On Wednesday 28th June, Catch22 hosted its conference “The role of the third sector in the criminal justice system”, in which we welcomed attendees from voluntary organisations, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), the Ministry of Justice and many more. The conference provided a platform to celebrate the sector’s many successes and address its challenges, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing to collectively find solutions and enhance the impact of the third sector.
We welcomed leaders in the field to deliver a keynote addresses: Anne Fox, CEO of Clinks, and Nina Champion, CEO of the Criminal Justice Alliance. We then had the privilege of hearing from experts, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of justice and the transformation of lives affected by crime.
Through the various seminars that were presented, we gained insights into successful programmes that have made a measurable impact, explored collaborative partnerships between non-profits and criminal justice agencies, and examined strategies to enhance community engagement in both victim support and rehabilitation initiatives.
When asked about the seminars, attendees said:
“Powerful. Insightful. Necessary.”
“Great panel – it was great to hear from people with loved experiences and their views! It was thought provoking and informative.”
At the end of the day, we held a panel event “Achieving Impact through Commissioning”, in which we heard from both commissioners and third sector organisations about their experiences of commissioning – what works, what doesn’t and what we can learn from what’s gone before.
One attendee said:
“Excellent discussion with very informative answers from the panel.”
The conference also hosted a selection expo-booths, from organisations such as Nacro, Genius Within, Switchback, AIR Network and many more. Organisations working in the criminal justice system shared information and insight about their work and formed collaborative relationships with those attendees in the field.
We are grateful to all the speakers and delegates for actively participating in each of the seminars, engaging in thoughtful discussions, and sharing experiences and expertise. We hope this conference has supported third sector organisations to broaden their perspectives and work collectively towards a future where justice is restorative, communities are empowered, and both victims and perpetrators have the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Our justice services are looking forward to hosting the conference again next year!