Dr Ella Simpson is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Greenwich. Their research focuses on the use of creative arts interventions in the criminal justice system (CJS) and prior to entering academia, Ella worked as a creative writing facilitator in prisons in London and the South West of England. Ella is interested, more broadly, in research with people who have lived experience of criminal justice and with LGBTQI+ communities.

Finding Rhythms uses music as a catalyst to empower people to improve their lives. They deliver creative projects in prisons and in the community, supporting people at risk of offending to rebuild their confidence, strengthen their sense of belonging and experience a shift in how they see themselves. Led by professional musicians, participants collaborate to write, record and release original music – telling their stories, often for the first time.

The Recruitment Junction is a job-finder service for people with convictions in the north of England. They deliver on skills shortages across the north east, push back on regional unemployment and contribute to a national reduction in reoffending.

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies stand for a fair, effective and accountable justice system, in a society less dominated by criminalisation and punishment, because it has developed better ways of preventing and addressing the problems of crime.

It creates lively spaces for collaboration and learning, where conventional criminal justice policy agendas are scrutinised and challenged, fresh knowledge and ideas are discussed, and transformational solutions are developed.

Through vocational training opportunities, resources and environments that support rehabilitation, UpCycle help individuals rewrite their stories and reclaim their lives. UpCycle run bike maintenance programmes for at-risk and marginalised youth across the Bradford area and in seven prisons and young offenders institutions across the UK.

Onwards and Upwards aims to break the cycle of reoffending by launching and growing sustainable social ventures that mentor, train, and employ prison leavers. They aim to create ventures that are trusted brands, and small, beautiful and loud businesses. They mean to prove that employing people with lived experience makes business sense, thereby encouraging more employers to do so.

At Breakthrough, every person who has left prison or is at risk of going to prison has a pathway to re-create their lives. By selecting and training exceptional prison leavers and people at risk of entering prison, Breakthrough embeds a diverse pool of talent in the UK’s workforce, bringing lasting positive change to both business and society, and changing attitudes towards prison leavers and people at risk of entering prison.

Glasshouse leverages theatre for social change within the Criminal Justice System. By uniting diverse communities, they use the power of creativity to conduct impactful workshops, produce thought-provoking theatre, and foster dialogue to reshape perceptions of prison and those affected. They encourage active participation in criminal justice reform by holistically engaging all impacted individuals, spanning education, the prison system and the private sector.

YCG Trust has been set up to carry out activities which benefit the community and in particular (without limitation) to achieving the effective reintegration of serving prisoners and prison leavers and reducing rates of reoffending in the community following release (through support with their sentence planning and progression, mentoring, education, training, employment, accommodation and other support needs whilst in custody and following release).

The Hardman Trust focuses on the needs of people serving long sentences as they leave prison. It provides practical and financial support into work and training, and ongoing one-to-one support on release to support resettlement. It also produce the Hardman Directory, a book outlining sources of support for people leaving prison.

Changing Lives believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their potential. With experts in working with people experiencing the most challenging of circumstances, providing holistic support to help people to go on to lead happy, fulfilling lives, Changing Lives works across four – often interconnected – areas to address the most common causes of social exclusion and long-term deprivation: Housing and Homelessness, Addiction and Recovery, Women and Children, and Employment and Training.

Entrepreneurs Unlocked helps individuals develop their skills to become their own boss and lead crime-free lives.

For many people whose career prospects may be limited due to their criminal record entrepreneurship and self-employment could be the best pathways to a better life.

Growing Futures UK was founded in 2013 by Desmond Brown to work with disadvantaged communities in Bristol, the South West and beyond. In 2016 Growing Futures UK became a C.I.C. with Beaula McCalla coming on board as a director. So from the directors to mentors its staff are trained and DBS checked along side yearly training in safeguarding. Its board, trustees and staff are committed to providing bespoke and tailored programmes, resources and educational opportunities for our communities. Growing Futures UK works with schools, learning providers and community groups.

Food Behind Bars is the UK’s only Registered Charity dedicated to transforming the food served in British prisons. It works with prisons on the subject of food – to improve the lives of those eating it and support the people making it. Its aim is to positively impact the health and wellbeing of prisoners, by delivering practical food-based education, promoting healthy eating and designing exciting food and drink initiatives.

Its projects and activities cover every aspect of food, cooking, eating and hospitality. Food Behind Bars works with prisons on a bespoke basis, co-designing original initiatives that enable prisons to champion wholesome, tasty and exciting food. Its work is shaped around each unique establishment and united by our philosophy of wholesome food for everyone in society.

DWRM Consultants partners with universities to support delivery of higher education in prisons and when people are released.

Cranstoun believes in empowering people and empowering change. It is a social justice and harm reduction charity. Cranstoun works across the areas of substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and young people. Its criminal justice work is evidence-informed and supported by its expertise in substance use and domestic abuse and the benefits of a trauma-informed response. Cranstoun believes in creating whole system change, providing the right intervention at the right time and reaching people where they are at.

Innovation Unit works to provide systems change for the public sector; growing and scaling the boldest and best innovations that deliver long-term impact for people, address persistent inequalities, and transform the systems that surround them. Innovation Unit’s innovation and impact formula combines decades of practical experience with recent research, to help partners design new solutions, implement them successfully and take them to scale for greater impact.

Recre8now combines psychology and performance to deliver creative drama workshops and programmes for young people (aged 10-25 years) who have offended, and those who are at risk of offending. The programmes offered by Recre8now are unique forms of rehabilitation work in which participants’ perspectives are proactively challenged, helping individuals to reintegrate into society.

The New Horizon Youth Centre is a day centre for 16 to 24-year-olds who find themselves homeless or needing help, whether due to family breakdown, domestic abuse, poverty, experiences of violence, or war and persecution in their home country.