Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 932 | 15 May 2026

Light lunch

 

 

In this issue...

 

 

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has established a Special Interest Group (SIG) to advise the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) on the effective implementation of the Sentencing Act 2026. The terms of reference are available, here.

The SIG will focus on the provision of effective resettlement support, including the needs of people leaving prison, and support for those on Community Orders. Additional sessions will explore the role of lived experience (more below) and drug and alcohol support.

In our resettlement session, taking place, online, on Monday 6th July, 14:00 – 15:30, we will draw on voluntary sector expertise to identify how best to support the increased number of people in the community following as a result of the Sentencing Act, and what the sector needs to meet the increased demand for their services.

If you are interested in attending our resettlement session and/or contributing to this work, please get in touch with our Specialist Policy Officer, Lisa Strelnikova lisa.strelnikova@clinks.org

Clinks is seeking involvement from voluntary organisations for an upcoming lived experience-focused session as part of the RR3 Special Interest Group advising the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service on the implementation of the Sentencing Act 2026 (see above for terms of reference).

The session will specifically focus on the role of lived experience in delivering effective resettlement support. Clinks is particularly keen to hear from organisations that are genuinely lived experience-focused, including those delivering peer support programmes for people leaving prison and lived experience-led resettlement support. 

The discussion will directly inform recommendations to the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS on what needs to change to better support people leaving prison, what approaches make the biggest difference to successful resettlement, and how lived experience can be meaningfully embedded within delivery.

If your organisation would be interested in being involved, please contact Leanne.Jeffery@clinks.org

Clinks is seeking a senior leader from the voluntary sector working in criminal justice to sit on the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group as the seat holder for accommodation. The successful candidate will work for a voluntary organisation that supports people involved in the criminal justice system into housing, and will be able to reflect the realities of delivering accommodation-related services. The RR3 meets quarterly to advise the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service on policy development, commissioning strategies and gaps in provision. 

Clinks particularly welcomes applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system who now work in the voluntary sector. This is a voluntary, non-remunerated position, though reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed.

To apply, send a CV and covering letter to sam.julius@clinks.org [Deadline: 8 June | 17:00] Find out more here

The next Clinks Women’s Network Forum will bring together professionals, practitioners and people with lived experience to explore health and wellbeing for women in prison. The full-day in-person programme will include insights from lived experience on what truly works in supporting women’s health, updates on progress in health and social care in women’s prisons, and a panel discussion covering mental health, substance use, self-harm, recovery and culturally competent care. Sessions will also focus on chronic health conditions and ageing, pregnancy, maternity and midwifery care in prison, and new research on addressing self-harm. This is a free event for members of the Clinks Women’s Network. [16 June | 10:00 - 15:00 | HMP Askham Grange, York | Free | Clinks Women’s Network members only] Register here

Clinks is inviting voluntary sector organisations working in the criminal justice system in the South West and South Central to join their next Area Engagement Forum. These online forums bring together people and organisations from across the region to share experiences, swap ideas and tackle challenges together. Whether you want to showcase your organisation’s work, hear how others are navigating similar challenges, or simply connect with peers who understand the realities of working in criminal justice, all are welcome. Clinks members and partners are also welcome to present at the forum. If you would like to do so, contact rachel.austinfrancis@clinks.org [9 June | 10:00 - 11:30 | Online | Free] Register here

MEMBER FOCUS: Empowerment Charity Lancashire

Empowerment Charity Lancashire is a Blackpool-based charity working across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, supporting people facing marginalisation, disadvantage and complex challenges by ensuring their lived experiences shape the help they receive. Their services span advocacy, addiction and recovery, domestic abuse support, mental health, health and social care guidance, neurodiversity, suicide prevention and bereavement, and support for prison leavers. 

A distinctive feature of their work is the Lived Experience Team, whose members draw on their own experiences of substance misuse, mental ill health and homelessness to support local people and drive positive change. The Den provides specialist emotional and practical support to children and young people aged five to eighteen who are affected by domestic abuse, while the Blackpool Advocacy Hub ensures that the rights and needs of adults, children and young people are understood and respected in decisions that affect their lives. Overall, Empowerment supports around 380 people each week, prioritising those with multiple vulnerabilities and helping them move toward safer, more empowered futures.

Find out more here

A national pilot exploring how restorative justice can be delivered effectively for children and young people across England and Wales is being expanded following the agreement of multi-year funding from the Youth Endowment Fund. Led by the Restorative Justice for All International Institute and supported by the Youth Justice Board, the project will deliver a shared practice model of restorative justice across ten Youth Justice Services. The model sets out ten practical steps for delivering restorative justice with children and young people aged 10 to 17, grounded in Child First and victim-centred principles. The Coram Institute for Children will evaluate the implementation of the model to inform national restorative justice programme and policy design in the youth justice system. For media enquiries, contact Theo Gavrielides, Founder and Director of RJ4All, at t.gavrielides@rj4all.org

Read more here

RJ4All is currently recruiting for two UK-based hybrid roles. The Head of Impact and Research will lead and strengthen RJ4All’s research, evaluation and impact work while helping shape evidence-informed social justice initiatives. Click here to Apply for Head of Impact and Research

The Project Officer (Restorative Practice) will support the delivery of restorative practice and community projects that promote inclusion, wellbeing and restorative justice. Both roles include training opportunities, international travel, gym access, pension contributions and career development opportunities. Click here to Apply for Project Officer (Restorative Practice)

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has launched the Project Intercept Impact Report, showcasing the results of its partnerships with major online technology companies including Google, Meta, Mega and TikTok. The project places warning messages in front of people who search for terms linked to child sexual abuse material or click a link previously reported for containing it. Over two years, these warning messages have been triggered more than 70 million times, equivalent to more than 95,000 interventions every day. The report highlights the significant potential of online deterrence as part of a wider strategy to prevent child sexual abuse. Read more here

Transform Justice and the Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre are hosting a free webinar to discuss findings from new research with police forces on the effective use of out of court resolutions. The report recommends practical ways police forces can improve and increase their use of out of court resolutions, including streamlining administration and adopting creative communication strategies, while highlighting remaining challenges such as measuring impact and addressing vulnerabilities. [17 June | 12:00 - 13:00 | Online | Free] Register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: King’s Speech 2026

The King’s Speech on 13 May outlined the government’s legislative agenda, including significant criminal justice reforms. Key announcements included a Courts Modernisation Bill to address record court backlogs and a Police Reform Bill. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner welcomed proposed social housing legislation to prevent perpetrators weaponising shared tenancies against victims, while the Victims Commissioner called for a renewed Victims’ Strategy to ensure the reforms deliver meaningful change for those affected by crime. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Unpaid Work Completion Requirements Removed

The Ministry of Justice announced on 14 May that the legal requirement for unpaid work hours to be completed within 12 months of sentencing has been removed under the Sentencing Act 2026. The change applies retrospectively to all cases and aims to reduce the administrative burden on probation staff who previously had to apply to courts for extensions. Organisations working alongside probation services should be aware of how this change may affect the delivery of community sentences. Read more here

The government launched a consultation on 8 May proposing changes to fee scheme arrangements for legal aid in relation to inquests. The proposals include moving to a single fee scheme for legal help and using fee rates for the service elements of legal help alongside existing fee rates for advocacy-related work. Organisations supporting bereaved families through the inquest process may wish to respond to the consultation. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Supporting Prisoners with Care Experience

A new policy framework published on 10 May sets out expectations for prisons to identify, understand and support people in custody who have care experience. It provides guidance on improving staff awareness, working with local authority leaving care teams, and ensuring appropriate access to entitlements. Voluntary organisations working with care-experienced people in the criminal justice system may find this framework a useful tool for advocacy and practice. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Release on Temporary Licence in Youth Custody

A new policy framework published on 13 May sets out mandatory requirements and guidance for staff in the children and young people’s secure estate to increase the use of Release on Temporary Licence. The framework introduces ROTL assessments at an earlier point in children’s time in custody, with the aim of improving preparation for release and supporting rehabilitation. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Prison population figures: April 2026

The latest monthly prison population figures, published on 11 May, provide a breakdown of the prison population for April 2026 and reflect the ongoing pressures on the estate. Voluntary organisations working in or alongside prisons may wish to monitor these figures as part of their planning and advocacy work. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Coroners Statistics 2025

The Ministry of Justice published the annual Coroners Statistics for 2025 on 14 May, detailing the number of deaths reported to coroners, inquests held and conclusions recorded across England and Wales. The statistics provide important context for organisations working with bereaved families and those advocating for improved safety in custody. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Weston Approved Premises inspection

HM Inspectorate of Probation has rated Weston Approved Premises in Dorset as ‘Requires improvement’ following an inspection published on 10 May. Inspectors issued an organisational alert due to serious safeguarding concerns regarding inadequate checks on residents at risk of overdose or self-harm. The report noted that staff were working under significant pressure, and called for urgent action to address the identified risks. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: HMP Wayland inspection

HM Inspectorate of Prisons published its full inspection report on HMP Wayland on 11 May. Inspectors found that illicit drugs remained a destabilising influence, driving debt, bullying and violence, with random testing showing a high rate of positive results. Physical security was hampered by outdated CCTV, and the fabric of the prison had deteriorated significantly. However, the report noted impressive work on fair treatment, including a partnership with the Zahid Mubarek Trust and a reverse mentoring initiative in which Black prisoners mentored senior leaders. Purposeful activity was a strength, with Ofsted rating overall effectiveness as ‘good’, and preparation for release was reasonably good, though some men were still being released without accommodation. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Welfare advice in mental health services: Centre for Mental Health

A new report from the Centre for Mental Health, commissioned by Citizens Advice and published on 11 May, urges the NHS to embed welfare advice in mental health services. The report finds that welfare advice provided by specialist voluntary sector providers can improve mental wellbeing, reduce stress, prevent homelessness and speed up discharge from mental health hospitals. The findings are highly relevant for voluntary organisations working at the intersection of mental health and criminal justice. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Prison radon exposure - HMP Dartmoor

The Health and Safety Executive has authorised a Crown Censure of HM Prison and Probation Service following an investigation into radon exposure at HMP Dartmoor in Devon. The investigation found that both prisoners and staff had been exposed to radon significantly above the legal dose limits for a prolonged period of time, including in prisoner accommodation. HSE was first notified of suspected overexposure in February 2023, and took enforcement action in both February and December of that year. HMPPS subsequently decided to mothball HMP Dartmoor in 2024. 

A Crown Censure is the maximum sanction available to HSE against a Crown body and, if confirmed at a formal hearing, acts as an official reprimand and a lasting public record of failure to comply with the law. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and the second largest cause of lung cancer in the UK. Read more here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS OR TRAINING: Lost Mothers - Pregnancy and Motherhood in Prison

This talk by Professor Laura Abbott will bring together findings from the Lost Mothers project and an ethnographic doctoral study of incarcerated pregnancy to explore the lived realities of pregnancy, birth and maternal-newborn separation in prison. UK insights will be placed in comparative dialogue with findings from Japan, highlighting shared structural harms and culturally specific institutional responses, and underscoring the urgent need for trauma-informed, internationally informed reform. [18 May | 18:45 | London WC1A 2TH | Free ] Register here

FUNDING: Young Women in Mind 2026 - 2028

The Young Women in Mind programme is a collaborative funding initiative set up by the Pilgrim Trust, the Prudence Trust and the Julia Rausing Trust to support charities providing gender-specific therapeutic mental health support for girls and young women aged 14 to 25 in the UK. Together the three trusts will invest £5 million over three years, supporting charities to grow, strengthen or adapt existing therapeutic mental health services. By pooling funds, they aim to ensure that more young women can access support that meets their needs effectively. Grants of between £200,000 and £500,000 are available for three years. [Stage one deadline: 24 August] Apply here

FUNDING: The Queen Elizabeth Trust

The Queen Elizabeth Trust is a new £40 million fund opening across the UK, with first grants expected in Spring 2027. The charity will support communities to restore and sustain shared spaces that bring people together, funding projects that include community spaces, activities that foster connections, shared public spaces, and skills, training and community-led initiatives. Organisations working in the criminal justice sector that deliver community-based projects may wish to keep an eye on this fund as more information becomes available. Find out more here

FUNDING: Rosa’s Stand With Us Fund

Rosa’s Stand With Us Fund is now open for applications from organisations with an income of between £100,000 and £500,000, offering grants of up to £28,000 to frontline organisations supporting women and girls who experience male violence. Many organisations led by women are facing severe underfunding while struggling to meet escalating costs amid rising demand. This fund aims to address those challenges through investment in organisational development, supporting organisations to become stronger and more effective in delivering their vital work. [Deadline: 22 June at 16:00] Apply here

RESOURCE: The Transform Justice Podcast, Ep59 - The Southport Inquiry

Almost two years on from the tragic attack in Southport that claimed the lives of three young girls, the Southport Inquiry Phase 1 report has been published. In this episode, hosts Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen are joined by Professor Lynn Davies of ConnectFutures and Selina Wallis of the University of Liverpool to discuss the many missed opportunities to prevent the attacks, how a teenager known to services could fall through the cracks, and the changing landscape of extremism in the face of unfettered internet access. Listen here

PUBLICATION: Drug use in ethnic minority groups

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs published a review on 13 May examining drug use in ethnic minority groups. The report considers the accessibility of and barriers to current treatment services and provides recommendations to improve the reporting of drug use and the effectiveness of interventions for these communities. The findings are relevant for voluntary organisations delivering substance use support to people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the criminal justice system. Read more here

PUBLICATION: Patterns of Education, Social Care and Youth Offending

The Ministry of Justice published new research on 14 May using linked administrative data to explore the education and social care backgrounds of children and young people cautioned or sentenced for offences, with a focus on knife crime, anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls. The research provides important evidence for organisations working with children and young people in the criminal justice system. Read more here

PUBLICATION: Co-located Mental Health Support in Approved Premises

Early process evaluation and research findings from a pilot of co-located mental health support in Approved Premises were published on 14 May, alongside research on staff competency and perceptions of social climate. The findings will be of interest to voluntary organisations delivering mental health support in Approved Premises or working alongside probation services. Read more here

PUBLICATION: Healthy Sex Programme: Participant Views

A qualitative research study published on 14 May explored the perceptions and journeys of 34 participants in the Healthy Sex Programme, examining pre-participation entry barriers and learnings from programme completion. The findings offer insights for organisations delivering or commissioning programmes addressing harmful sexual behaviour. Read more here

OPPORTUNITY: Community Accommodation Service Open Framework - Invitation to Tender

The Ministry of Justice has published an Invitation to Tender for the establishment of a Community Accommodation Service Open Framework, covering temporary accommodation and associated support for individuals leaving custody or serving sentences in the community. The framework is designed to support public protection, offender management and resettlement outcomes, including the prevention of homelessness on release. 

Full details, including scope, instructions and key dates, are available via the UK Find a Tender notice. Suppliers must register on the Central Digital Platform and complete the required Supplier Information steps, download their data file, and submit it in line with the tender instructions.

View the tender notice here

Guidance on registering for the Central Digital Platform

Bank Recovery Support Worker with The Nelson Trust [£24500, Stroud, part time]; Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) – seat holder for accommodation with Clinks [, , part time]; Bookings Manager with Odd Arts [£32288, M15 6AX, part time]; Lived Experience Consultant with User Voice [£25000 to £30000, London, full time]; Project Manager - Lived Experience Health Programmes with User Voice [£40000, London, full time]; Lived Experience Consultant with User Voice [£25000 to £30000, North-West, full time]; Medication Lead with The Nelson Trust [£29000 to £30500, Stroud, full time]; Substance Use Recovery Worker with Phoenix Futures [£29383, N7 8TT, full time]; Substance Use practitioner with Phoenix Futures [£29383, SE28 0EB, full time]; Careers Advisor with Achieve [£27015 to £30612, DN22 8EU, full time].

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

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EXTRA INFORMATION:

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