Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 931 | 8 May 2026

Light lunch


In this issue...

Clinks have published a new briefing ahead of the Senedd elections, outlining the views of the voluntary criminal justice sector working in Wales on the future of the Welsh probation service. This blog highlights the sector's view that the next Welsh Government should prioritise anti-racism, youth justice, women’s support, families, neurodiversity, probation reform, fair commissioning and access to housing on release. This blog also considers what Clinks can do to support the voluntary sector following the elections as well as next steps. Read more here.

Clinks are hosting a three-hour training session for voluntary sector staff and volunteers to raise awareness of the prison environment and provide information on key aspects such as staffing structures and departments, prison procedures and current challenges associated with working in prisons. The session will explore ways in which voluntary sector staff can have meaningful and professional engagement with prisons operationally, as well as ensuring safety and responsible ways of working are understood and prioritised. The session will take place on [Thursday 25 June 2026 | 10:00 - 13:00 | online | from £95]. Register here.

MEMBER FOCUS: YMCA Wirral

YMCA Wirral is a homeless prevention, support and accommodation service based in Birkenhead, serving all communities across the Wirral. Their main site at Whetstone Lane houses an award-winning 56 en-suite study bedroom building, providing a range of accommodation options for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Each year, YMCA Wirral supports many people who are at risk, including those with mental health, drug or alcohol problems, ex-offenders and rough sleepers, helping them to progress towards sustainable independent living. The organisation works in close partnership with a range of agencies across Greater Merseyside, including Local Authority Housing and Homelessness teams, Drug and Alcohol Recovery Services, Probation, Mental Health services and the Police. Find out more here

Revolving Doors argue that the sharp rise in prison recalls is largely driven by people being set up to fail, through unstable housing, lack of support, and inflexible probation rules, rather than new offending. Their new blog calls for a more compassionate, coordinated approach focused on meeting people’s needs, especially housing and peer support, so supervision supports rehabilitation instead of perpetuating cycles of release and recall. Read more here.

The Alliance for Youth Justice have published their response to the latest Justice Select Committee inquiry into children and young adults in the secure estate. Their response sets out serious concerns about safety, welfare and rehabilitation in custody, and highlights how far current provision is from meeting children’s rights and needs. Read more here.

Agenda Alliance have published a blog arguing that the persistently high levels of self-harm in women’s prisons point to a continuing crisis in the provision of mental health support for women in custody. In their blog, they examine the latest Safety in Custody data which highlights a number of troubling trends, as well as specific groups within the women’s estate that are disproportionately affected. Read more here.

Catch22 have published their response to the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on a new Victims’ Code. Drawing on data and insights from their frontline services, the experiences of the victims and children they work with, and their wider expertise in trauma-informed practice across justice, education, youth provision, and safeguarding, they broadly welcome the direction of the Government’s proposals and offer critical insights on key concerns and proposed next steps. Read more here.

The Ministry of Justice’s Justice Data Lab published a report at the end of last week following an analysis of the charity LandWorks. Based on an analysis of 90 men who have been on placement with LandWorks, the report identified a statistically significant 8 point or 38% reduction in the one-year reoffending rate. 

The JDL report and official response from LandWorks can be viewed here.

A news story on the LandWorks website can be viewed here.

Friends, Families and Travellers are hosting a listening and networking even on translating Gypsy and Traveller voices into practice. This event explores how Gypsy and Traveller communities experience some of the poorest health outcomes in the UK due to systemic barriers, with engagement often only happening at a crisis point. By creating space for relationship-building and shared learning, this event aims to strengthen referral pathways and enable more effective wrap-around support for those in Sussex. This event will take place on [Friday 3 July 2026 | 10:00 - 15:00 | Brighton and Hove | £20]. Register here.

Join Why Me? for a forum discussion on ReHub and the next steps for working restoratively in prisons. During this event, they will share the latest news from the ReHub review, updates from their conversations with the Government and their next steps. They will also be gathering the sector's thoughts on how any proposed changes will impact your work. Sign up today to be the first to hear what is coming up and how you can be a part of the next steps. This event will take place on [Thursday 21 May 2026 | 13:00 - 14:00 | online | free]. Register here.

Nepacs has published their annual calendar of virtual training for 2026. The Nepacs training - delivered via Zoom - addresses the often-overlooked trauma, stigma, and practical difficulties faced by families impacted by the justice and care systems. Read more here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Exploring the feasibility of a survey measuring child abuse

The Office for National Statistics has published a progress update on the feasibility of a survey to measure the prevalence of child abuse. Read more here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Combatting new forms of extremism

The Home Affairs Committee has published the seventh report of Session 2024-26 on combatting new forms of extremism. This report argues that while long-standing threats such as Islamist extremism and right-wing extremism persist, new trends in extremism are emerging, including children and young adults being drawn into extremism, hybridised and conflicted ideological belief systems, and an over-representation of neurodiverse individuals and those with mental health conditions in referrals to the government’s counter-terrorism Prevent programme. Read more here.

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS OR TRAINING: Creative Research for Effective Evidence

The University of Greenwich is hosting a two-day Critical Creative Methods Lab [Monday 29 June 2026 to Tuesday 30 June 2026 | up to £16.96], which aims to open up useful conversations between academics and voluntary sector practitioners, designed to answer questions like:

  • What does meaningful and effective knowledge exchange look like?
  • How can we co-produce it? 
  • What are the barriers?
  • What are the bridges?

There will be hands-on, practically-focused workshops, facilitated by leading experts from both practice and academia. Each session will give you a research method to try out (collage, participatory action research, photovoice), along with space to reflect and discuss with others what research means to you and your organisation. Day 1 (29 June 2026) will focus on creative methods for knowledge exchange between voluntary sector and academia, and day 2 (30 June 2026) will focus on theory-driven critical creative research methods. Book your place, here.

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS OR TRAINING: Market Engagement Drop‑In Session – Women’s Community Support Services

Following the release of the Market Informing Document, the Ministry of Justice are pleased to invite you to a Microsoft Teams webinar drop‑in session. This session is designed to provide organisations with an opportunity to ask questions, seek clarification and engage in open discussion regarding the areas covered in the document.

During the session, attendees are welcome to raise questions on the following topics:

  1. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
  2. Mobilisation
  3. TUPE

This will be an informal, drop‑in style webinar, and you may join at any point during the scheduled time. The event will take place on [Thursday 11 June 2026 | 10:00-11:00 | online | free]. Register here.

FUNDING: Five new funds from the Henry Smith Foundation

The Henry Smith Foundation have announced that they will have five new funds opening between May and July 2026. These funds address different people at different moments, but each one starts from the same belief: the moment someone gets the right support shapes everything that follows. 

One of these funds, the Equity Justice fund, opens on [24 June 2026]. The Henry Smith Foundation will make up to thirteen grants, at least half to organisations led by and for the communities they serve. More details on each of their funds are available, here.  

RESOURCE: Brand new practical, inclusive guidance to help you make better hiring decisions - Working Chance

Working Chance has reissued Hiring With Conviction, which is a practical guide designed to help you improve how you recruit people with convictions ethically, safely and effectively. It gives clear, up-to-date advice that you can implement straight away to make a real difference to outcomes.

As well as bringing all the advice up to date, Working Chance has added insights from a wider range of employers who are embracing inclusive hiring. What unites these organisations - large and small, across multiple sectors – is a commitment to recognising what people have to offer, avoiding bias, and taking a sensible and proportionate approach to risk. Read more here.

PUBLICATION: Still I Rise magazine - Women In Prison

Women In Prison have published the Spring 2026 edition of their 'Still I Rise' magazine. The focus of this edition is on providing information, advice, and support to women in the women’s prison estate and in the community through their women’s centres and beyond, particularly around resettlement, housing and post-custody employment. Read more here.

PUBLICATION: Evaluation of the Greater Manchester Remand Pilot

The Centre for Crime and Youth Justice Research have published their response to the Greater Manchester Remand Pilot evaluation, exploring whether pooling remand funding on a regional basis can enable and develop more robust community alternatives to secure remand for children. The piece argue that the evaluation has supported Greater Manchester’s aims to improve operational practice, and reduce instances where custodial remand is a default, rather than a necessity. Read more here.

PUBLICATION: Understanding and improving the Category A review process - Prison Reform Trust

The Prison Reform Trust have published a report containing the findings of a peer-led review by the Building Futures Network Group at HMP Frankland, drawing on the experiences of people with direct knowledge of the Category A review process. This report explores how the process is understood and experienced by those subject to it, highlighting the emotional and practical impacts of a system often perceived as opaque, inconsistent and difficult to navigate. Read more here.

OPPORTUNITY: Lived experience engagement service 

HM Prison and Probation Service are looking for proposals for a Lived Experience Engagement Service across the South West Probation Region. The service will ensure people on probation have consistent, meaningful opportunities to influence service design and delivery through accessible, trauma informed and psychologically safe engagement mechanisms. The service will embed lived experience into operational and strategic practice, strengthening cultural change, improving inclusivity, and supporting the Southwest region to meet national expectations for meaningful lived experience involvement. 

The service will operate across nine Probation Delivery Units (PDUs), delivered through two Lots:

  • Lot 1 (North): Bath and Northeast Somerset, Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Swindon & Wiltshire
  • Lot 2 (South): Cornwall and Iles of Scilly, Devon and Torbay, Dorset, Plymouth

The Contract Term for both Lots shall be 6 Months. It is anticipated that the contract shall commence on the Call-Off Commencement Date of 1 October 2026 (if not sooner) and shall end on the 31 March 2027. Both lots have a contract value of £30,000 each. 

To find out more, click here.

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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