Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 927 | 10 April 2026

Light lunch

 

 

 

In this issue...

 

Clinks is a proud Founding Partner of the Fair Chance Business Alliance (FCBA), and we are delighted to invite organisations and employers to the launch of Unite 1K: Changing Business for Good. This bold campaign aims to mobilise at least 1,000 employers to adopt the Fair Chance Charter, supporting inclusive recruitment for people with convictions. By 2028, the talent pool of individuals with criminal records is expected to reach 10 million, representing one in four working age adults, making fair chance hiring both a social good and an economic necessity.

The launch event will take place on [28 April | 09:30 - 11:00 | Central London | Free]. RSVP here

Clinks has published a blog reflecting on the newly released impact report from the National Women’s Justice Coalition (NWJC), which marks four years of collective working across the women’s justice sector. The blog explores what the report reveals about the value of coalition approaches, including how shared evidence, coordinated advocacy and lived experience leadership can support more effective engagement with policy and commissioning. Clinks is proud to continue supporting the NWJC through the development of the Women’s Services Map and the engagement of NWJC members in Clinks’ Women’s Forum. Read the blog here, and read the full NWJC impact report here
 

Clinks’ 2026 membership renewal process is currently underway, and we are still awaiting responses from a number of organisations. Whether you are planning to renew or otherwise, a quick response helps us keep our records accurate and ensures we can continue to support the sector effectively. It only takes a few minutes to let us know either way. Find out more here

Clinks is hosting an online session with HMPPS on the recently published Risk Assessed Access for Personnel with Lived Experience of the Criminal Justice System Policy Framework [21 April | 14:00 | online | free]. The session will provide an overview of the framework, including the Lived Experience Appointment Pathway and how vetting decisions are made in practice. It will explore what this means for organisations working with people with lived experience, with time for discussion and an opportunity to ask questions. Find out more and book here

MEMBER FOCUS: CASS Plus

CASS Plus provides free, confidential, practical and emotional support for people going through court in Devon and Cornwall and beyond. Working independently of the justice system, their advisors sit alongside people at court, listen to their needs and use their knowledge and connections to find solutions to complex situations. Support covers a wide range of issues including housing, benefits, debt, mental health, domestic abuse, substance use and access to healthcare.

Founded on a model developed with American and British judges and based on an approach first trialled in Brooklyn, USA, CASS Plus is one of the longest-surviving in-court services in the UK. They work closely with magistrates, legal advisors, probation officers and other agencies, and are recognised as a model of good practice within the justice system. Find out more here

User Voice is launching The Bridge Hub, a co-created resource supporting people leaving prison and on probation. Working alongside prisons, probation services and the voluntary sector, the Hub will offer volunteering opportunities that provide structure, purpose, skills development and confidence-building for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

User Voice is looking for people leaving prison or on probation to co-run the Hub as volunteer Hub Leaders, and for London-based specialist support organisations to partner with them to ensure strong on-site signposting and support for Hub users. If you know someone who might be interested in becoming a volunteer Hub Leader, please complete the form on their website. If your organisation can offer partnership support, get in touch at info@uservoice.org and find out more here

LandWorks, the rehabilitation and resettlement charity based in South Devon, has announced the appointment of Dr Sarah Wollaston as its new Chair of Trustees. Dr Wollaston, a former GP and MP for Totnes between 2010 and 2019, has been a member of the LandWorks board since September 2020 and was unanimously appointed to the role on 8 April. She takes over from Ted Tuppen, who is standing down at the end of his permitted term as Chair.

Dr Wollaston brings extensive public service experience to the role, including chairing the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee and leading an inquiry into the state of healthcare in prisons in 2018. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER NEWS: RJ4AII Launch New Restorative Justice Policy Newsletter

Our member organisation, Restorative Justice for All, have launched their first restorative justice policy newsletter. The newsletter brings together key policy developments across the UK and globally, while highlighting their relevance to how justice can shape policy and practice. Read the full newsletter here and subscribe to future editions here.

Nacro has announced that The Princess Royal, the charity’s patron, visited Stoke-on-Trent on 27 March to formally open its new Stoke Education Centre. The visit, which took place during Nacro’s 60th anniversary year, showcased the centre’s vocational courses in construction, catering, health and social care, and life skills, which support young people who have struggled in traditional educational settings. Read more here.

St Giles Trust has welcomed recent government progress on tackling county lines and child criminal exploitation, following a Home Office announcement on gang busts and knife seizures. The organisation highlighted its frontline role in prevention, intervention and long-term support for young people affected by county lines, noting that gangs are constantly evolving and that tailored, relational support remains essential. Read more here.

Cranstoun and West Mercia Women’s Aid have been awarded a new three-year contract by Telford and Wrekin Council to continue delivering the Telford and Wrekin Domestic Abuse Service. The service provides specialist, trauma-informed support to survivors and their families, including a confidential helpline, casework support, and provision for children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER NEWS: Launches Pharmacy Naloxone Pilot in Worcestershire

Cranstoun has launched a pharmacy-based naloxone take-home pilot scheme in Worcestershire, in partnership with three local pharmacies. The scheme aims to widen access to the opioid overdose reversal drug for people at risk, including those accessing Needle Syringe Programme or Supervised Consumption services. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER NEWS: Pact to Continue Delivering the Prisoners’ Families Helpline

Pact has been awarded a new contract to continue delivering the Prisoners’ Families Helpline, a free, confidential service providing support and information to families of people in prison. The contract renewal ensures continuity of this vital resource for families navigating the criminal justice system. Read more here

Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) is hosting an event to discuss the recent report “Acquired Brain Injury: An Invisible Consequence of Domestic Abuse for Women in The Justice System.” Report authors Dr Hope Kent and Professor Stan Gilmour will be joined by Dr Annmarie Burns, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist at brain injury charity Brainkind, to explore the report’s implications. Refreshments will be served before and after the discussion. The event will take place on [18 June | London | Free]. To reserve your place, email list@prisonersadvice.org.uk 

Co-op Foundation is hosting a free webinar to share the findings of their latest research with More in Common into what people across the UK think about the use of prison for children. The session will begin with an overview of the research findings, followed by a Q&A with a panel of youth justice experts, practitioners and people with lived experience of the youth justice system, including representatives from Alliance for Youth Justice and Transform Justice. The session will take place on [15 April | 11:00 - 12:30 | Online | Free]. Book here

Centre for Justice Innovation is hosting a free webinar exploring the experiences of women in contact with the justice system who are experiencing substance use. The session will consider why women face distinct challenges when navigating addiction, treatment and the justice system, what a more effective and trauma-informed pathway could look like, and examples of best practice from research and frontline delivery. The panel includes Professor Magdalena Harris from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Emma Plant from Red Rose Recovery and Isabel Livingstone from The Women’s Centre Cornwall. The session will take place on [22 April | 10:00 - 11:30 | Online | Free]. Book here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Victims and Bereaved Get More Time to Challenge Lenient Sentences

The government has announced that the time limit for victims and bereaved family members to request a review of an unduly lenient sentence will be extended from 28 days to up to six months. A new statutory duty will also require victims to be notified of the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme and their rights under the Victims’ Code. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: New Chair Appointed to the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody

The Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor has approved the appointment of Wendy Sinclair-Gieben as the new Chair of the Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody. Read more here 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: A Growing Crisis in Custody for Mentally Unwell Prisoners

HM Inspectorate of Prisons has published a blog post highlighting the worsening crisis facing people in prison with serious mental health needs. Despite a thematic review two years ago, the inspectorate reports that the situation has deteriorated, with severely unwell individuals often waiting months for a hospital bed while being held in environments entirely unsuited to their needs. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Victims’ Commissioner Launches 2026 Victims’ Survey

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, has launched the 2026 Victims’ Survey, which aims to gather insights into victims’ experiences of crime, support services and the criminal justice system. The survey has a particular focus on reaching those who chose not to report crimes to the police. Read more here 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: PPO Launches New Fatal Incident Investigations

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has published details of several new fatal incident investigations, including investigations into deaths at various prisons and post-release settings. Read more here 

PUBLICATION: Supporting People in Criminal Justice Detention

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have published a practical brief for voluntary sector practitioners working with people in criminal justice detention. Drawing on 61 interviews with staff from 47 voluntary organisations and analysis of 172 documents, the brief examines four core areas of voluntary sector activity: accountability, participation and peer support, campaigning and policy engagement, and information provision. For each area, the brief identifies the benefits of this work, potential pitfalls, and practical recommendations to strengthen positive impacts while reducing unintended consequences for people in detention. Read the brief here

PUBLICATION: Stronger Together

The National Women’s Justice Coalition (NWJC) has published its first impact report, marking four years since the coalition was formed in 2021. The report, Stronger Together, sets out how the coalition has grown from five founding organisations to a national network of 26 partners, and highlights key achievements including contributing to the establishment of the Women’s Justice Board, shaping the Independent Sentencing Review and securing the removal of Clause 35 from the Sentencing Bill. The report also outlines the coalition’s priorities for the years ahead, including securing long-term investment for specialist women’s services and embedding lived experience leadership at a national level. Read the report here

PUBLICATION: Reframing Masculinity for Young Men and Boys

HM Inspectorate of Probation has published a new Academic Insight report exploring the importance of understanding contemporary constructions of masculinity for probation and youth justice practice. Authored by Dr Sophie King-Hill, the report argues that traditional punitive models risk exacerbating shame and reinforcing harmful norms, and advocates instead for a strengths-based and gender-informed approach. Read the report here

PUBLICATION: Indeterminate Sentences for 18-20-year-olds Nearly Double in a Decade

The Prison Reform Trust has published a new report from its Building Futures programme revealing that the number of 18-20-year-olds entering custody on indeterminate sentences has nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from 30 to 50 individuals annually. Based on consultations with 41 young adults across four prisons, the report highlights significant gaps in age-appropriate support and calls for a dedicated HMPPS policy framework for long-term young adult prisoners. Read the report here

PUBLICATION: The Number of Girls Severely Absent from School Reaches Record Levels

Agenda Alliance has published an analysis of the latest school absence statistics, revealing that 87,695 girls were severely absent from school in 2024/25, a 266% increase since 2017/18. The piece highlights significant regional and ethnic disproportionalities and links severe absenteeism to an increased risk of criminal caution or conviction in early adulthood, calling for gender-specialist, culturally-responsive support. Read more here

OPPORTUNITY: VCSE representation on Prison Employment Advisory Boards

Each prison in England & Wales has an Employment Advisory Board (EAB's), bringing together employers, VCSE organisations, prisons and local statutory agencies to strengthen links with, and improve employment opportunities for people in prison and on release. There are currently 28 prisons from across England & Wales that require EAB VCSE representation from organisations providing employment support services in a local area to attend quarterly meetings. 

If you are a VCSE organisation working in the Midlands, North East and Yorkshire and The Humber, North West, South Central, South East and East, or Wales, and are interested in providing EAB representation, you can express your interest by completing the form here

Practitioner Psychologist with Social Interest Group [£60000, CR0 1EB, part time]; Finance, Benefit and Debt Advisor with The Growth Company [£27500 to £30000, Hull & Humber, full time]; Specialist Prison & Probation Advocate with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£27000 to £29000, Ashford, part time]; Loss & Bereavement Specialist Worker with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£27000 to £32000, Ashford, part time]; Forensic Psychologist with Social Interest Group [£60000, SE11 4TQ, full time]; Community Support Worker with Trailblazers Mentoring Ltd [£26600, Buckinghamshire, part time]; Recovery Coordinator with Change, grow, live (CGL) [£27861 to £32002, HMP Liverpool, full time]; Reading Strategy Coordinator with Shannon Trust [£29264, HMP Whatton, part time]; Prison Facilitator - HMP Rochester/Cookham Wood & HMP Elmley with Shannon Trust [£29264, HMP Rochester/HMP Cookham Wood and HMP Elmley, full time]; Housing Support Worker – Greenwich & Newham with Nacro [£27807, Greenwich, full time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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