National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance

Art of the Matter
2025-03-19 09:30 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Rich Mix
If family relationships are the golden thread to supporting children affected by parental imprisonment, what role can the arts play in this?
For 2025 Clinks Family Network and the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) Anne Peaker Lecture are joining forces to bring you an in person event.
Clinks launched its family network in 2023 and has worked to bring the voluntary sector together to influence policy and practice. The network have highlighted the need for more funding for family work; consistent approaches to visits and the impact stigma has. This event will spotlight how organisations offer a creative approach to supporting children and families affected by the criminal justice system. It aims to bring together voluntary organisations, art practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders to listen to and discuss how the arts have been used as a vital tool to support families.
This event will celebrate the work of the voluntary sector working to support children and families of those in the criminal justice system by creating opportunities to share learning and good practice, network and consider future opportunities.
This event has been coproduced with All Things Considered Theatre who will be showcasing their fantastic performance, ‘8 Hours There and Back’, following the stories of Ruby, Jake and Grace as they navigate a world that they shouldn’t be in and a system that has forgotten about them. Told through a fusion of dance, projections, and words ‘8 Hours There and Back’ examines how a system set up by adults is failing the children. This piece is inspired by the stories from children. Every story belongs to someone.
Anne Peaker was a pioneer of arts for, and by, people in the criminal justice system. This event honours her work and legacy, which forms the basis of the work NCJAA do today.
Find our more and book your tickets here

Free Writing Development Workshops
2024-09-10 - 2025-03-11 | Online

Why gender matters in the criminal justice system - 2 part workshop
2024-05-13 10:00 - 2024-05-14 13:00
Monday 13 May 2024, 10:00 – Tuesday 14 May 2024, 13:00 | Online | From £95

Prison education: what the evidence tells us
2024-04-23 14:00 - 15:00
This is part of our “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series, to accompany our Evidence Library, giving you the chance to ask your own questions of leading academics talking about the latest research on an important criminal justice topic. Jon Collins; Chief Executive of Prisoners’ Education Trust, will discuss the latest evidence and the key elements which make for ‘good’ prison education.
You can read the evidence review here.

World Art Day
2024-04-15
15 April
A celebration to promote the development, diffusion and enjoyment of art.
Image credit: NCJAA presents Inspire 2023 – Jasmine Thompson

Anne Peaker Lecture 2024: Inspiring Futures
2024-03-26 16:00 - 18:00
Tuesday 26 March | 16:00 – 18:00 | Online | Free
In this year’s Anne Peaker lecture we will publicly share the findings of the Inspiring Futures research project for the very first time. Keynote speaker, Dr Caroline Lanskey, will take the audience through the report and a panel of key stakeholders will share their thoughts on, and hopes for, the findings.

Clinks: London Criminal Justice Forum
2024-03-21 13:00 - 14:30
All voluntary organisations working in the London Criminal Justice System are warmly invited to attend our next London criminal justice forum taking place online on Thursday 21 March (13:00 – 14:30).

Prison education: what the evidence tells us
2024-03-18 08:00 - 17:00
Jon Collins; Chief Executive of Prisoners’ Education Trust, will discuss the latest evidence and the key elements which make for ‘good’ prison education.
This is part of our “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series, to accompany our Evidence Library, giving you the chance to ask your own questions of leading academics talking about the latest research on an important criminal justice topic.

Working and volunteering in prisons training
2024-01-24 10:00 - 13:00
Join Clinks at this three-hour training session for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to raise awareness of the prison environment and provide information on key aspects such as staffing structures and departments, prison procedures and current challenges associated with working in prisons.

Navigating the criminal justice system workshop
2024-01-18 10:00 - 13:00
Join Clinks at this three-hour workshop for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of and provide the opportunity to explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works.

Clinks annual conference 2023
2023-11-22 10:00 - 17:00
Making race and justice everybody’s business

Clinks 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM)
2023-11-07 16:00 - 17:30

Free Writing Development Training
2023-10-18 14:00 - 2024-02-29 12:30 | Online
Training on writing reports, case studies, funding applications and self-expression
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is excited to revive its writing development training programme for individuals and organisations delivering arts-based services and projects in the criminal justice system. Working in partnership with the Royal Literary Fund (RLF), a programme of free, digital workshops will be held throughout 2022/23 to teach vital writing development skills for reports, case studies, and funding applications.

Commenting on the training programme before our pilot year, Janette Kilner, NCJAA Manager, said: “Through listening to our network of those who deliver creative interventions in prison, during probation and in the community, we know how important it is to write powerfully and persuasively to stakeholders, funders and the wider public. Our free workshops have been designed to develop these crucial writing skills, at zero cost to our sector, whilst also teaching how to facilitate putting experiences and feelings into words”.
We are delighted to be working together with the RLF to re-invigorate the programme this year across 2023-2024. We have restructured the writing reports and case studies two-part workshops. These will now be delivered in punchier and more impactful 2.5 hour workshops. The Funding Applications workshop has been segmented into two parts according content and considering participant feedback from last year, we can’t wait to share the learning and development space with you.
How to register
Registration is open for Workshops 1 & 2 Writing Funding Applications, please click below for more information on each workshop, how to register, and eligibility criteria.
To maximise inclusion and attendance, workshops are being delivered online via Zoom:
Writing Funding Applications Part 1

Tuesday 27 February 2024 10:00 – 12:30

Writing Funding Applications Part 2
Thursday 29 February 2024 10:00 – 12:30

Writing grant applications and funding bids is challenging and time consuming. This online training programme will guide you through the process of project planning while helping you to understand the key principles of writing applications and avoiding commonly made mistakes.

Hampshire Arts and Women's sector collaboration event: Caring for the Caretakers
2023-10-13 10:00 - 14:00 | The Point, Eastleigh, United Kingdom
Friday 13 October 2023, 10:00 – 14:00

The Point, Eastleigh, Hants
Image credit: BearFace Theatre
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) are working alongside Clinks Women’s Network and member organisation BearFace Theatre to bring you an exciting event that will bring together practitioners and organisations working, or with an interest in working with women in criminal justice through the arts or other ways.
Purpose of this event:

To focus on women / people who are working with women in the Criminal Justice System – (specifically Hampshire & IOW area focus). People working towards the welfare of women in the area.
To bring both practitioners and strategic leaders, in the Voluntary sector, statutory agencies and local creative orgs together. A chance to learn more about and strengthen the networks that support us as well as enhance signposting for service users.
To offer a space where we can connect, reflect and restore. Considering our true trauma informed practice and reflective needs as practitioners.

Find out more

Inspiring Futures Conference
2023-09-29 09:30 - 16:30 | Cambridge – generic, Cambridge, United Kingdom
The Inspiring Futures programme is a four-year collaboration between the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology and the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance. Working with partner organisations who have provided creative activities in prisons and community justice settings, the ESRC-funded research has been an evaluation of the meaning and impact of arts in criminal justice settings. To see some examples of the creative work involved, take a look at the Inspiring Futures online exhibition.
At this one-day conference, the research team (Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe, Dr Caroline Lanskey & Dr Sarah Doxat-Pratt) will share findings from their research and invite responses from scholars and practitioners. The day will include time for discussion and Q&A, as well as opportunities for networking and finding out more about the creative work involved in the Inspiring Futures project. A full schedule will be released nearer the time.
Find out more and register via Eventbrite

New Starts and Prison Arts Symposium
2023-09-28 11:00 - 16:00
28 September | Liverpool | £5
Liverpool Hope University, Novus and TATE Liverpool invite you to New Starts and Prison Arts, a day’s event on the very latest progressive education practices in prison arts in the UK. The day will consist of keynote addresses from leading professors in academia, hands-on practical workshops for new ideas for prison arts from those working in prison education and the establishment of a practice forum for prison arts for the UK.
Read more.

featured image credit: NCJAA presents Inspire 2023 – Louise Mackey

Cross-cultural arts practice with young people
2023-09-14 13:30 - 16:30 | Northumbria University
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) are working alongside Clinks Area Development Officer for the North to bring you an exciting event to bring together organisations working, or with an interest in, working with young people in criminal justice through the arts or other ways.
The NCJAA arts and criminal justice forums are typically online events themed around important ideas and relevant developments in criminal justice. We’re excited to meet in person this September and gather as a network around the theme of working creatively with young people in a criminal justice context.
You’ll have the chance to hear from expert speakers in both practice and research, meet others working in the field, and share good practice within the network. It will create a space to step away from the day job and provide an opportunity to share good practice, strengthen partnership working, and discuss any opportunities or challenges your organisation may be currently facing.
This event is co-delivered in partnership with Northumbria University who will be sharing their latest findings following the publication of The stolen generations case study via the NCJAA website last year.
We ae delighted to announce that Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuiness will provide the key note address.
Find out more

Navigating the criminal justice system workshop
2023-09-12 10:00 - 13:00
Date
Tuesday 12 September 2023, 10:00 – 13:00

Location
Online

Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system?
The criminal justice system as a whole can be quite daunting to understand because of both its size and complexity.
Join us at this three-hour workshop for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of and provide the opportunity to explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works.
The workshop will explore the different elements of, and the various structures within, the criminal justice system, including government departments, regional and local statutory agencies, and the role of the voluntary sector, the services they provide and its work in supporting people.

More information via clinks.org

‘Plants, Prisons and Potential’ with Faye Claridge
2023-07-18 17:00 | Online
Join the Prisoner Learning Alliance (PLA) for an online conversation about gardening for wellbeing in prisons with Artist Faye Claridge who works at the intersection of prisons, ecology, archives, and heritage. In 2021, Faye took Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) archive material into HMP Send, a women’s prison in Surrey. The collection documents how prisoners of war set up a horticultural society in Ruhleben internment camp in Germany during WW1. Its letters and photographs show the enormous impact that gardening had on their mental health and wellbeing. Faye’s project with the RHS – Plants, Prisons and Potential – draws on these materials to encourage women in prison to consider the role of gardening in their own wellbeing.
During this webinar, participants will learn more about Plants, Prisons and Potential at HMP Send, and about the programme it has since inspired at HMP Hewell, supported by Novus. You’ll also consider the benefits of the arts and horticulture in prisons and consider how prison teachers of other subjects could harness them in their lessons. The webinar will begin with the screening of a short film, co-produced by Faye and learners. This will be followed by a chaired conversation, and then questions and comments from the audience.
Register online

River of Sound - an evening of gamelan music
2023-07-12 18:00 - 21:30 | Sheffield
EMERGENCE COLLECTIVE / RESONATE SHEFFIELD / FOOD FROM OPEN KITCHEN
A chance to hear the unique sound of a Javanese ‘gamelan’ orchestra – a family of tuned instruments including gongs, xylophones and drums – in the beautiful setting and acoustics of the Highfield Trinity Church nave, as part of Sharrow Festival fringe.
The title is inspired by a member of the Highfield congregation who described sound of the gamelan at the launch as like ‘a river running through the middle of the church’.
We’ll start off with a showcase of what the Resonate Sheffield community music project has been up since we started weekly open sessions in May, as well as working with local community groups including Family Voice, St Wilfrid’s Centre and Men Up North.
We’re also very excited to be joined this time by Emergence Collective – an improvised music project featuring some of the finest musicians in Sheffield, who will be experimenting with the gamelan for the first time!
There will be opportunities to join in on the gamelan, and delicious food is included in the ticket price, served again by our friends at Open Kitchen Social Club – get down early before it runs out!
Tickets are on a sliding scale from £8-£15, please pay more if you can afford it to support the project and the musicians. Free tickets are also available for community groups and those who need it, please email sam@good-vibrations.org.uk to enquire.
Resonate Sheffield is a new community hub for Good Vibrations, a national charity supporting people in challenging circumstances through communal music-making, often using Indonesian ‘gamelan’ instruments. We work with some of the most marginalised people in the UK, in prisons, secure hospitals and in the community, supporting them to grow in confidence, deepen their communication and social skills, and develop more positive self-identities.
Find out more at www.good-vibrations.org.uk
This project is generously supported by Good Vibrations’ funders: Arts Council England, the Baring Foundation and Sheffield Town Trust.
Register via eventbrite

Clinks & London Probation: West London Engagement Event
2023-06-30 12:30 - 13:30 | Online
London Probation are encouraging voluntary organisations in Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Harrow and Hillingdon to apply to their latest Grants Programme for funding for services supporting Ethnic Minority Groups on probation. Grants up to £150,000 per year are available for up to three years.
This online event, facilitated by Clinks and London Probation, is designed for interested organisations who want to find out more information and receive guidance on how to apply.
Find out more

Open Clasp theatre company showcase new production: Rupture
2023-06-16 19:00 - 2023-06-17 20:30 | west end women and girls centre
16, 17 June | Newcastle | from £6
Rupture, written by Catrina McHugh MBE and directed by Rachel Glover was co-created with women from HMP Low Newton.
The play is based on true-life experiences, Rupture is their story about being mothers in prison. Rupture was made in partnership with NEPACS and Criminal Justice, Social Harm and Inequalities Research Group, Durham University.
Following a private performance of Rupture in HMP Low Newton, Open Clasp will be opening the showcase to the public with two performances in June at the West End Women and Girls Centre.
Find out more.

Arts in Criminal Justice Network Forum
2023-06-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
The NCJAA arts in criminal justice forums are regular online events themed around important ideas and relevant developments in criminal justice. You’ll have the chance to hear from expert speakers in both practice and policy, meet others working in the field, and share good practice within the network.
Forums are open to all working, or with an interest in, arts in criminal justice.
Register via Clinks website.

Featured image credit: NCJAA Presents Inspire, 2023 – Louise Mackey

HMPPS Regional Third Sector Stakeholder Events
2023-06-06 11:00 - 2023-07-06 13:00
Join Clinks and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Third Sector Partnerships and Programmes Team to gather feedback on the organisation-wide Third Sector Partnership Approach at a series of free events.
The Third Sector Partnership Approach provides a guiding set of principles to strengthen and maximise Ministry of Justice and HMPPS engagement with the Third Sector to highlight and raise the profile of the valuable services the Third Sector provides across England and Wales.
These events will also provide an opportunity to engage with regional HMPPS colleagues and hear about the upcoming Innovation Grants programme.
Birmingham, 6 June; | free | register now
Manchester, 22nd June; | free | register now
Newcastle, 6 July | free | register now

Featured image credit: NCJAA presents Inspire 2023 – Louise Mackey

Clinks: HMPPS Rehabilitation Services Engagement Event
2023-05-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Online
His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, in conjunction with Clinks, is organising an event to provide further details and clarity about the different ways HMPPS can partner with organisations to deliver services to people on probation and in prison. There are three main ways organisations can be commissioned to deliver services; through the Probation Dynamic Framework, the Prison Dynamic Purchasing System and the Probation Grants Portal. This session aims to guide the sector through each different system and provide clarity on their purpose and guidance on how to access future funding opportunities. By the end of the session organisations should have a greater understanding of the differences and eligibility requirements of each system and have had questions answered.
Speakers include:

Paul Carter – Deputy Director – Rehabilitation Services
Charlotte Kennett – Commercial Manager – Probation Dynamic Framework
Lucy Bradshaw – Commercial Manager – Probation Grants Application Portal
Carl Hinton – Senior Commercial Manager – Prison Education Dynamic Purchasing System
Angela Lucas – Head of Area Development – Clinks
Natalie Maidment – Development Officer – Clinks

Read more.

Clinks: Working with women in the criminal justice system workshop
2023-05-16 10:00 - 13:00
Is your organisation part of Clinks’ Women’s network? Do you have frontline staff or volunteers who are new to working or volunteering in your organisation and want to increase their understanding of women in the criminal justice system? If so, join us for this entry-level training course.
The workshop aims to develop understanding of women’s gendered experience of the criminal justice system and raise awareness of ‘a whole system approach’.
Find out more and register via Clinks website.
Exclusive to Women’s network members only
To attend this forum you must meet all of the following criteria:

Work or volunteer for a voluntary organisation currently delivering fully established services designed for women
Have a role in a women-specific organisation or a project designed specifically for women
Be a current Clinks member; if you / your organisation are not yet a Clinks member, you can find out more here: www.clinks.org/membership
Be part of the Clinks Women’s network; if you are not yet part of the network, you can join here: Join the Clinks Women’s network

Clinks in conversation with Amy Rees and Phil Copple
2023-05-03 10:00 - 11:30
Wednesday 3 May 2023, 10:00 – 11:30 | Hybrid event – in person and online | Free
Book now
Join us for this exciting opportunity for the voluntary sector to engage with Amy Rees, Director General CEO, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Phil Copple, the Director of Operations, HMPPS at our hybrid event. We will be hearing about the new HMPPS senior leadership structure and learning about the priorities and vision for the service, including the role and the value of the voluntary sector working within it.
The event will consist of a discussion between the chair, Anne Fox, Chief Executive Officer at Clinks, Amy Rees and Phil Copple focussing on the themes which have emerged from our recent State of the Sector research findings as well as other current issues that the voluntary sector is facing in the criminal justice system. This will then be followed by a Q&A, which we welcome questions to be submitted for in advance by emailing them to events@clinks.org by 31st March.
This will be a hybrid event hosted by the Ministry of Justice and we have a limited capacity of in-person tickets available to attend Petty France (London).
More information is available on the clinks wesbite.
Image credit: Clinks Conference 2023 – Ian Cuthbert

Clinks: Doing our stories justice
2023-04-28 10:00 - 12:00 | zoom
Stories are powerful, and stories from lived experience can be particularly effective in shining a light on why things need to change.
But how can we make sure stories are being heard and understood? How can we make sure our stories aren’t just resonating with our audiences, but are also helping to change hearts and minds?
In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how framing can play a part in how we tell stories of lived experience – whether you want to learn more about framing your own story, or you want to better support other people to tell theirs.
We’ll look at ideas such as the role of context and telling a wider systemic story, and practical tips which can be applied in a range of communications and situations to make sure we’re doing our stories justice.
The session will draw insights from FrameWorks UK’s latest work focused on criminal justice, and from their research in other areas such as poverty and homelessness.

Find out more and register via the Clinks website.

Clinks: No place for old men: what the evidence tells us
2023-04-20 14:00 - 15:00
Part of the “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series

Thursday 20 April 2023, 14:00 – 15:00 | Online | Free
Register now

Louise Ridley, senior lecturer in Criminology at Northumbria University, will discuss the latest evidence around the key issues and challenges of our ageing prison population.
This is part of our “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series, to accompany Clinks’ Evidence Library, giving you the chance to ask your own questions of leading academics talking about the latest research on an important criminal justice topic.
Louise Ridley previously taught criminology at the University of Teesside for 15 years. Before this Louise worked in a variety of different organisations providing support to vulnerable groups of people. She has interests and specialist expertise in the arts in criminal justice, prison mental health and older people in prison.
Louise has provided an in-depth look at the issues and challenges of our ageing population in a review for our Evidence Library, which you can read here: No place for old men | Clinks
There will also be a chance to ask Louise questions in a Q&A session. If you have a particular question you would like to ask, please send it to events@clinks.org.

Register now

All Wales criminal justice forum
2023-04-20 10:00 - 11:30
Thursday 20 April 2023, 10:00 – 11:30 | Online |Free

Clinks All Wales criminal justice forums bring together partners working across Wales in the criminal justice system. The forums will be held quarterly, providing an opportunity for people working in the criminal justice system to find out about latest government policy developments impacting organisations working in Wales.
These events also provide the space to network with other organisations, discuss opportunities for joint working and offer each other peer support. They are also an opportunity for Clinks’ members and partners to showcase their work.
The All Wales criminal justice forum is open to all organisations working in the criminal justice system in Wales.

Register online
Image Credit: Clinks Conference 2023 – Ian Cuthbert
