The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice.
In this month's issue...
- National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance news
- Arts in criminal justice news and publications
- Events and training
- Resources and opportunities
National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance News: Change of staff
Lou Clark, the current NCJAA Manager, will be leaving the role on 1st July.
Clinks are currently interviewing for the role and will update the network and its supporters with news of new staff.
Message from Lou “Hi all, it’s been really great working with the network members and its supporters, coming together at forums and events, and amplifying your voice on policy and practice. Thank you for contributing to this newsletter, please continue to do so. Your experience, passion and expertise is invaluable and core to the work the NCJAA does”.
Clinks News: The Sentencing Act implementation – the Progression Model
Last week, Lord Timpson signed the Commencement Order giving effect to the new progression model that will be established in September. The new model, which will go live on 2nd September, is one of the core measures within the Sentencing Act. Clinks have written a blog describing the model, implementation and next steps. Read more here
Clinks News: Policy Briefing
Here is the June 2026 edition of the Clinks Policy Briefing. Please let us know if you have any thoughts on this briefing or any of the things it has covered by contacting the Policy team.
Criminal Justice News: For all the latest, read Clinks latest Policy Briefing
Criminal Justice News: Supervision of Indeterminate Sentences Policy Framework
A new policy framework for the supervision of indeterminate sentences was published on 1 June, setting out mandatory requirements for the Probation Service regarding all indeterminate sentenced offenders on licence. The framework covers the frequency of reporting, suspension of supervision, and the processes for licence termination referrals to the Parole Board for those serving Imprisonment for Public Protection and Detention for Public Protection sentences. Read more here
Criminal Justice News: Foreign national offenders policy framework updated
The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS have updated the policy framework for managing foreign national offenders released on licence or detained under immigration powers. The guidance covers areas including data sharing, accommodation, risk assessments, and licence production, and will be relevant to organisations working across probation, resettlement, and immigration-related support. Read more here
Criminal Justice News: Justice in Numbers Pocketbook
The Ministry of Justice has published the latest Justice in Numbers Pocketbook, providing a statistical overview of courts, prisons, probation, and sentencing trends across England and Wales. The publication offers a useful snapshot of wider pressures and trends across the criminal justice system. Read more here
NCJAA Members and Network News: Common Ground Conference callout
The Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance is inviting proposals for workshops, activities, and an artist residency for its Common Ground Conference [7 October - 9 October | Barnsley]. The conference will bring together up to 300 people working across creative health and related sectors, creating space for learning, collaboration, and discussion around systemic change. Read more here
NCJAA Members and Network News: Helix Arts win the National Trust Sycamore Gap Commission
Helix Arts is a Newcastle-based arts charity that has been using art to create change since 1983. The charity believes that participation in creative activity is fundamental to the wellbeing of individuals and communities and should be accessible to all, particularly those with the fewest opportunities. Their work connects skilled artists with diverse groups of people to co-produce art that addresses personal and social issues, amplifies little-heard voices and contributes to genuine social change.
Helix Arts has recently won the National Trust Sycamore Gap Commission, following a national public vote and final decision by an expert judging panel. Their proposal, The People’s Tree, created in partnership with George King Architects, combines public participation, sound, architecture and storytelling to respond to the loss of the much-loved Sycamore Gap tree, which was illegally felled in September 2023. The project will invite people across the UK to record reflections on their own relationships with trees and nature, with the final compilation of stories and audio presented through exhibitions and workshops held to the north, south, east and west of Sycamore Gap. The completed work is expected to be realised by September 2027. Find out more here
NCJAA Members and Network News: The Royal Literary Fund - Writing for Life because everyone’s words matter
The Royal Literary Fund has been around since 1790, supporting writers in all kinds of situations with grants to enable them to keep on writing. We are a charity. Our funding comes from writers, the great and the good, who have bequeathed their literary estates to us; this includes Charles Dickens, Somerset Maugham, A A Milne, Rupert Brooke and countless other literary giants. You might have heard of some of the writers the RLF has supported over the years; they include James Joyce, Dylan Thomas, Doris Lessing, Joseph Conrad… and you can read more here about our long and rich history.
Our Fellows We also provide opportunities for writers- known as Fellows- to use their skills in settings as diverse as NHS Trusts, prisons, hospices, universities, with refugee and asylum seekers, in up to 30 Recovery Colleges, with groups of carers, unions, voluntary organisations and other workplaces- including CLINKS/NCJAA of courses.
We believe that everyone’s words matter, and RLF Fellows are all trained professional writers who are passionate about spreading their love of words. Whether this is a report writing workshop, or editing and proofreading- now known as Let’s Eat Grandma, to demonstrate how easily mistakes are made- reflective writing for the workplace, demonstrating impact through telling your organisation’s success stories, or fundraising bid writing, our writers have the perfect blend of a lifetime’s experience of finding the right words and the most compelling way to tell stories. We also run a unique programme of expressive writing workshops that encourage people to respond to classic and contemporary poems in their own words. Read more about our Writing for Life scheme here.
To find out more, please contact Anna Reynolds, project consultant, at anna.reynolds@rlfeducation.org.uk
- There are 4 more RLF workshops hosted by NCJAA this year, the first is live now for booking. See training section below for dates and more information.
NCJAA Members and Network News: Reading in Prison Day - a celebration of what books can do behind bars
Sarah Turvey, Director of Prison Reading Groups (PRG) which is part of Give a Book, shares a fantastic day from earlier this month.
On Friday June 12th more than 100 people gathered at the glorious Stationers’ Hall in central London for Give a Book’s biennial event to explore the power of books and reading in prisons.
The day began with a personal video message from Lee Child, the first prison reading laureate to be appointed. He paid tribute to the work of all those promoting reading in prison and in particular to the ‘passionate and committed’ voluntary sector: ‘You are doing good and you are changing lives, you are making the nation a better place’.
Charlie Taylor, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, was the Keynote speaker. With characteristic clarity and straight-talking, Charlie gave us a wide-ranging overview of reading education in prisons and shone a light on both the achievements and the shortcomings of current provision. The panel that followed took up the issues that Charlie raised from the point of view of a governor, a librarian, an officer and a prison reading consultant.
We also heard from some of those running really inspirational reading projects, from the book for every new prisoner at Chelmsford, to reading groups at an A Cat prison that have built empathy and community for prisoners on long term sentences, to a reminder of the skills and expertise that even adults who feel they struggle with reading can bring to a group of emergent readers.
The afternoon started with TV and film writer director Richard Curtis who entertained us mightily with stories of his reading and in particular his discovery of the pleasure of books by women: ‘What good company women writers are’! And his parting shot was hard to argue with: ‘I like books that agree with me’.
A highlight of the day was the ‘Fiction and Philosophy’ conversation between Andy West and Kirstin Anderson. Andy teaches philosophy in prison and is the author of the memoir that became the 6-part BBC series Waiting for the Out. Kirstin works in a university criminology department and for 10 years has also run a PRG reading group in a Scottish prison. Together Andy and Kirsten highlighted the similarities and the ways both pursuits encourage empathy but also critical self-examination.
The climax of the day was the Prison Reading Groups (PRG) awards for outstanding contributions from librarians and volunteers followed by drinks and the famous PRG cake.
Above all it was a day of conversation and networking among those on the frontline of reading in prison and their slido feedback says it best: ‘inspiring’, ‘eye-opening’, ‘fun’.
NCJAA Members and Network News: The Bay Arts Academy Launch at HMP Hollesley & Fundraising Festival.
Second Stage recently completed a three-day partnership with Regeneration Theatre at HMP Hollesley, where 14 men worked with practitioners on the text and themes of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The project was extremely well received by both the participants and those who attended the final performance.
Two Second Stage candidates were then chosen to run the lighting and sound while Mark Lockyer performed excerpts from his one-man Hamlet for invited guests at the launch of the Bay Arts Academy at the prison. The Academy was made possible through equipment donations from CEG and Autograph, enabling Second Stage to deliver ongoing technical training at the venue. A last-minute donation also funded the delivery of stage truss and harnesses. We are hugely grateful to the prison’s education and skills teams, and to everyone who helped make this possible.
Following hot on the heels of that was our Mad About Shakespeare fundraising event in Aldeburgh. Alongside Mark’s powerful one-man performance of Hamlet, two men on temporary release worked backstage to help deliver the production. The evening concluded with a Q&A featuring Mark and his retired forensic psychologist, chaired by Second Stage Chief Executive Jo Hutchison. The rest of the weekend went down very well with Colin Hurley giving his Lear’s Shadow and authors Sir Jonathan Bate and Dame Harriet Walter answering audiences questions, concluding with Stefan Bednarczyk sending us off with a song (and a Bloody Mary thanks to Big Tom sponsorship!) taking nearly £30k in ticket sales and donations.
Big thanks to all the volunteers, ticket-buyers, supporters and artists who gave their time to support Second Stage over this last amazing week.
NCJAA Members and Network News: Catch 22 Innovation Fund 2025 The BENCH - Reflections of a Creative Journey
The Bench Theatre Project was a ten‑week creative intervention delivered through immersive drama workshops and a co‑produced public performance, using approaches such as psychodrama and forum theatre to position creativity as a central mechanism of rehabilitation. By enabling participants to explore identity, reframe personal narratives, and express lived experience through performance, the project provided an alternative, strengths‑based pathway to behaviour change. Evaluation findings demonstrated that engaging in creative practice supported improvements in confidence, self‑efficacy, communication, and emotional awareness, while fostering strong peer connection and pro‑social identity development. These outcomes highlight the role of arts‑based interventions in rehabilitation, evidencing how creative engagement can facilitate reflection, build relational skills, and support desistance by enabling individuals to construct new, positive self‑stories. More info here
NCJAA Members and Network News: 5asideCHESS responds to Prisons Minister’s comments
Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson has spoken about the benefits of chess in prisons as a way to promote purposeful activity and improve wellbeing. The game he refers to in the video is a game of 5asideCHESS, which he played with Lived Experience Ambassador David Breakspear in Parliament earlier this year. 5asideCHESS has welcomed the Minister’s comments but raises the question of why the prison system is not more widely recognising the significant benefits of chess, particularly given that the cost of implementation is minimal compared to the cost of failing to rehabilitate people in prison.
EVENT: Creative Research for Effective Evidence: Bridging the Gap Between University Research and Voluntary Sector Evaluation
29 & 30 June | Greenwich | £0-£16.96
The University of Greenwich is hosting a Critical Creative Methods Lab, which aims to open up useful conversations between academics and voluntary sector practitioners.
- What does meaningful and effective knowledge exchange look like?
- How can we co-produce it?
- What are the barriers?
- What are the bridges?
The first day of this two day event is designed with these questions in mind. 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.
29th June - Focus on creative methods for knowledge exchange between voluntary sector and academia
30th June - Focus on theory-driven critical creative research methods
Come to one day, or come to both and Experiment. Play. Transform.
Book here
EVENT: Clinks South East and East Area Engagement Criminal Justice Forum
30 June | 10:00 - 11:30 | Online | Free
Clinks is hosting its South East & East Area Engagement Criminal Justice Forum [], bringing together voluntary sector organisations working within the criminal justice system across the region. The forum will provide an opportunity to share learning, discuss challenges, strengthen partnerships, and explore collective solutions to improve outcomes for people in contact with the criminal justice system. Book here
EVENT: Finding Rhythms Live
7 July | 19:00 | Peckham Levels | Free
Join us for another unforgettable evening of live music, showcasing the talent of our programme artists and to experience the creative work produced by participants in our flagship Finding Rhythms Studios music and mentoring programme. The evening will feature live music from our emerging artists who have been creating their own original tracks in our music studio in Peckham. Alongside solo performances, it will also feature a brand new collaborative work, written by our programme alumni across a series of creative workshops. Tickets can be purchased here
EVENT: The Mending Room - innovative participatory action-research
11-14 August | 10:00-16:00 | Raw Materials Brixton | Free
Imagine yourself in a playful, creative, learning environment along with a council officer, a policy maker, a senior health manager, a clinician, a youth worker, a teacher, a social care worker, an academic, a researcher, a group of young people, and some parents all playfully collaborating together having fun, making mistakes, testing and trialling their ideas and prototypes around how they (as Menders) could improve neighbourhood mental health and wellbeing services so that they could be redesigned or reimagined for the future. All of this work will lead to a public exhibition sharing on the evening of the 13th August. The Mending Room is an innovative participatory action-research strand of the 4Cs programme, led by Tony Cealy. More info here
EVENT: Pegasus Legendary Gala
26 September | 18:30-23:30 | St Ives | £70
Clinks member Pegasus – Men’s Wellbeing Centre CIC, is a charitable organization supporting men’s mental health. We’re hosting our annual Pegasus Legendary Gala 2026. It’s a really special event that brings together local businesses and the community to support men who are struggling with their mental health. Last year alone, Pegasus delivered over 9,000 counselling sessions, which gives you an idea of how needed this support is. The evening will include a live performance from Will Keating, a three-course dinner, and a silent auction. More info here
EVENT: Exhibition - Stretched to the Limit
Until November | National Justice Museum, Nottingham
A series of paintings reflecting on a lived experience of Britain’s prison system, will be on display this spring. These evocative pieces shine a floodlight on a prison system in crisis. Spiralling overcrowding, ever-decreasing budgets, “a modern-day pandemic of substance abuse” and a rise in self-harm and suicide, the impact of which leaves lasting physical and psychological scars on those incarcerated within its walls. The artwork is on display at the National Justice Museum until November 2026. More information here
EVENT: Woodhill
Various dates | National | £various
This production by LUNG is touring this summer. LUNG are a campaign led arts charity.
“Three men at Woodhill prison are dead. The families demand answers.
This is a call to arms about the crisis facing prisons. ’Gut-punching choreography and unflinching beats shine a light on the hidden story of HMP Woodhill. Lyrically told in their own words, three families investigate what happened to their boys. What they discover is so haunting, it turns their world upside down. “
More info and booking here
TRAINING
Training: Royal Literary Fund Workshops
NJCAA are delighted to continue our partnership with the Royal Literary Fund who are providing four more free workshops this year, as part of NCJAA’s professional development support to our network. You can book the first one now. Keep your eye on Clinks’ events page and social media for the others, usually advertised 6-8 weeks in advance:
Fundraising Bid Writing, with professional writer Shanta Everington
21 July 2026 | 10:00-12:00 | Online | Free
A practical, hands-on workshop to help you structure and style your fundraising bid writing. For any level of fundraising- this is suitable for all.
More information and booking here
Demonstrating Impact, with professional writer Heidi Williamson
17 September 2026 | 10:00-12:30 | Online | Free
Learn from a professional writer how to tell the story of what your organisation or project does in a compelling, human and structured way.
Less is More: Write Better Reports, with professional writer Nathalie Abi-Ezzi
7 December 2026 | 10:00-12:00 | Online | Free
Everyone has to write them, and most of us dread it. This workshop gives your report writing a re-boost and refresh, with a secret, simple structural tool you’ll be delighted to discover.
Tell Better Stories; Writing Case Studies, with professional writer Clare Shaw
19 February 2027 | 10:00-12:00 | Online | Free
This workshop will help you identify the key elements of a case study, tone and style for different audiences and above all, tell more human stories that your audience will be gripped by!
Training: Clinks Working and volunteering in prisons training
25 June | 10:00-13:00 Online | From £95
More information and booking here
Training: Clinks Working and volunteering in prisons training
7 July | 09:30-12:30 Online | From £75
More information and booking here
Want to post a vacancy?
Clinks members can post job and volunteer vacancies on our Jobs Board for free.
Full instructions for uploading a vacancy can be found here. For assistance, email membership@clinks.org
FUNDING: Grassroots Grants
Groundwork, in association with Postcode Lottery, is offering unrestricted grants of between £500 and £2,000 for voluntary and community organisations with an annual turnover of no more than £25,000. Now in its third year, this flexible funding can be used where it is most needed and must be spent within 12 months. Priority will be given to organisations working with communities in the top 15% of the English Indices of Deprivation, and those working with marginalised or vulnerable communities. The programme cannot fund sports or physical activities-based projects. [Deadline: September 2026] Apply here
PUBLICATION: Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt
Is culture the best medicine? This isn’t an endorsement, but thought this review might make an interesting read.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
The next NCJAA newsletter will be sent out in August. If you have any news, opportunities or events relating to art organisations or projects within the criminal justice system that you would like included, please submit your information via our online form by 14th August
-----------------------------------------------------------
This newsletter is bi-monthly. Email artsalliance@clinks.org if you wish to submit any news.
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance is embedded in Clinks.
Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Follow NCJAA on Twitter
Contact us www.clinks.org | www.artsincriminaljustice.org.uk | info@clinks.org | 020 4502 6774
Click here to manage your subscriptions. For assistance, email info@clinks.org