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Resources for Secure Environments

Third Sector Organisations

  • Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector, working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. Its vision is of a vibrant, independent and resilient voluntary sector that enables people to transform their lives. It  produces resources and runs events, training and conferences.
  • The Howard league for Penal Reform is a national charity, independent of government, which works with parliament, the media, criminal justice professionals, students and members of the public to influence debate and progress meaningful change to create safer communities. It provides a legal service for children and young people in custody, conducts research, and runs a variety of campaign programmes. Recent programmes have included transforming prisons, reducing child arrests  and promoting real work in custody.
  • The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody (IAP) is an ‘arms-length’ body co-sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care whose core aim is to bring about a continuing and sustained reduction in the number and rate of deaths in all forms of state custody in England and Wales. IAP provides independent advice and expertise to the Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody. It also makes recommendations to operational services and provides guidance on policy and best practice across sectors.
  • INQUEST is a charity which provides free and independent advice to bereaved people following a death in state care or detention in England and Wales. Their specialist casework includes deaths in police and prison custody, immigration detention, mental health settings and deaths involving multi-agency failings or where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question. They provide casework support through the inquest and investigation process for cases within their remit, and have online resources and a handbook available for anyone facing an inquest into the death of a relative. 
  • Medical Justice is a third sector organisation which helps people in detention, undertakes research, publishes reports to help to bring about policy change and campaigns to improve health care for people held in detention. It writes medico-legal reports which can be used to support asylum claims and letters outlining significant medical concerns.
  • Nacro is a national social justice charity offering support with jobs, education and training, resettlement and rehabilitation, health and wellbeing, and housing. Nacro’s Justice team works with young and adult offenders in prisons and in the community, supporting them to change their lives and to reduce the risk of reoffending. Nacro has recently published a Resettlement guide for healthcare professionals. The guide was written to introduce healthcare professionals working in the prison environment to the challenges faced by service users on leaving custody and to the resettlement interventions designed to meet these challenges. The guide provides prompts for action that the healthcare team can take to support service users.
  • The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) is an independent UK charity founded in 1981 which coordinates research, communications and advice functions. It works with partner organisations where necessary and gathers, analyses and publishes the facts about UK prisons, aiming to promote good practice, influence policy makers and inform prisoners, staff and the wider public. Its main objectives are to reduce unnecessary imprisonment, promote community solutions to crime, improve treatment and conditions for prisoners and their families and to promote equality and human rights in the justice system.
  • The Prisoners’ Education Trust is a prison education charity which works in every prison in England and Wales. It funds around  250 different courses in levels and subjects which are otherwise unavailable. It supports people to choose courses, build connections  with others and progress with their learning and it Champions the positive impact of education on rehabilitation.
  • The Royal British Legion is the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, providing support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. It offers expert advice and guidance, support with recovery, rehabilitation and transitioning to civilian life. RBL outlines key priority areas and highlights actions for the government to improve the health, finances and wellbeing of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
  • SSAFA (Soldiers', Sailors' & Airmen's Families Association) is the UK’s oldest national Armed Forces charity. SSAFA VCJS Support Service provides direct support to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families in contact with the criminal justice system. It works collaboratively with a number of other organisations including Clinks, NACRO, Prisoners’ Education Trust, POPS, Pact, Inside Time, Barnardo’s and Unlock in order to provide holistic support.
  • Unlock is an independent national charity that provides information, advice and support for people with convictions who are facing barriers because of their criminal record. Unlock also provides training and resources about criminal record disclosure to practitioners who support people with convictions and supports employers in the fair treatment of people with criminal records.
  • The Centre for Mental Health is a charity which works with partner organisations to carry out research, economic analysis and policy influence in mental health. It publishes reports on a variety of criminal justice topics including prevention of suicide, Mental health and criminal justice service transitions for young adults, employment support, therapy dogs.