Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 944 | 7 August 2026

Light lunch

 

In this issue...

 

Clinks is aware of the data breach affecting customers of Beacon CRM, including a number of voluntary sector organisations working in criminal justice. We recognise that this is a concerning situation and extend our support to all organisations and individuals affected.
 
HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice are aware of the issue and are working centrally with relevant statutory partners and agencies to understand the scale and implications of the breach. At this stage, organisations should follow their existing data protection and incident management procedures, including notifying their grant or contract manager and/or host organisation as required under contractual or data sharing agreements. 
 
If your organisation has been affected, please contact support@clinks.org to let us know. We are keen to understand the scale of the impact across the criminal justice sector and to ensure affected organisations receive relevant central updates, guidance and communications from HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice and other appropriate bodies as the situation develops.
 
Clinks will continue to monitor the situation and provide further information to members when available.
 

The Ministry of Justice has launched a new consultation seeking views on introducing independent statutory regulation for probation practitioners to strengthen professional standards, public confidence and accountability across the probation workforce.

Clinks will be holding an evidence-gathering roundtable on [16 September | 10:00 - 11:30 | online | free] We will be seeking your input on the minimum requirements, frequency and mechanism for maintaining registration, ensuring ongoing professional competence and development, setting of professional standards and code of ethics to promote a strong common professional identity, fitness to practice processes and referrals, and the potential to confer a protected title.

Register for our roundtable, here: Evidence-Gathering Roundtable for the Independent Statutory Regulation of Probation Practitioners

If you have any questions about the consultation or wish to submit a written contribution to our collective response instead, please contact our Specialist Policy officer, Lisa Chandler lisa.chandler@clinks.org

Clinks has been collaborating with the Weavers Company since 2024, to help them further their aim of reducing the harm caused by imprisonment to women. In May, they announced plans to fund a pilot to demonstrate how early intervention prevents escalation into custody for girls and young women. The NEST (Nurture, Empower, Support, Thrive) programme will launch later this year to provide early, trauma-informed, community-based support for young women aged 14–25, across two sites in Leeds and London, delivered by Clinks members, Advance and Together Women. The Weavers are providing an initial investment of £500,000 and, with support from Clinks, are seeking to raise additional funding to ensure that the pilot will be independently evaluated, provide a blueprint for replication and a practitioner toolkit, and offer opportunities for an alumni network of peer mentors, allowing the model to grow in reach and scale. Find out more about The NEST

HMPPS has published Welsh-specific justice data for the second time, covering the number of people with a Welsh or English origin address held across prisons in England and Wales. The data is broken down by prison, local authority, sentence status, offence type, age, ethnicity, and religious identity, and covers four snapshot dates across 2025 and 2026. The release is based on address data rather than nationality, as Ministry of Justice systems record nationality as British and do not capture whether a person identifies as English or Welsh. Clinks, alongside academics and other sector leaders, has long called for disaggregated Welsh justice data, and welcomes this release as an important step towards improving understanding of how the justice system affects people from Wales. Clinks is keen to hear from organisations working in Wales about whether this data is useful for identifying gaps, planning service delivery, or providing evidence in funding applications or tenders. Please share your feedback with Clinks at info@clinks.org 

Read the data release here

Clinks has published a new blog analysing the prison-by-prison transparency data on planned core education hours published by the Ministry of Justice in March 2026. The data reveals a 21% drop in planned core education hours between the final six months of the old Prisoner Education Framework (April to September 2025) and the first six months of the new Prison Education Service (October 2025 to March 2026), with a further 5% drop planned for 2026/27. The median change across prisons was -22%, with wide variation: HMP North Sea Camp saw the biggest fall at -58%, while HMP Coldingley saw the biggest increase at 49%. The blog notes that the data reflects planned rather than actual hours delivered, and that there is currently no publicly available data showing what people in prison actually received. Clinks calls on voluntary sector organisations to share their experiences of accessing prison education data ahead of its work with HMPPS and the MoJ to improve transparency. The deadline for responses is Monday 28 September.

Read the blog and fill in the survey here

Are you a leader of a Greater Manchester VCSFE organisation supporting prison and probation experienced people? Are you interested in collaborating with other leaders to connect, influence and improve outcomes and impact? We are hosting a pilot influencing group to gauge interest and explore the potential aims and outcomes of the group. This idea came about from a project with prison experienced adults, that highlighted systemic challenges, and lack of connectivity between sector organisations. The group is administratively supported by Clinks, with space kindly provided by Co-operative Bank. 
[28 September | 10:00 - 12:00 | Co-operative Bank, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester | free]  For more information contact Rebecca Friel, rebecca@oddarts.co.uk or Dave Maguire dave@backontrackmanchester.org.uk; to reserve a place email support@clinks.org.

The Independent Review of the Prison System, led by Amber Rudd, has launched a call for evidence seeking views on the biggest challenges facing prisons in England and Wales and the opportunities to improve outcomes over the next 5 to 15 years. Clinks is hosting two evidence-gathering roundtable discussions to ensure the expertise, evidence, and experiences of voluntary sector organisations working in and around prisons are represented in this important review. Topics will include the purpose and outcomes of the prison system, prison capacity, safety and decency, supporting staff and partnership working with the voluntary sector, rehabilitation and reducing reoffending, the needs of women, older people, and people who are neurodivergent or have mental or physical disabilities, and the role of technology and innovation. Discussions will inform a shared voluntary sector submission to the review. Both sessions cover the same content, so you only need to attend one. The deadline for the call for evidence is 31 August 2026.

[Wednesday 12 August 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free] Register here

[Monday 24 August 2026 | 14:00 to 15:30 | Online  | Free] Register Here

The Sentencing Act gained Royal Assent in January 2026 and represents the biggest reform of the justice system in decades, introducing a presumption of suspended sentences for short custodial terms, extending deferred sentencing periods, and updating the purposes and management of sentences. Clinks is hosting a free webinar to provide detail on how the Act will be implemented, what this means for the voluntary sector, and how Clinks can provide ongoing support. The session will be recorded and shared on the Clinks website for anyone unable to attend. [Tuesday 18 August 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free]

Register here

Clinks is delighted to invite members and supporters to attend its 28th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11 November 2026. The AGM provides the opportunity to carry out the business that is vital to Clinks’ work, including the election of trustees, as well as a space to comment on Clinks’ work and priorities for the year ahead. A members’ pack will be shared ahead of the event. [Wednesday 11 November 2026 | 11:15 to 12:45 | Online | Free]

Register here

Clinks is inviting voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system in the Midlands to join its Area Engagement Criminal Justice Forum. The forum brings together people and organisations from across the criminal justice system to share experiences, swap ideas, hear about government policy developments, and tackle challenges together. Whether you are a small grassroots project or a larger charity, the forum is an opportunity to make connections, stay informed, and have your voice heard. Members and partners are also welcome to showcase their work; to present at a future forum, contact Area Engagement Officer for the Midlands, Sarah-Jane Richens. [Wednesday 26 August 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free]

Register here

The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation exploring options to introduce independent statutory regulation of probation practitioners, seeking views on how to strengthen professional standards, public confidence, and accountability across the probation workforce. Clinks is preparing a collective submission to this consultation and is hosting a roundtable to gather evidence and views from the voluntary sector. Topics will include the minimum requirements for maintaining registration, ensuring ongoing professional competence and development, setting professional standards and a code of ethics, fitness to practise processes, and the potential to confer a protected title. [Wednesday 16 September 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free]

Register here

Clinks is inviting voluntary sector organisations working in the criminal justice system in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber to join its Area Engagement Criminal Justice Forum. The forum is a chance to meet the Clinks team, hear updates on area engagement and policy work, and learn more about how your organisation can engage with local partners including prisons and probation. Commissioning and Partnership Managers from both the North East and Yorkshire and Humber Probation Service will join as speakers to share area priorities and start conversations about improving engagement between HMPPS and the voluntary sector. Whether you are a small grassroots project or a larger charity, the forum is a valuable opportunity to network, share good practice, and discuss challenges your organisation may be facing. [Wednesday 30 September 2026 | 10:00 to 11:30 | Online | Free]

Register here

Clinks, in partnership with the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) and the Royal Literary Fund, is hosting a free online workshop on demonstrating impact, delivered by professional writer Heidi Williamson. The 2.5-hour session is designed to help charity and community group professionals communicate their organisation’s impact effectively. It will cover what impact means and why it matters, how to identify and translate evaluation data into compelling narratives, and practical writing exercises to improve storytelling skills. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to craft their impact story to strengthen bids, communications, and funding applications.

This workshop is open to Clinks members who work or volunteer for a small and specialist organisation within one of Clinks’ thematic networks (Arts, Families, Race and Justice, or Women), or who are independent or freelance arts practitioners [Thursday 17 September 2026 | 10:00 to 12:30 | Online | Free]

Register here

Clinks, in partnership with the Agenda Alliance, is hosting its quarterly Women’s Network Forum. The forum provides support, information, and networking opportunities for those working with women in contact with the criminal justice system, including updates on policy, member activity, and speakers on relevant topics. The session also provides a space to gather feedback and discuss key issues, enabling Clinks to reflect these to national government at Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) meetings.

This event is open to members of the Clinks Women’s Network. If you are not yet a member, registration is free and open to current Clinks members who work or volunteer in a women-specific voluntary organisation, or those who deliver fully established services designed specifically for women. [Tuesday 15 September 2026 | 10:00 to 12:00 | Online | Free]

Register here

MEMBER FOCUS: Acts 435

Acts 435 is an online giving charity that enables you to crowdfund to provide essential items for people in need. It is a completely free resource open to all registered charities (with income of less than £5 million) working with people experiencing poverty and hardship.  Partner charities can post requests onto the Acts 435 website for specific items such as a washing machine, bus pass, or job interview clothes and individuals give online to meet the needs.  Each request capped at £200, this is fast, financial help with requests met on average in less than a week, making a direct impact for specific people in need. Complete their enquiry form to find out more!

Voluntary sector organisations have responded to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the Sentencing Act. The Prison Reform Trust warned that “the more exclusions the government adds the fewer prison places it saves”, with PRT analysis suggesting around 10,000 people will now spend longer in prison than intended by the legislation. Rape Crisis England and Wales welcomed the exclusion of sexual offences but raised concerns that relying on narrow offence categories is problematic, as many perpetrators of serious sexual violence will be eligible for release because more serious charges were dropped. Refuge criticised the decision not to exclude domestic abuse perpetrators from the early release scheme, warning it will heighten survivors’ fears for their safety.

PRT response

Rape Crisis response

Refuge response

Responding to the IOPC data showing an increase in deaths in police custody, INQUEST’s Executive Director Deborah Coles said: “No one should be dying at the hands of police… The data lays bare the harm of police responding to people with mental ill health. Rather than treating people in crisis with care and dignity, they are subjected to use of force.”

Read INQUEST’s response here

HMPPS Education Group is inviting current and prospective Education Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) suppliers to attend a Supplier Expo on Wednesday 9 September 2026 in London. The Expo is intended to support wider market engagement, particularly with SMEs, VCSE organisations, and specialist education providers, giving suppliers the opportunity to liaise directly with prison leads and prepare for future opportunities. The event will be structured around a stall-based format, enabling suppliers to showcase their organisation and education services to prison education leads and Governors. Senior HMPPS representatives and anticipated ministerial representation are expected to attend. HMPPS is also keen to hear from learners who have secured employment following engagement with DPS suppliers, and welcomes nominations of individuals willing to participate in a learner voice panel. Places may be limited, so early registration is encouraged. The deadline to confirm attendance is 10 August 2026. [Wednesday 9 September 2026 | 10:00 | London | Free]

Book here 

The Ministry of Justice is hosting a virtual market engagement event on the future commissioning of Women’s Community Support Services. The event offers an opportunity to engage with the MoJ ahead of the formal procurement process, gain early insight into strategic objectives, and help shape future service delivery. It will also explore the commercial viability of proposed frameworks and support market readiness for tender publication. Topics will include performance measures and improvements, payment mechanisms and incentivisation, records, reports and audits, and a high-level contract overview. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions and share feedback throughout. Current providers, voluntary and community sector organisations, and prospective bidders are all welcome. [Thursday 10 September 2026 | 10:00 to 13:00 | Online | Free]

Register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Sentencing Act Progression Model update following the review of early release scheme

Following an urgent review, the Government announced on 4 August that people convicted of rape, serious child sex offences, and grooming will be barred from the early release provisions of the Sentencing Act 2026 and will see no change to their custodial sentence. The wider implementation of the new Progression Model which lowers the automatic release point from half to one third for standard determinate sentences has been delayed from September to 1 October 2026. The Prime Minister stated he wanted to go further, but doing so would risk the prison system collapsing, noting that the adult male estate is currently at 98% capacity.

Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Tougher community supervision package announced

Alongside the Sentencing Act exclusions, the Government announced a stricter community supervision package. This includes a presumption that all people leaving prison will be tagged, near real-time electronic monitoring data for probation staff, random drug testing for 1,000 people every month, and moves to double the number of regions using chemical suppression to manage the drivers of sexual offending. The Government has also committed a £10 million boost for victim support to fund local trauma-focused services and a dedicated victim helpline.

Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Temporary Presumptive Re-categorisation Scheme (TPRS36)

The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS have published operational guidance for a new temporary scheme to maximise the use of the prison estate. TPRS36 presumes that eligible Category C prisoners serving standard determinate sentences can be re-categorised to Category D up to 36 months before their conditional release date, subject to defined eligibility criteria and exclusions.

Read the guidance here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Chief Inspector calls for mental health assessments in police custody

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor has issued a stark warning that seriously mentally ill people are being sent to prison when they require urgent psychiatric assessment and treatment. The warning follows an inspection of HMP Birmingham, where an average of nine acutely mentally unwell men a month were arriving from court without having received a Mental Health Act assessment in police custody. The Chief Inspector has written to the Home, Health, and Justice Secretaries calling for immediate action.

Read more here

FUNDING: Hilden Charitable Fund - Grants for penal affairs and refugee support

The Hilden Charitable Fund is offering grants of generally £5,000 to £7,000 per year for two years to smaller UK charitable organisations with an annual income of no more than £200,000. Grants are available to organisations working to support asylum seekers, refugees, and penal affairs in the UK. The Fund particularly wants to support work delivered “through the door” in prisons, and equally welcomes applications for post-release projects supporting positive resettlement, re-establishing family bonds, and reducing reoffending. The deadline for applications is [27 August | 15:00]

Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: Schroder Charitable Trust: Core and project grants

The Schroder Charitable Trust is offering core and project grants of up to £5,000 for one year to organisations with an annual income of between £150,000 and £1 million. The Trust considers applications under two objectives: enabling children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to thrive and achieve their potential in education and employment; and strengthening communities through services and opportunities which enhance the wellbeing and life outcomes of vulnerable and disadvantaged people. The deadline for applications is [28 August | 17:00]

Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: Youth Music Trailblazer Fund (Round 13)

Youth Music is offering grants of between £2,000 and £30,000 to organisations in England to run music projects for young people aged 25 or under. Round 13 of the Trailblazer Fund focuses on: early years; disabled, d/Deaf, and neurodivergent young people; young people involved with the youth justice system; young people facing barriers; young adults; and organisations and the workforce. The deadline for applications is Friday 28 August 2026.

Find out more and apply here

RESOURCE: Breakthrough Restart Hub - Free resource site for people leaving prison

The Breakthrough Restart Hub is a free online resource aimed at people rebuilding their lives after leaving prison. Using a “five doors” approach, the site breaks down key areas of re-entry into accessible, beginner-friendly guidance, covering finding employment with a conviction, learning AI and digital skills for free, exploring career paths in trades, care, and tech, managing banking and budgeting, and recommended reads for motivation and mindset. The resource may be useful to share with people you support, as well as to signpost through your own services.

Visit the Breakthrough Restart Hub here

PUBLICATION: Young adult women prisoners’ understandings of safety and ‘good’ staff-prisoner relationships

This paper describes the findings of a study of young adult prisoners in HMP Styal. The research examined prisoners’ understandings of (un)safety in prison, as well as their reported experiences of staff-prisoner relationships, through an intersectional lens of age and gender. The study included 24 qualitative 1:1 interviews, as well as co-produced drama workshops with a group of eight young adults, the latter facilitated by network member, Clean Break Theatre Company. 

Read paper here 

PUBLICATION: (Mis)trusting Justice?

The Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research (ICPR) and Revolving Doors have published a new report based on interviews with 131 people who had been involved in criminal or family court proceedings in the previous three years. The research found that long-standing mistrust is entrenched through court encounters, especially among minoritised ethnic groups. Participants felt “processed” rather than listened to, describing court proceedings as intimidating and “cold”. The report makes 17 recommendations, including co-designing services with people with lived experience, adopting a problem-solving approach, and reducing legal jargon.

Read the report here

PUBLICATION: Understanding people in prison overseas - The Cheal Report 

Prisoners Abroad has published the fourth edition of the Cheal Report, its annual publication on British people imprisoned overseas. Alongside presenting the latest data, this edition introduces a new section exploring the broader implications of emerging trends. The report aims to contribute to informed discussion, support effective policymaking and practice, and deepen understanding of the experiences and needs of British people imprisoned overseas.

Read the report here

StandOut is seeking a values-driven individual with excellent communication skills to join our team as our Fundraising Officer [£30,000 full time, Vauxhall, London]. You will blend storytelling with statistics, events management with stakeholder engagement, and research with data protection. 

The role would fit someone with at least one year of fundraising experience, however this is not a limiting factor. StandOut considers interest and passion for working in the criminal justice sector a key ingredient for success in this role. As part of our new strategy, you will help diversify income streams, strengthen relationships with existing funders and donors, and develop new partnerships. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and recognise that valuable fundraising skills and experiences can come from many different paths. Find out more and apply by 18th August here  

Senior Practitioner with Phoenix Futures [£30085, N7 8TT, Full Time]; Accommodation Advisor - HMP Oakwood with Nacro [£28851 to £29572, HMP Oakwood - Wolverhampton, Full Time]; Accommodation Advisor - HMP Dovegate with Nacro [£28851 to £29572, HMP Dovegate - Uttoxeter, Full Time]; MentorMe Project Liaison Officer with Sixty-One [£28500 to £28500, Bristol, Part Time]; Prison Facilitator - HMP Bullingdon with Shannon Trust [£29264, HMP Bullingdon, Part Time]; Policy and Communications Officer with SHiFT Organisation Ltd [£38000, Hybrid, with regular travel to our London office and partner sites as needed., Full Time]; SHiFT Practice Development Lead North with SHiFT Organisation Ltd [£50000, Co-located with South Tees YJS and Manchester YJS; regular travel across SHiFT Practices and to SHiFT's London office, Full Time]; Diversion Keyworker with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£28000 to £32000, Finsbury Park, Full Time]; Women's Centre Coordinator with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£28000 to £32000, Hammersmith, Full Time]; Finance Benefit & Debt Advisor with The Growth Company [£30000, Beverley & HMP Humber, Full Time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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