Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 930 | 1 May 2026

Light lunch

 

In this issue...

 

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has established a Special Interest Group on the effective implementation of the Sentencing Act 2026. The Group was set up to advise the Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service on the successful implementation of the Act, gathering evidence and leveraging the expertise of voluntary organisations that support people in contact with the criminal justice system. Its work will focus on post-release resettlement and support in the community, including the increased demand on voluntary services due to measures such as the Progression Model, effective support for people on Community Orders, and the role of lived experience in the delivery of resettlement support. The terms of reference have now been published and are available to download here

Joni Emery shares her reflections following a visit to HMP Foston Hall, a closed category D women’s prison in Derby. The post details her conversations with women preparing for release, highlighting their aspirations and the importance of rehabilitative support and resilience. Joni reflects on the positive action visible around the prison, including grounds work, animal care and a coffee shop, while noting the vital role of having just one or two good people to turn to for support. The blog emphasises the importance of realistic goals and determination for women navigating the justice system. Read more here

In March, Clinks were invited to contribute to the Justice Committee's inquiry on children and adults in the secure estate. In our response, we argue that youth estate is often poorly suited to the needs of children and young adults, particularly during the transition to the adult system. In addition, access to purposeful activity, education and healthcare is inconsistent and frequently restricted by staffing shortages, regime constraints and safety concerns. Read our full submission to the Justice Committee, here 

A new blog introduces the Clinks Families Network’s Memorandum of Understanding, which sets out a shared commitment to reducing the stigma faced by families of people in prison. It highlights how this hidden sentence impacts children and families, often intersecting with other forms of inequality such as poverty and race. The blog explores how stigma operates at public, internalised and structural levels, leading to social isolation and emotional distress. It calls for a collective effort across health, justice, education and the voluntary sector to change public narratives and institutional practices. Read more here

Clinks has published a new blog detailing the Welsh government's recent announcement on their commitment to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Welsh probation service. The blog considers the political context behind this announcement, the Wales Centre for Public Policy’s (WCPP’s) findings on the benefits and key considerations for the government in undertaking an MoU as well as details on His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), Welsh Ministers and the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) formal agreement and commitment to jointly produce an MoU. The blog also makes note of the views of the voluntary sector working in Wales, before outlining several key considerations and next steps.  Read more 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 working in partnership with the National Association of Voluntary Community Action (NAVCA) to offer free training for staff of local infrastructure organisations. The workshop is designed to deepen understanding of the criminal justice system and explore how local infrastructure organisations can support VCSE organisations operating within it. It will cover an overview of the criminal justice system, the impact of the Sentencing Act, police and court processes, prisons and probation, and the role of the voluntary sector. Places are limited to 20 participants, with a maximum of two per organisation. This training is exclusively for local infrastructure support organisations. The session will take place on [7 May | 09:30 - 12:30 | Online via Microsoft Teams | Free]. Register here

MEMBER FOCUS: Reflections Yorkshire CIC

Reflections Yorkshire CIC is a grassroots, community-driven organisation based in Castleford, West Yorkshire, supporting vulnerable and marginalised people who have experienced homelessness, addiction, trauma and social exclusion. Working alongside Reflections Housing Association’s 12-step recovery programme, they provide vital ongoing support after formal treatment ends, at the point when the risk of relapse is highest. Their trauma-informed, peer-led approach draws on the lived experience of their team, who understand first-hand what it means to be in crisis and to rebuild a life. Support includes mentoring, health and wellbeing provision, and personalised pathways into life skills, volunteering, education and employment. Through partnerships with local charities and recovery services, Reflections Yorkshire CIC offers wraparound care rooted in a belief in second chances and the potential of every individual to build a stable and meaningful life. Find out more here

The Howard League for Penal Reform has published a blog featuring a lecture by Lord Burnett of Maldon on the impact of sentence inflation, drawing on a recent judicial critique. It outlines how and why prison sentences have increased in recent decades, noting that the average custodial sentence length for indictable offences rose from 16 months in 2010 to 22 months by September 2025. The piece highlights the resulting financial and human costs, including severe overcrowding and a growing recall population. Lord Burnett stresses the urgent need to address this issue to move towards a more humane and effective response to crime. Read more here

Revolving Doors has responded to the Prime Minister’s recent comments on shoplifting, arguing that simply creating new offences will not solve the problem. The charity emphasises that much repeat shop theft is driven by addiction, homelessness, poor mental health and trauma. They are calling for investment in offender-to-recovery schemes rather than relying solely on the criminal justice system, noting that sending people to prison for short sentences fails to address the root causes of their behaviour. The response highlights that the public wants both robust action on crime and effective solutions to its causes. Read more here

MEAM is hosting the National Multiple Disadvantage Summit 2026, bringing together a broad multidisciplinary group working in services, commissioning and policy across homelessness, substance use, mental health, criminal justice and related sectors. This year’s theme is “Learning Curves: The Path to Systems Change”, with the day focused on deepening collaboration, exploring good practice, engaging meaningfully with people with lived experience and strengthening personal networks. The summit will take place on [12 May | 10:00 - 16:30 | Birmingham | £175]. Book here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Crime and Policing Act 2026 receives Royal Assent

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April, introducing significant changes to the law on child criminal exploitation. The Act creates three new criminal offences, including criminalising adults who coerce children into offending, home takeover or cuckooing, and internal concealment, which involves causing a child to conceal items like drugs or weapons within their body. The Children’s Society, which campaigned for these changes, welcomed the recognition of exploited children as victims rather than criminals. However, the charity highlighted the need for consistent guidance and specialist support to ensure the law works effectively in practice to protect vulnerable young people. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Victims and Courts Act 2026 becomes Law

The Victims and Courts Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 30 April, introducing a range of measures aimed at supporting victims of crime. Key provisions include introducing court orders requiring criminals to attend their sentencing hearings, and restricting the exercise of parental responsibility by offenders sentenced for serious child sexual abuse or where a child is born from rape. The Act also extends the time limit for victims to refer a sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme from 28 days to up to six months, and ensures that non-disclosure agreements cannot prevent victims from speaking out about criminal conduct. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: New Measures to Protect Women and Girls from FGM

At the government’s first dedicated Female Genital Mutilation Summit in ten years, held on 29 April, a package of new measures was announced to improve the prevention, investigation and prosecution of FGM. The Home Office will review the FGM mandatory reporting duty, and new national practice guidelines for FGM Protection Orders will be developed to identify girls at risk of being taken abroad. Additionally, the Crown Prosecution Service and National Police Chiefs’ Council will refresh their joint protocol on FGM to strengthen the criminal justice response to this form of abuse. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Government Publishes Plan to Halve Knife Crime

The government published “Protecting lives, building hope: a plan to halve knife crime” on 24 April. The plan includes a £500 million Better Futures Fund to support up to 200,000 children and families over the next ten years through place-based solutions. It also commits to launching 50 Young Futures Hubs by the end of the Parliament and investing £350 million over four years through the Better Youth Spaces Programme to refurbish and build up to 250 youth clubs and facilities. The strategy aims to tackle the root causes of youth violence through sustained investment in community infrastructure. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Safety in Custody Statistics

The Ministry of Justice published the latest Safety in Custody statistics on 30 April, covering the 12 months to March 2026. The data shows 352 deaths in prison custody, a decrease of 12% from the previous year, with self-inflicted deaths decreasing by 28% to 67. However, the number of homicides reached a record high of nine. In the 12 months to December 2025, the rate of self-harm decreased by 8%, but the rate of assaults increased by 2.7%, with serious assaults up 2.8%. INQUEST and the Howard League for Penal Reform both expressed deep concern over the record number of homicides and the continuing high levels of violence, calling for urgent action to reduce the prison population and improve safety. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Offender Management Statistics Quarterly

The latest Offender Management Statistics, published on 30 April, show that the prison population in England and Wales stood at 87,342 on 31 March 2026, representing a 1% decrease compared to the same point in 2025. The data also reveals that the number of offenders under probation supervision was 248,568 as of 31 December 2025, representing a 3% increase compared to the previous year. These figures provide important context for voluntary organisations working across the criminal justice system, highlighting the ongoing pressures on probation services despite a slight reduction in the prison population. Read more here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS OR TRAINING: Sentencing - The Future of Incarceration and Rehabilitation

Manchester Metropolitan University is hosting a free seminar examining the implications of the Sentencing Act 2026 for imprisonment and rehabilitation on [7 May | 14:00 - 16:30 | Manchester Metropolitan University | Free]. The seminar will explore the unanticipated consequences of the Act for longer-term sentences, consider alternatives to mainstream prison practices such as therapeutic environments, and examine the challenges of working in custodial settings for both staff and rehabilitation aims. It will also look beyond the prison gates to ask what effective post-release support looks like for people leaving custody. Book here

FUNDING: Women and Girls Match Fund - Big Give

Big Give’s Women and Girls Match Fund is a seven-day online match funding campaign supporting charities dedicated to serving women and girls. Successful applicants are awarded a sum of match funding which is unlocked by public donations made through Big Give’s online fundraising platform during the campaign, which runs from 6 to 13 October 2026. Last year the campaign raised £2.3 million for 217 women and girls’ charities. Organisations working with women and girls in the criminal justice system are encouraged to apply ahead of the deadline. Deadline is [19 June] Apply here

RESOURCE: Modern Slavery Response - Catch22

Produced by a consortium of leading anti-slavery organisations, a new report presents a joint strategic vision for the UK Government’s fight against modern slavery. It calls for a new legislative foundation for corporate accountability, including a mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence and Forced Labour Act. The report also advocates for a strengthened justice response to dismantle criminal networks, a survivor-centric support system that removes legal barriers to recovery, and a coherent national strategy for child exploitation. The consortium argues that the current fragmented approach fails victims and emboldens criminals. Read more here

PUBLICATION: Being Young Inside - Prison Reform Trust

The Prison Reform Trust has published a new report exploring the experiences of young adults who receive long prison sentences at a pivotal stage in their development. Drawing on in-person consultations with 41 young men serving sentences of ten years or more across four prisons in England and Wales, the report examines the initial shock of sentencing, adaptation to prison life, and the challenges of building a future while growing up in custody. The findings highlight that many young adults entering prison have already experienced significant trauma, instability and exclusion, and that custody is often experienced as a continuation of earlier institutional failures rather than a point of reset. The report calls for policy change around education and higher-level learning, mentoring and peer support, family contact, and the removal of barriers that prevent young adults from making constructive use of long sentences. Read more here

PUBLICATION: JUSTICE North Report on Justice Devolution

JUSTICE North published its first report, “Closer to Home: Principles for a Justice System Shaped by Communities,” on 30 April. The report warns that justice devolution has stalled in the North of England due to fragmented delivery and a lack of strategic support. It highlights successful locally-led initiatives, such as the Greater Manchester Integrated Rehabilitative Service and the South and West Yorkshire Resettlement Consortium, demonstrating the value of collaboration between local leaders and community organisations. The report sets out eight principles for reform, including meaningful local consultation, long-term funding and bottom-up design. Read more here

OPPORTUNITY: Research Participants Needed - Care Experienced Young Women (Professionals)

A PhD researcher at King’s College London is seeking professionals to take part in research on the quality of political representation of care-experienced young adult women in the criminal justice system. You are eligible to participate if you are aged 18 or over and work for, or have worked for, a UK grassroots organisation, non-governmental organisation or charity that in some way supports care-experienced young women in the criminal justice system. Participants will be invited to a one-to-one interview of no longer than 60 minutes, conducted online or in person, which will be audio-recorded and fully anonymised. The study has received ethical approval from King’s College London (Ethics Reference: HR-24/25-48843).

To find out more or to take part, email jana.l.konle@kcl.ac.uk

OPPORTUNITY: Research Participants Needed - Care Experienced Young Women (Lived Experience)

A PhD researcher at King’s College London is seeking young adult women with lived experience of both the care system and the criminal justice system to take part in research on political representation. You are eligible to participate if you are aged 18 to 35, identify as a woman, have experience of the care system and the criminal justice system between the ages of 18 and 25, are not currently on trial, and are not currently on probation. Participants will be invited to a one-to-one interview of no longer than 60 minutes, conducted online or in person, and will receive a £15 voucher for their time. Responses will be audio-recorded and fully anonymised. The study has received ethical approval from King’s College London (Ethics Reference: HR-24/25-48843).

To find out more or to take part, email jana.l.konle@kcl.ac.uk or text 07894474169.

Night Support Worker with Social Interest Group [£28800, RM3 7PL, full time]; Residential Counsellor (Female) with The Nelson Trust [£28000, Stroud, full time]; Community Employment Adviser with Achieve [£27015 to £30607, OL1 2JG, full time]; Specialist Education Training and Employment Caseworker with St Giles Trust [£28719, Camberwell, full time]; Wellbeing Key Worker with The Growth Company [£27500, Cumbria, full time]; Wellbeing Key Worker with The Growth Company [£27500, Lancashire, full time]; IAG Advisor - in Custody with The Growth Company [£28000, HMP Forest Bank, full time]; IAG Advisor - in Custody with The Growth Company [£28000, HMP Stafford, full time]; Community Peer Mentor - Wales Accommodation Service with The Forward Trust [Across Dyfed Powys, Gwent and South Wales, part time]; Housing Interventions Officer - Custody Based - HMP Parc with The Forward Trust [£26339.00, HMP Parc, Bridgend, full time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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