This specialist quarterly ebulletin keeps you updated on relevant developments for organisations working to support women in contact with the criminal justice system. Please contact Jackie Lowthian at Jackie.lowthian@clinks.org if there is anything you would like to raise or to include items in the next ebulletin.
In this edition...
Clinks News: 2026 Voluntary Sector-Led Manifesto
Clinks has published its 2026 manifesto, setting out a voluntary sector-led vision for a fairer and more effective criminal justice system. The manifesto calls for a shift away from prison expansion and short-term crisis management towards prevention, community-based support, stronger partnership working and long-term investment in voluntary sector services. Key recommendations include establishing a Community Justice Investment Fund, reducing remand and recall, strengthening resettlement support, improving probation governance, and implementing a whole-systems approach for women in contact with the criminal justice system. Read here.
Clinks news: The Effective Implementation of the Sentencing Act – Report 1: Resettlement
Clinks has published the first report from the RR3 Special Interest Group on the Effective Implementation of the Sentencing Act, exploring what is needed to support effective resettlement as the Act is implemented. The report highlights the importance of pre-release planning, through-the-gate support, access to essential services, partnership working and sustainable voluntary sector provision. Read here
Clinks News: RR3 Quarterly Meeting - June 2026
Clinks has published the minutes from the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) quarterly meeting held in June 2026. The minutes provide an update on the group’s discussions, including key issues affecting the voluntary sector and its work with government to inform criminal justice policy and practice. Read here
Criminal Justice News: Independent Review of the Prison System
As reported in the previous Women’s Bulletin, the Independent Review of the Prison System, led by former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, is currently underway. Since our last update, Clinks has provided members with several opportunities to contribute to the review. On 15 September, the Head of the Review Team attended the Women’s Network Forum to outline the review’s scope and objectives, and to hear directly from attendees about the issues and challenges affecting women in contact with the criminal justice system. On 29 September, Amber Rudd joined the RR3 quarterly meeting, where she heard from members about the key issues they wished to raise. Contributions included insights from our women’s specialist seat holder, Christina Line, CEO of The Nelson Trust, who highlighted the priorities and concerns of organisations supporting women across the criminal justice sector. Clinks will be facilitating further opportunities for the sector to engage directly with both the review team and with Amber Rudd, with a focus on lived experience and families. Read here
Criminal Justice News: £4.4 million for victim services in Cambridgeshire
As part of the Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls and deliver swifter justice for victims, funding, allocated to the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), will help victims access practical, emotional and therapeutic support. £4.4 million over two years will support services providing practical, emotional and therapeutic support to victims, with over £2.4 million ringfenced for domestic and sexual abuse services, including more than £180,000 for Peterborough Women’s Aid. Find out more
Clinks networks: Women’s Network Forum
At our September forum, as well as a focus on the Independent Review of the Prison System, network members heard international perspectives on community provision for women in Canada, Germany, Finland and the USA, with presentations from Sarah Smith, Policy Manager at One Small Thing, Churchill Fellow 2024 and Stephanie Akhter, Director of the Women’s Justice Commission, convened by the Council on Criminal Justice in the USA. You can watch a recording of Stephanie’s presentation here and find out more about the Women's Justice Commission. If you’d like to receive the slides from Sarah’s presentation, please email jackie.lowthian@clinks.org
Clinks members’ news: NEST: a new partnership supporting girls and young women earlier
Following extensive co-production with girls and young women, Advance and Together Women are launching NEST, a new two-year initiative supporting girls and young women aged 14 to 25 who are at risk of entering, or already in contact with, the criminal justice system. Delivered by Advance in London and Together Women in Leeds NEST is built around one simple principle: having a trusted person who stays alongside you can make a real difference. Through a dedicated Advocate, girls and young women will receive relationship-based, trauma-responsive support shaped around their needs and circumstances. NEST builds on the work of the Her Insight Collective on Justice and has been made possible through founding investment from The Weavers’ Company. The Leeds and London pilots will generate important learning about how earlier, gender-responsive support can prevent girls and young women becoming more deeply involved in the criminal justice system. Links to further information: The NEST Project (Aged 14-25 Criminal Justice Support) - Advance Charity and NEST for Girls and Young Women - Together Women
Clinks members’ news: Young Women’s Advisory Network
As part of their Young Women’s Justice project, Agenda Alliance are continuing to recruit for the Young Women’s Advisory Network for young women aged 17-25 with experience of the criminal justice system. Currently, the Network is involved in the development of a toolkit for the sector, on how to support young women in contact with the criminal justice system. If you are working with any young women who have experience of the criminal justice system, and who you think might be interested in joining the Network, please email tara@agendaalliance.org for more information. Find out more about the Young Women’s Justice Project
Clinks members’ news: Connecting London for women and girls
Agenda Alliance are running a survey for London-based organisations working with women with multiple unmet needs to feed into the development of a multi-year campaign they are creating as part of their project 'Connecting London for Women and Girls' funded by the City Bridge Foundation. Complete the survey, which will take around 10 minutes, here.
Clinks members’ news: Women in Prison highlights impact of emergency worker assault charges on women
A new briefing from Women in Prison argues that the offence of Assault on an Emergency Worker is having a disproportionate impact on women, particularly those experiencing mental ill health, trauma, domestic abuse or crisis situations. According to the briefing, women accounted for almost 30% of adults sentenced for the offence in 2024, despite representing a much smaller proportion of those accused of common assault. The charge now makes up more than half of all female prosecutions for violence against the person. The briefing suggests that women seeking help from emergency services, or responding to fear, trauma or restraint, can find themselves criminalised rather than supported. Women in Prison is calling for greater understanding of women’s needs and more effective responses at times of vulnerability. Read the briefing
Clinks members’ news: Strategic priorities from the women’s sector
The Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) is coordinating the women’s sector’s contribution to the UK’s next UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which provides an important framework for holding governments to account on women’s rights. Drawing on engagement with women’s organisations across the country, WRC has published a series of interim reports highlighting key concerns, including violence against women and girls, poverty, housing, access to justice, racism and insecure funding. A separate report focuses on the experiences of older women. (Links to the reports are provided in the ‘Publications’ section further on). Women’s organisations are encouraged to support the coalition submission, which will be submitted to the United Nations later this year. You can contribute your views by completing this survey.
Clinks Annual General Meeting
Clinks’ 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) is coming soon [11 November 2026, 11:15 - 12:45, online, free]. Our AGM allows Clinks to carry out the business that is vital to our work, including a space for our members to exercise their right to elect our trustees. You can find details of the current trustees here. Come along to comment on Clinks’ work and our priorities for the year ahead. Register to attend here
Clinks training: Report Writing NCJAA & Royal Literary Fund Workshop
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. [7 December 2026, 10:00 - 12:00, online, free]. Sign up to learn how to write reports that convey messages effectively and efficiently. Through writing exercises and discussion, you will discover how to organise information and approach the different stages of producing a report from initial ideas to final draft. Find out more and book your place
Clinks members’ event: Make Lived Experience Heard: Join PLIAS Resettlement’s Event
At a time of significant change and uncertainty across the sector, the voices of children, young people and service users must remain central. PLIAS Resettlement has therefore opened its upcoming event, “The Voice of the Child, Young Person and Service User,” to everyone, with both in-person and virtual attendance available. Attendance is free, with donations welcomed from those who can contribute. This year’s theme is too important for cost to be a barrier. The event will bring together practitioners, leaders, community organisations, advocates and service users for a conversation that can help shape change. Anyone committed to listening, learning and placing lived experience at the heart of their work is warmly invited to attend. Register for the event
Clinks members’ research: Lancashire Women’s Reducing Recalls Project
A final evaluation of Lancashire Women’s Reducing Recalls Project finds that trauma-informed, relationship-based support can help women break cycles of prison recall. Practical support before and after release improved engagement with probation, access to accommodation and services, confidence and stability, while reducing repeat recalls for some of the most vulnerable women. The evaluation emphasises that reducing recall requires safe accommodation, trusted support and opportunities to rebuild. With funding secured for a further three years, the project will expand through regional partnerships and national learning events. Read the full evaluation
National Women’s Justice Coalition (NWJC): Positioning women’s centres at the heart of the shift from crisis response to prevention
NWJC has co-published a new briefing, Women’s Centres: An Essential Part of the Government’s Early Intervention Infrastructure, with the Centre for Young Lives and the JABBS Foundation for Women and Girls. The briefing highlights the vital role of women’s centres in early intervention and reducing contact with the criminal justice system, calling for sustainable funding and stronger integration into public services. A short accompanying film is also available to watch. Read the briefing
Clinks members’ research: The disproportionate impact on women of emergency worker assault charges
A new report from Women in Prison highlights how the offence of Assault on an Emergency Worker can criminalise women experiencing mental ill health, domestic abuse, trauma or crisis. In 2024, women accounted for almost 30% of adults sentenced for the offence, which now represents 52% of female prosecutions for violence against the person, compared with 22% of male prosecutions. The research also found that some women were arrested after emergency services were called to domestic abuse incidents, including where their actions were described as self-defence or responses to trauma. Women in Prison stresses that protecting emergency workers and supporting vulnerable women are not competing aims, and calls for responses that recognise trauma and domestic abuse rather than criminalising women seeking help. Read the report
WRC Reports
As mentioned above, over the last year, WRC has brought women’s organisations together through regional in-person and online events, hearing about the issues affecting women and girls and the services supporting them. They have published three interim reports capturing the content of these discussions, highlighting shared concerns including violence against women and girls, poverty, housing, access to justice, racism and insecure funding. Read the reports here
Research participants wanted: Mothers with Experience of Prison
Katy Aazem, a trainee child, community and educational psychologist, is seeking mothers to take part in a doctoral research project exploring the impact of imprisonment on children’s education and family life. The study is looking for mothers who have experienced prison and had school-aged children during that time. Participants will have an initial online meeting, followed by the opportunity to contribute through photography and a small creative group session using photography and collage. The project aims to provide a supportive space for mothers to reflect on their experiences, connect with others, and help shape future understanding of the challenges facing families affected by imprisonment. Participants’ wellbeing, perspectives and stories will be respected throughout the research process. To find out more, contact: ka24546@essex.ac.uk
London Funding Opportunity: VAWG Grassroots Fund
The London Community Foundation, on behalf of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), has launched a new round of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Grassroots Fund to support specialist organisations working with women and girls across London. The programme will provide grants of up to £150,000 over three years for individual organisations and up to £180,000 for partnerships. Priority will be given to grassroots organisations led by and for Black women and girls, women and girls from minority ethnic communities, and other marginalised groups experiencin@hafasg violence and abuse. Eligible organisations must have at least three years of operating experience and be delivering VAWG services in London. Applications close at 2pm on 4 November 2026. Find out more and apply: MOPAC Violence Against Women and Girls Grassroots Fund
A radical new proposal for sustainable funding
The Women’s Resource Centre is building the Women’s Forever Fund, which is a new ethical endowment designed to create a sustainable, long-term source of funding for women’s organisations. The Fund was launched at the House of Lords in January 2026, bringing together women’s organisations, funders and supporters behind a shared ambition: to build lasting financial infrastructure for a sector that, too often, has had to to rely on short-term and uncertain funding. They’re developing the Fund’s investment, governance and grant making frameworks and building support from philanthropic, corporate and government partners. The ambition is for the Fund to provide long-term support for women’s organisations, strengthening the ecosystem and giving us more financial independence. They have a Just Giving Campaign open for donations and you can find out more about the Women’s Forever Fund here.
Clinks Blogs
This month, we launched a manifesto blog series highlighting key recommendations from our new voluntary sector-led manifesto for criminal justice reform.
Our first guest blog by Recoop elaborates on the Manifesto's recommendations around supporting older people in prison. We then published a guest blog by Revolving Doors, which argues for more effective partnership working between the voluntary sector and probation, followed by a guest blog by The Recruitment Junction, highlighting the need to fund Community Employment Brokers to help sustain long-term employment.
We also published a blog examining prison overcrowding and early release through a family-focused lens, arguing that criminal justice policy should give greater consideration to the impact of imprisonment and release decisions on families, children and support networks, and highlighting the role of family relationships in supporting successful resettlement and rehabilitation.
We published a guest blog by Release Mates exploring why the first hours and days after prison release are so critical to successful resettlement. Drawing on lived experience, the blog highlights the importance of tailored through-the-gate support, early planning, effective information sharing, and practical day-of-release assistance, arguing for the expansion of Departure Lounges and lived experience-led support to help people rebuild their lives and reduce the risk of falling through the cracks.
We published a blog arguing that efforts to reduce the number of women in prison should be driven by long-term justice reform rather than the need to create capacity elsewhere in the prison estate, calling for greater investment in gender-responsive community alternatives and specialist support services to reduce reliance on custody and improve outcomes for women.
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