Clinks’ development work in the North East, South West, North West and Wales focuses on listening to local need and ensuring voluntary organisations have their voice heard locally and nationally. The area development team provides one-to-one support to the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. We gather frontline intelligence that informs Clinks national policy work and strategic direction. The team works in partnership with local organisations and agencies to build strategic relationships, and represent voluntary organisations within local statutory structures.

What we do:

• Ensure local organisations are kept up to speed with changes to the criminal justice system.
• Capture, encourage and promote good practice.
• Help the voluntary sector collaborate. Develop networks and facilitating partnership opportunities to enable collaboration and coordination between different sectors.
• Provide training, support, guidance and other resources on issues that matter to local organisations.
• Listen and respond to the views and experiences of voluntary sector organisations to inform Clinks policy work at the national, regional and local level.
• Advocate for the voluntary sector and provide representation on strategic boards to make the case for innovative and proven approaches to supporting people in, or those affected by, the criminal justice system.
• Explore how voluntary sector organisations can become more sustainable. Work with local partners to promote funding opportunities and thinking of new ways of working.  

Through the Making Every Adult Matter coalition, we provide specialist support to local projects on how to target people who are most in need, improving reporting systems and working towards system change. Find out more on our multiple needs page.

Our expert staff are also available to visit our member organisations. If you would like a visit, contact us. Find out more about Clinks membership.

Regional criminal justice forums

Our regional criminal justice forums provide a regular opportunity for local members to come together, learn about new developments and hear from key stakeholders. Our local events have brought voluntary organisations together with prison governors, representatives from Community Rehabilitation Companies and the National Probation Service, Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities. Visit our events page for the latest events. Contact Angela Lucas to find out more about the next regional criminal justice forum, suggest items for discussion, or enquire about speaking opportunities. 

Our work in the North East

Clinks work in the North East is delivered in partnership with Voluntary Organisations Network North East (VONNE). Our role is to support the voluntary sector to keep up-to-date with changes in the criminal justice system by providing briefings and events, working with statutory organisations to ensure the voluntary sector is involved in decision making, and providing direct support to member organisations. To receive a monthly North East criminal justice ebulletin contact Natalie Maidment.

• We hold regular regional justice forums, to support information sharing and provide networking opportunities  
• We work with commissioners to positively engage the voluntary sector, including police and crime commissioners, probation and local authorities. The key contacts can be found in this briefing
• We work to strengthen the relationships between the seven North East prisons and the voluntary sector
• We facilitate local partnership working, and support co-ordinated approaches and collaboration through our MEAM work to support people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

Browse our Directory for organisations working in the North East. Read Clinks case studies showcasing the innovative work of our members in the region.
 
For more information on our work in the North East, contact Development Officer Natalie Maidment.

Our work in the North West

Our role in the North West is to support and build voluntary sector voice and influence at a regional level, ensuring the sector and criminal justice agencies are kept up-to-date with changes in the criminal justice system and structures, and monitoring the impact of change on organisations at a local level in order to influence national criminal justice policy.

• We hold regular regional criminal justice forum events to support information sharing and provide networking opportunities
• We work with statutory organisations and stakeholders and provide representation to ensure the voluntary sector is involved in decision making
• We work directly with members and provide support to organisations to address key issues and share good practice, encouraging and facilitating collaboration and partnership working between sectors
• Our North West Development Manager Angela Lucas leads on our devolution and localism work to better engage the sector in understanding and responding to the implications and opportunities of devolved responsibilities and commissioning structures for criminal justice services.

Browse our Directory for organisations working in the North West.

For more information on our work in the North West, contact Development Manager Angela Lucas.

Our work in the South West

Clinks representation in the South West is currently delivered via the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition and Amanda Sherriff, MEAM Partnerships Manager at Clinks, is based in the South West covering Bristol, Exeter, North Devon, Plymouth and Cornwall.

• We hold fortnightly networking events to support information sharing and provide opportunities to collaborate
• We facilitate local partnership working, and support coordinated approaches and collaboration through our MEAM work to support people experiencing multiple disadvantage
• We sit on the South West Reducing Reoffending Partnership Board offering input and support from the MEAM approach perspective.

Browse our Directory for organisations working in the South West.

For more information on our work in the South West, contact South West MEAM Partnerships Manager Amanda Sherriff.

Our work in Wales

Our role in Wales is to support and build voluntary sector voice and influence across Wales, ensuring the sector and criminal justice agencies are kept up-to-date with changes in the criminal justice system and structures, and monitoring the impact of change on organisations at a local level in order to influence Welsh & UK criminal justice policy in the context of the devolved landscape we have in Wales.

• We hold regular criminal justice forum events across Wales to support information sharing and provide networking opportunities
• We work with statutory organisations and stakeholders and provide representation to ensure the voluntary sector is involved in decision making
• We work directly with members and provide support to organisations to address key issues and share good practice, encouraging and facilitating collaboration and partnership working between sectors
• Our Wales Development Officer Bryn Hall works with our member organisations, statutory partners and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of criminal justice in Wales in the context of devolution. Whilst criminal justice is not devolved in Wales many of the areas that affect those in the criminal justice system such as housing, health and education are devolved, and it is important that Clinks’ work reflects this.
• We work with other infrastructure organisations across Wales to ensure that there is a joined up approach to criminal justice.

Browse our Directory for organisations working in Wales.

For more information on our work in Wales, contact Development Officer Bryn Hall.

Our work in London

Our role in London is to support and build voluntary sector voice and influence at a regional level, ensuring the voluntary sector and criminal justice agencies are kept-up-to-date with changes in the criminal justice system and structures, monitor the impact of change on organisations at a local level in order to influence national criminal justice policy, and promote partnership and collaborative working amongst organisations and agencies within the region.

• We hold regular regional criminal justice network meetings to support information and provide networking opportunities
• We work with statutory organisations and stakeholders and provide representation to ensure the voluntary sector is involved in decision making
• We work directly with members and provide support to organisations to address key issues and share good practice, encouraging and facilitating collaboration and partnership working between sectors
• Our London Development Officer Matt Uberoi works with our member organisations, statutory partners and stakeholders to better understand the complexities and address the key issues with the criminal justice system in London. Matt leads on our devolution and localism work and works with other infrastructure organisations to better engage with the sector and identify opportunities.

Browse our Directory for organisations working in London.

For more information on our work in London, contact Development Officer Matt Uberoi.