Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 907 | 07 November 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Complete this year's State of the Sector survey

There is still time left to complete this year's State of the Sector survey. There is a now just today [survey closes on 7 November] to ensure that your organisation's voice is heard. 

The information gathered enables us to keep advocating both with and on behalf of the voluntary sector. So please do support the work by filling out the survey!

For help completing the survey, please get in contact with Elizaveta Strelnikova - lisa.strelnikova@clinks.org

CLINKS EVENT: Demonstrate your impact

Join this NCJAA & Royal Literary Fund workshop which will show you how your organisation can demonstrate the impact of your work [13 November, 10:00 - 12:30, online, free]

  • 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: Bold Moves

Bold moves deliver community and custodial interventions focussed on parenting, criminal justice work and contact centres. The interventions are mostly single-gender group work aimed at changing behaviour. The work had included activities with family court services, criminal justice agencies and charities.

Bold Moves has a wealth of experience and employs staff who have relevant professional and life experiences and can provide a mix of learning and teaching styles to make the group work sessions enjoyable and informative. Find out more about Bold Moves: Community Interventions for Brighter Futures

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Howard League's response to new progression model

The Howard League has published a new briefing which warns that the government's proposed "earned progression" model for prison reform, as it currently stands in the Sentencing Bill, could worsen overcrowding and public safety by relying on increasing the amount of additional imprisonment days. 

Their briefing highlights concerns over fairness, lack of supervision upon release, and the risk of exacerbating injustice and inequality within the prison system. Read the full briefing here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: a practical guide to Home Detention Curfews

The number of individuals monitored with an electronic device continues to rise, 26,647 as of September 2025, a 4% increase since June. This reflects the growing use of electronic monitoring and early release measures, including Home Detention Curfew (HDC).

To support this expanding group, Recoop has produced a practical HDC Guide for staff, prisoners and families. The guide explains each stage of the HDC process, what to expect before and after release and how different monitoring conditions may apply.

Available digitally and ready to upload to in-cell technology systems. [Cost: £100 (no VAT) per establishment].

Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Birth Companions' call for evidence

There's just one week to go until Birth Companions' call for evidence on London-based services and support for pregnant women and mothers of infants under the age of two with criminal justice involvement closes. The call for evidence, which will inform the co-design of a new service, is open to any professional or agency working with pregnant women and mothers of infants in London, including: health professionals, social care professionals, voluntary and community sector agencies, and justice professionals.

The call for evidence takes the form of a survey, accessible via this link, and is open until [17:00, 17 November]. If you have any questions about the call for evidence or the co-design process, please contact zahra@birthcompanions.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: advising people who have a conviction

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 [11 November, 09:15, online, free] on how to best Identify, Support and Advocate for those who deserve another chance. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Fair, proportionate and effective court fines

Join the Centre for Justice Innovation for "Paying For Justice: How Our Court Fines System Tips The Scales" [17 November, 14:00 - 15:30, online, free] for the launch of two new reports, and a discussion on their recommendations with an expert panel, including Kevin Sadler CBE, Lucy Slade and Carmen Robin-D'Cruz.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in England and Wales are fined in the criminal courts. Last year, fines represented 75% of all sentences. Our criminal court fines system is meant to be simple and fair, ensuring people are proportionately punished for breaking the law. However, for many, these fines are not a proportionate punishment but the start of a cycle of debt, distress and deeper contact with the justice system. Drawing together three years of research, the Centre for Justice Innovation's new research reports explore what can be done to make our court fines system fairer, more proportionate and more effective. Find out more and reserve your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Mind the gap roadshow

Mind The Gap explores the reasons individuals fall through the cracks in service provision, and the next event will focus specifically on people with convictions [26 November, 10:30 - 12:00, Hirst Welfare Centre, Ashington, 26 November, free]. Practical solutions will be examined, to create positive community reintegration for those leaving prison. 

The reoffending rate is extremely high in the North East, however, among those supported by The Oswin Project and other charities, that figure drops dramatically to between 4% - 10%. It’s a compelling example of what’s possible when we take a different & creative approach.

Over 50 attendees represented are from the prison service, probation, the High Sheriff, NECA, County Council, and a wide range of VCSE organisations including Junction 42. If you would like to join, please e-mail lyn.horton@northumberlandcva.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Trauma Informed Team Management Programme 2026

Due to popular demand, One Small Thing have extended the application deadline for their Trauma Informed Team Management Programme 2026 [January - July 2026, in person and online, £800+ VAT]. On the Programme, participants will explore what it means to manage a team of people in a way that aligns with the core values and principles of trauma-informed practice.

The Programme is for managers who have line managerial responsibility for a team who support people who have experienced trauma. The Programme consists of an in-person training day in Oxford (28 January 2026) and six online Action Learning Sets (February – July 2026), providing a unique opportunity to collaborate with peers to help solve challenges faced when leading a team. Applications are open until [28 November 2025]. Find out more and register for your place here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Health, justice and the secure NHS estate

The Department of Health and Social Care published a report on the health of people in prison, on probation and in the secure NHS estate in England which highlights that they face significant health disparities, often beginning with poorer health and encountering systemic barriers to care. 

It calls for coordinated action across health and justice sectors to improve healthcare access, data sharing, and service delivery, while showcasing successful regional practices and recommending scalable solutions to address these challenges. Read the full report here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insights25 in-person events

Hurry up! Insights25 In Person Event Tickets Close on Friday 31 October. 

VIP tickets have now closed. There is still time to book your tickets for the in-person events on empowering, enabling and looking after people who work across the criminal justice sector and celebrating their important work, including:

  • wellbeing
  • positive culture
  • effective leadership
  • professional development
  • diversity and inclusion  

You can also continue to book tickets for the online events right up to 2 days before the event date during the festival period [17 - 28 November]. But don’t leave it too late as some events are selling out fast. Find out more and book here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Community Accommodation Service Tier 1 (CAS1)

Current and potential suppliers are invited to attend a market engagement webinar [26 November, 15:00 - 16:30, online free] about the ongoing development of the Community Accommodation Service Tier 1 (CAS1) also referred to as Approved Premises.

The intention is to expand capacity across England and Wales through a public procurement, potentially including full service, property-only or service-only arrangements. This will help meet growing demand, improve regional access, and support the delivery of public protection and rehabilitation outcomes.

To register for the webinar, please complete the following registration link CAS1 Market Engagement Event Webinar by [20 November].

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS: Safer London 

How do we move beyond labels like “offender” or “perpetrator” to truly see the child - their story, their needs and their potential?

Join Safer London for "Time to Listen: Seeing the Child Behind the Harm" - an online conversation exploring how we can shift narratives around children who’ve caused harm and build responses rooted in understanding, safety and compassion [13 November, 10:00 - 12:00, online, free]. The event will have guest speakers, including:

  • Nigel Broomfield, Director of Exit Hate who will discuss responses to young people who are groomed and radicalisation into far-right ideologies
  • Aika Stephenson Co-Lead, Co-Founder and Legal Director at Just for Kids Law
  • Safer London’s Positive Sexual Behaviours team who will talk about their approaches and work with young people who have displayed harmful sexual behaviours towards their peers

Find out more and register here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS: Sustaining Success: Hepatitis C elimination in England

Join The Hepatitis C Trust and the HCV Action Network for a deep dive into the future of hepatitis C elimination in England [26 November, 12:30 - 14:00, online, free].

This session will explore how we can build on the remarkable progress of the hepatitis C elimination programme to date – and what it will take to sustain success in the years ahead.

This webinar will be of particular interest to colleagues across the NHS, drug and alcohol services, criminal justice settings, public health teams and the voluntary sector - as well as commissioners, pharmaceutical industry partners, and patients. It will also be of relevance to those with an interest in tackling health inequalities and lived experience peer support models for delivery. Find out more and register here

FUNDING: Access to Justice

City Bridge Foundation are preparing to launch their 'Access to Justice' programme, the first under their new ten-year funding policy 'Standing with Londoners'. The first round in this programme is aimed at 'led by and for' organisations delivering free social welfare advice, engaging in social action work, and supporting systems change. Additional funding rounds will open next year. The full programme information will launch on [10 November], and they are hosting a webinar on [11 November, 11:15 - 12:00] to introduce the programme. Find out more

FUNDING: Ironmongers' Company

The Ironmongers' Company are open to applications to support projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential. They are looking for projects that deliver clearly defined educational benefits to a specific group of children or young people. Preference will be given to projects piloting new approaches where the outcomes will be disseminated to a wider audience. Grants range from [£3k-10k, with a deadline of 5pm 18 November]. Find out more

FUNDING: The National Lottery Community Fund

The National Lottery Community Fund have launched their new Health Equalities: Structural Racism and Discrimination Partnership. This is a £175m Community Wealth Fund that will support some of the most disadvantaged communities in England. It is not open to applicants, but will deliver targeted investment: they will allocate funding to communities with the highest level of need. Beneficiary communities will receive between £1m - £2.5m. Read about it in their blog from Chief Executive David Knott here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Charity Administrator 

Give a Book is seeking a highly organised individual to join their team as a Charity Administrator [£28,000 - £30,000 Full-time, London/Hybrid]. In this role you will be the quiet centre of our small, purposeful team - the person who ensures our projects, systems, and partnerships are efficient, coordinated, and well supported as our work continues to grow. You’ll be joining during a pivotal and exciting moment for the charity. Give a Book is a small charity sharing the pleasure and power of reading. We support and run reading initiatives in the hardest places, working mainly in prisons, with prisoner families and in disadvantaged communities around the UK. [Find out more and apply by 21 November here]. 

FEATURED VACANCY: Operations Manager 

StandOut is seeking a like-minded individual to join their team as an Operations Manager [£35,000 - £40,000 Full-time, London]. In this role you will be organised and adaptable. You will be adept at spreading yourself across multiple functions and have the right balance of assertiveness and human touch to get things done. We are looking for strong oral and written communication skills, able to lead meetings and write effectively for a wide readership. This role will suit someone with a strong interest in criminal justice. You may have experience across the usual operations functions, such as HR, facilities management and project management. Or be looking for a wider remit and leadership role. [Find out more and apply by 26 November here]. 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Substance Use Practitioner – HMP Belmarsh with Phoenix Futures [£27,722, SE28 0EB, full time]; Charity Administrator with Give A Book [£28,000 – £30,000, London, full time]; Floating Support Worker with Julian House [£27,810, South West – Exeter, Weymouth, Mendip, full time]; Supported Housing Worker – Criminal Justice with Julian House [£25,235, Taunton & Yeovil, part time]; GROW Trainee Apprenticeship with Community Led Initiatives CIC [£23,809, Bedford, full time]; Engagement & Support Worker with Community Led Initiatives CIC [£24,570, Bedford, full time]; Housing Compliance Worker with Community Led Initiatives CIC [£27,000, Bedford, full time]; Weekend Family Worker with Jigsaw Visitors’ Centre [£24,796, HMP Leeds, part time]; Team Leader with Community Led Initiatives CIC [£27,000, Milton Keynes, full time]; Trustee with HACRO [voluntary, Hertfordshire, part time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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