's survey [closing at 17.00 on 7 November].

We will be offering 5 places at our annual conference and 5 training places to randomly selected survey respondents (if you want to be considered for the free tickets and training places, please share your email address in the specific question on this at the end of the survey).

For any questions or for assistance filling out the survey, please contact our Specialist Policy Officer, Elizaveta Strelnikova - lisa.strelnikova@clinks.org 

CLINKS NEWS: Vetting update

We have published a letter from Phil Copple (CEO, HMPPS), sent to us, last week, while Phil was still in post. It provides an update on the new framework for the vetting of people with lived experience.

The letter contains information on: the new Lived Experience Appointment Pathway, which will replace Standard Plus; sets out how there will be case-by-case consideration of risk factors in individual cases, when an excluded offence is not present; and details the removal of the fixed timeframe on time passed since offending. 

We are aware of ongoing concerns from the sector regarding vetting-related challenges, particularly concerning the length of time that the process is taking.  Please do reach out to our Director of National Influencing & Networks, Sam Julius, with any concerns or queries - sam.julius@clinks.org

Read Phil Copple's letter on the new vetting framework.

CLINKS NEWS: New Blog: Women, self-harm, and the justice pathway

Read the latest Clinks blog "Women, Self-Harm, and the Justice Pathway. Why We Must Look Beyond Prison Walls". 

Self-harm among women in prison remains one of the most urgent challenges facing the justice system, yet far too little is known about what happens before custody. In this new blog, Clinks explores a new research project with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Health and Wellbeing Alliance to understand how women’s distress builds across the justice pathway, and where opportunities for early, health-based intervention are being missed.

Read the blog here. If any members are interested in getting involved, please e-mail leanne.jeffery@clinks.org 

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: Demonstrate Your Impact - workshop

Join NCJAA and the Royal Literary Fund for a transformative workshop on how you can "Demonstrate Your Impact" [13 November, 10:00 - 12:30, online, free]. Are you a charity or community group professional looking to communicate your organisation’s impact effectively? This workshop is designed to empower you to articulate the real difference your work makes. Workshop Highlights: 

  •   Understand Impact: Explore what impact means for your organisation and why it matters to beneficiaries, funders and supporters. 
  • Structured Approach: Learn to identify key information needed to demonstrate impact and translate evaluation data into compelling narratives. 
  • Interactive Exercises: Participate in writing exercises and group discussions to improve your storytelling skills. 

Find out more and book your place here

MEMBER FOCUS: thrivin' together cic

thrivin’ together cic is a woman-led, lived-experience organisation dedicated to supporting women impacted by their own or someone else's gambling. Founded by women with personal experience, thrivin’ together’s mission is to offer “choice, voice and change” for women across the UK.

This means creating a safe space where women can seek help without stigma, make informed choices, and actively shape the services they receive. The organisation operates on principles of co-production and lived experience, ensuring that women who have lived through gambling harm are at the heart of designing and delivering support programs. thrivin’ together provides advice, peer support, referrals, and opportunities for women to rebuild confidence, connect with others, and ultimately thrive both as individuals and as a community. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER'S Event: Action For Race Equality 

Join Action for Race Equality (ARE) on the 7th of November for an online event exploring ethnic inequalities in the criminal justice system through new research findings, engaging panel discussions and interactive workshops. The event hosted by ARE and CLINKS will bring together researchers, practitioners, and community voices to discuss how ethnic disparities persist and accumulate across the justice system and co-create solutions to address them.

Register here. 

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Anonymous Drama

Join the showcase - Anonymous Drama: Unseen Stories. Lasting Change 

The current recovery group module has concluded and the group will be showcasing a mix of recovery themed sketches, monologues and spoken word for a live audience. These events are always inspiring and insightful and include a post performance Q&A/discussion  [24 October, 19:00, The Met Theatre Bury Greater Manchester £7].

Over 5000 participants have taken part in the 'Anonymous Drama' program since 2016.

The work is like 'drama-therapy' for people who usually have no interest in drama. Mostly the program has been delivered in justice and recovery settings so prisons, community sentences, residential rehab, community rehab. A probation group is starting in Greater Manchester. Find out more and book your tickets here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Gypsies and Travellers in the CJS

Join Friends, Families and Travellers for a one-hour webinar introducing the main issues and barriers for Gypsies and Travellers in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) [13 November, 12:00 - 13:00, online, £40 – £50]. The webinar will introduce: 

  • A brief historical overview of Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller cultures.
  • Social attitudes, stigma and inequalities affecting these groups.
  • Main barriers and issues within the CJS.
  • Practical recommendations for supporting community members.

The session includes interactive polls and a short Q&A for your reflections. The first 10 tickets will be offered at an early bird rate of £40; General admission £50. Receive a group discount for bookings of 5 or more. Book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Ending Rough Sleeping in Brent

Ending Rough Sleeping in Brent: Partnership and Data-Driven Solutions [19 November, 16:00, online, free] will explore how statutory, commissioned, and non-commissioned services across the London Borough of Brent are collaborating to end homelessness for rough sleepers. Find out more and register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Upcoming grant opportunity

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is running a tendering exercise to re-let the "Advice and Support for Those Released from Custody Following a Miscarriage of Justice Strategic Grant" (reference ITT_9898).

Applications must be made via the Jaggaer portal. Applications shall not be accepted via any other route.

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

The Invitation to Tender reference is ITT_9898 and will be published at some point during week commencing 27 October 2025 on the Ministry of Justice eSourcing Portal, Jaggaer. The competition will close [20 November at 10:00].

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please e-mail MoJCommercialReset@justice.gov.uk and include in the subject line "FAO Karen Bradbury".

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insights25 VIP Tickets

Hurry!  Insights25 VIP Tickets Close at [Midday 24 October]. 

24 October is the last day you can apply for VIP events as part of Insights25.  Don't miss out - visit the Insights website to apply for your chance for exclusive, exciting and unique opportunities including: 

  • immersive experiences 
  • shadowing opportunities with senior leaders and frontline practitioners
  • meet and greet/coffee and chat, mentoring and coaching from senior leaders
  • exclusive behind the scenes access 

Tickets will be randomly allocated by ballot and the lucky VIP ticket winners will be informed by 29 October. Good luck! Tickets for in-person events remain available until [31 October] online events remain available right up to 2 days before the event date. Visit the Insights website to book your tickets 

OPPORTUNITY: Mothers who have experienced the criminal justice system

Project Cameo has launched and seeks to speak with mothers who have experienced the criminal justice system. The research aims to understand the experiences and needs of mothers awaiting trial and identify supports families require before sentencing. Please consider sharing this study with any mothers connected to your organization who might want to share their story. Participation involves a one-hour online interview with flexible scheduling on weekdays, evenings, and weekends. [All eligible participants will receive a £25 digital gift voucher upon completion]. For more details, to apply, or to ask questions, please visit the project website.

FEATURED VACANCY: StandOut Community Coach 

StandOut is seeking a dynamic individual to join their team as a Community Coach [£27,500 - £30,000, Full-time, London]. You will provide support to people who have completed our course in prison and are now working to find the stability they need to realise their potential, achieve their goals and rebuild their lives after prison. You will draw on your experiences and creativity and working with our other Community Coaches to trial new approaches. This role would be ideal for someone with a good understanding of the challenges faced by those caught up in the criminal justice system. Although advertised as a full-time position, they welcome discussions about flexi and part-time working. [Find out more and apply by 22nd October here]. 

FEATURED VACANCY: Family Support Worker 

Ormiston Families is seeking an experienced individual to join their team as a Family Support Worker [£22,932 Part-time, Suffolk]. You will work within the visitors’ centre at HMP Highpoint providing a personal welcome for first-time and returning visitors. You will provide effective and efficient running of the Visitor Centre, Tea Bar, Play Area in the Prison Visits Hall ensuring prisoners and their families have a valuable visiting experience. You will have experience of dealing in a customer service-based role and demonstrate excellent communication and problem-solving skills sometimes under challenging circumstances with a non-judgemental and empathetic work ethic. Experience of providing play activities for children of a range of ages is essential. [Find out more and apply by 31st October here]. 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Neurodiversity Support Worker (Ref: NEW-251) with St Giles Trust [£26,000, Camberwell, part time]; Family Support Worker – Prisoner Family Services – HMP Highpoint with Ormiston Families [£22,932, HMP Highpoint, part time]; Senior Specialist Support Worker – 25/58 with Imagine Independence [£27,789, Burnley (Lancashire), full time]; Visits Centre Assistant with Pact [£23,810, HMP Ranby, part time]; Family Engagement Manager with Pact [£28,875, HMP Bristol, part time]; Family Engagement Manager (Scale 2) with Pact [£28,875, HMP Leyhill, part time]; Finance, Benefit and Debt Mentor with The Wise Group [£25,664, North East England, full time]; Part Time Support RSAP Worker with Nacro [£30,499, London & South East, part time]; Trustee with Shannon Trust [Remote, voluntary, part time]; Link Worker (Female only) with St Giles Trust [£24,000, Gt Yarmouth & East Norfolk, part time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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