Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 939 | 3 July 2026

Light lunch

 

In this issue...

 

The government has published the terms of reference for the independent review of the prison system, to be led by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd and reporting to the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor by December 2026. The review will provide a strategic, risk-based assessment of the current, emerging and future risks and opportunities facing the prison system, covering security, safety and decency, capacity, and staffing. It will also consider how socio-economic change, technological progress, sentencing trends and an increasingly complex prison population compound these pressures, and will examine the strategic risks arising from constraints on long-term capital funding. The women’s prison estate will be considered at a strategic level, recognising that differences in population profile and custodial pathways may give rise to distinct risks and opportunities.

Clinks will be engaging closely with the review and will facilitate a wide range of opportunities for the sector to provide feedback. Further details on these opportunities will be shared in due course.

Read the terms of reference here

Clinks is seeking a senior leader from the voluntary sector to sit on the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) as the seat holder for organisations led by and focused on racially minoritised people. The RR3 builds a stronger and more effective partnership between the voluntary sector and the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service. The successful candidate will be a senior leader at a voluntary organisation that is both led by and supports racially minoritised people involved in the criminal justice system, and will be able to reflect the reality of delivering support services for racially minoritised individuals. This is a voluntary role. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held online during the week of 20 July. [Deadline: Monday 13 July 2026 at 17:00]

To apply, send a CV and covering letter outlining your reasons for applying and how you meet the person specification to lisa.chandler@clinks.org 

Find out more here

Clinks is seeking YOUR input and front-line insights to help inform ongoing discussions with officials on recall policy. In particular, we would welcome your reflections on the early impact of the fixed-term recall (FTR56) model, including what you are seeing as the main drivers for recall, where it is or is not working as intended, and any gaps in support during the 56-day period or on re-release that may contribute to re-recall. We are also interested in views on local alternatives to recall and what changes could improve the process overall. 

Don't miss this opportunity to shape future policy development surrounding recall! Share your feedback here

Clinks has a small number of free places available for smaller member organisations on its Navigating the Criminal Justice System training session this Tuesday. The three-hour online workshop covers an overview of the criminal justice system and the jargon used, the process from arrest to conviction, prisons, probation, local and regional structures, inspectorates and regulators, and the role of the voluntary sector. It is designed for voluntary sector staff and volunteers who are new to working in the criminal justice system, or who want to deepen their understanding. To claim a free place, email support@clinks.org. [Tuesday 7 July 2026 | 09:30 to 12:30 | Online]

Find out more and book here

MEMBER FOCUS: Firebird Foundation

The Firebird Foundation brings people, ideas, and funding together to accelerate equality and justice for women and children. The organisation works collaboratively across its focus areas to provide grants, venture funding, and investment capital aimed at transforming lives and driving systemic change. 

Its mission-aligned approach bridges traditional philanthropy and investment, using innovative funding models to achieve greater social impact and long-term societal change.

Find out more here

Breakthrough Social Enterprise is offering a free, BT-funded seven-week online course for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, helping them build skills for employment, self-employment and starting a business. The course includes free one-to-one mentoring through to 2027. Applications close 17 July. [Starts: Friday 10 July 2026 | Online | Free]

Apply here

Or contact rani@wearebreakthrough.org or Pratik@wearebreakthrough.org for more information.

The Bell Foundation has published a new article following an interview with Sue Wardell from Suffolk Law Centre, a partner organisation supported by The Bell Foundation to provide legal support to the local Roma community in Suffolk, one of the largest in the UK. Now in its third year, the project addresses the discrimination and language barriers that many Roma people face, which can result in accumulative school fines, arrest and workplace prejudice. Sue Wardell discusses the steps Suffolk Law Centre has taken to make legal support more accessible to this community by building partnerships and trust, and the real difference this can make.

Read the article here

London’s co-commissioning partners are hosting a market engagement event for the upcoming Women’s Community Support provision. The session is open to all interested organisations, whether considering bidding as a lead provider or as part of a supply chain. It will introduce the co-commissioning partners, provide a high-level overview of the proposed specification, explain how this aligns with the HMPPS Core Specification, outline key priorities and expectations for delivery in London, and allow for initial questions and engagement. [Monday 28 July 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free]

Register your interest and join here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Rough sleeping no longer a crime as Vagrancy Act repealed

The government repealed the Vagrancy Act on 29 June 2026, ending nearly two centuries of legislation that had criminalised rough sleeping and begging since its introduction in 1824. The government has stated it will continue to take a tough stance on organised crime, with new offences in the Crime and Policing Act 2026 targeting organised begging gangs, those who exploit others for financial gain, and trespass linked to criminal activity. The repeal sits alongside a wider package of measures to address homelessness, including a £37 million Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund supporting voluntary, community and faith groups, a £15 million Long-Term Rough Sleeping Innovation Programme, and investment to boost the supply of social and affordable housing.

Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: HMP Isle of Wight and HMP Liverpool inspections published

HM Inspectorate of Prisons published two reports on 29 June. At HMP Isle of Wight, covering both the Albany and Parkhurst sites, inspectors found that levels of self-harm were high and that drug use, violence and use of force against prisoners had all increased. The prison’s ageing infrastructure was causing problems across both sites, and HMPPS had failed to provide sufficient investment to make necessary improvements. Healthcare management was not good enough, too many men spent long periods locked up with nothing to do, and too few were getting the support they needed to progress in their sentences. At HMP Liverpool, an independent review of progress found that staff-prisoner relationships remained a strength and support for those in crisis had improved, but unemployed prisoners still received just two hours a day out of their cells, and Ofsted found insufficient progress in education, skills and work.

Read the reports here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: How one Prison is Leading the Way on Equality and Inclusion

HM Inspectorate of Prisons has published a blog post highlighting how one prison has developed an approach to fair treatment and inclusion that is delivering measurable improvements for prisoners from minoritised groups. The blog draws on findings from recent inspections to illustrate what good practice looks like and how it can be replicated across the estate.

Read the blog here

Brighton Women’s Centre is seeking a dynamic individual to lead a small team in an innovative partnership role [Part time, £30,224, Maidstone].  As part of this partnership, you will be combining holistic, patient-led care with trauma-informed values and support. KSS Provider Collaborative provides inpatient secure services to adults across the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex area, including women detained under the Mental Health Act.  You will deliver 1:1 wellbeing support and group activities to women based in secure forensic units. This is aimed at improving well-being, confidence and support. Alongside your own caseload, you will provide trauma-informed, strengths-based line-management to a team of two Women’s Enhancement Workers based in other hospitals. Find out more and apply here by 17th July 2026

FEATURED VACANCY: Enhancement Worker 

Brighton Women’s Centre is seeking a creative individual to join their team [Part time, £28,672, Maidstone]. In this role you be part of an innovative, forward-thinking partnership, combining holistic, patient-led care with trauma-informed values and support. KSS Provider Collaborative provides inpatient secure services to adults across the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex area, including women detained under the Mental Health Act. The goal is to co-design and deliver weekly group activities aimed at improving well-being, confidence and support. You will also be responsible for a small caseload of women, providing 1-1 support around transitions into the next appropriate setting, which could mean another hospital, supported accommodation or independent living. Find out more and apply here by 17th July 2026

Finance, Benefit and Debt Advisor with The Growth Company [£30000, To cover Harrogate, Northallerton and HMP Millsike, Full Time]; Finance, Benefit and Debt Advisor with The Growth Company [£30000, HMP Leeds, Full Time]; Key Worker - Personal Wellbeing with The Growth Company [£30000, Sheffield, Full Time]; Key Worker - Personal Wellbeing with The Growth Company [£30000, Merseyside, Full Time]; Finance Benefit & Debt Advisor with The Growth Company [£30000, HMP Humber and Beverley probation, Full Time]; Deputy Service Manager - HMP Pentonville with Phoenix Futures [£36585, N7 8TT, Full Time]; Engagement Worker with Social Interest Group [£28800, SE6 2AA, Full Time]; Support Worker/Group Facilitator (Men's Service) with The Nelson Trust [£27000 to £28500, Stroud, Full Time]; Housing Support Worker with Nacro [£27807, Luton, Full Time]; Housing support worker with Nacro [£27807, Mansfield, Full Time].

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

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EXTRA INFORMATION:

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