What we do
Unlock is an independent award-winning national charity that provides a voice and support for people with convictions who are facing stigma and obstacles because of their criminal record.Firstly, we help people to move on positively with their lives by empowering them with information, advice and support to overcome the stigma of their previous convictions.
Secondly, we seek to promote a fairer and more inclusive society by challenging discriminatory practices and promoting socially just alternatives.
What does this mean in practice?
Worried about your criminal record? We provide advice & support.
Support us
There are over 11 million people in the UK with a criminal record.Unlock helps people overcome past difficulties and move forward with hope to make a positive contribution to society.
There are a number of ways to support us. HELP US NOW! Thank you.
In the news
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Basic DBS checks are coming soon – find out more
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is introducing basic criminal record checks for people...
New research about the impact of criminal records on women trying to exit prostitution
The charity nia has this week published I’m no criminal – a report that examines the impact of ...
Blog – EastEnders, DBS checks and decriminalised offences
The latest blog by Christopher Stacey looks at whether the supermarket in EastEnders broke the ...
Rehabilitation in the internet age – The Google-effect and the disclosure of criminal records
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 provides people with criminal records protection from ...
News at Unlock
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Help us to create some imagery for our work
We’re looking for help in creating a number of original eye-catching photos, graphics and other...A huge thank you to all our volunteers
At the beginning of June we took the opportunity to say a huge “thank you” to all o...
‘Criminal record disclosure’ training – Book now for our workshop on 4th October
Our popular ‘criminal record disclosure’ training workshops continue. We are now ta...
Criminal Records Bill receives its first reading in House of Lords
Lord Ramsbotham’s Private Members’ Bill on amending the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 ha...
Find out more about fair access to employment
Fair access to employment
With this work, we're both supporting and challenging employers. We're encouraging employers to recruit people with convictions and deal with criminal records fairly. We're also challenging discrimination.
See how you can help us in our policy and campaign work
Help us with our policy and campaign work
We're looking for evidence to support key policy issues we're working on, including employers that carry out ineligible checks, and the 'google effect'. There are other ways to help too, including writing to your MP and donating to us.
Find out more about our training courses
Criminal record disclosure training for practitioners
We deliver 'criminal record disclosure' training as open courses and in-house sessions to help front-line practitioners provide accurate, effective advice. Training dates available for 2017.
Visit the information site
The country's most comprehensive source of practical self-help information for people with convictions on a wide range of issues that criminal convictions can affect
Visit the disclosure calculator
An online tool that works out when your convictions are spent and so don't need to be disclosed to most employers and insurers
Visit the online magazine
The online magazine for law-abiding people with convictions - share news, views and personal stories about life with a conviction
Find out more about our helpline
We give confidential peer advice by telephone, email and other ways. We focus on helping people overcome the effects of their criminal record.
Visit the online forum
A self-supporting community for law-abiding people with convictions - share information, advice and experience on moving on with a criminal record.
Visit Recruit!, our website for employers
There's a talent pool of over 10.5 million people that you might be overlooking. People with criminal records make good employees. Make sure you're not missing out. Recruit! is a website from Unlock that supports UK employers to recruit people with convictions and helps them to deal with criminal records fairly.Recent developments
VIEW ALL -- 16/08/2017in Employment discrimination, Latest, News & Media, News for employers, Way basic works, Way ROA works, What basics disclose
Basic DBS checks are coming soon – find out more
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is introducing basic criminal record checks for people in England & Wales. This replaces the service previously provided by Disclosure Scotland. This is a significant development for both people with criminal records and employers in England & Wales, so we’ve developed a new information page dedicate... - 26/07/2017in Information Hub, News & Media
Monthly update – July 2017
We’ve just published our update for July 2017. This months update includes: Some new information on hiring a car if you have a criminal record Updated information on complaints about probation which includes advice on complaining about Community Resolution Companies (CRC’s) A personal story on w... - 13/07/2017in Latest, News & Media, News on policy issues, What DBS disclose
New research about the impact of criminal records on women trying to exit prostitution
The charity nia has this week published I’m no criminal – a report that examines the impact of prostitution-specific criminal records on women seeking to exit prostitution. The report shows that the constant disclosure of these criminal records has led to discrimination and harassment and entrenched them in prostitution and the criminal justice sys... - 07/07/2017in Decriminalised gay sex offences, Employment discrimination, Ineligible checks, Latest, News & Media, Recruitment agencies, Unlock's blog, Way DBS work, What DBS disclose
Blog – EastEnders, DBS checks and decriminalised offences
The latest blog by Christopher Stacey looks at whether the supermarket in EastEnders broke the law in doing a DBS on Derek? And why did a historic decriminalised offence show up on his disclosure? Read it here.... - 06/07/2017in Case work, Helpline, News & Media, News on Unlock's work for individuals, Support case studies
Some examples of people we’ve helped
Looking back over the last couple of months, we’ve written up a few examples of the people we’ve helped. We hope they give a good idea of how we help people. However, more importantly than our role, we think that these examples show how people with convictions are able to overcome some of the barriers... - 06/07/2017in News & Media, Newsletters
Summer 2017 Newsletter – What we’ve been up to
Today we’ve published our summer 2017 newsletter. The newsletter provides an update of the news at Unlock in the last three months. It’s sent to everyone who’s on our public mailing list, and we hope it’s a useful way of keeping up to date with what we’ve been up to. Read: Summer 2017 Newsletter Previous newsletters... - 04/07/2017in News @ Unlock, Volunteer
Help us to create some imagery for our work
We’re looking for help in creating a number of original eye-catching photos, graphics and other images to help us to promote our work around criminal records and disclosure. Given the sensitivity of identifying specific individuals, we’re keen to involve some creative thinking in this process. So although we want to look at ways of involving... - 01/07/2017in News & Media, Volunteer
A huge thank you to all our volunteers
At the beginning of June we took the opportunity to say a huge “thank you” to all our wonderful volunteers by holding an afternoon tea-party. Our volunteers are worth their weight in gold. They share their time and talent without any reward, so it was important to us to acknowledge their contributions... - 01/07/2017in News @ Unlock, News for practitioners
‘Criminal record disclosure’ training – Book now for our workshop on 4th October
Our popular ‘criminal record disclosure’ training workshops continue. We are now taking bookings for the next ‘Advising with Conviction’ one-day course which will take place on 4th October 2017 As experts on criminal record disclosure, we provide high-quality training to front-line practitioners to ensure that they have accu... - 29/06/2017in News @ Unlock, News & Media, Way ROA works, When spent
Criminal Records Bill receives its first reading in House of Lords
Lord Ramsbotham’s Private Members’ Bill on amending the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 has today had its First Reading in the House of Lords. The Bill, which would shorten the rehabilitation periods that apply under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (ROA), proposes a number of changes. One of the most significant elements is that...
Feedback on our work
What people have said about us
Your helpline is doing a truly wonderful job in helping people like me who have made a mistake, paid the price, but do not want to be penalised for the rest of their lives.
Person with convictions // Client of our helpline
The forum is a great idea. We all have a story to tell and it’s good to be able to chat to people that in many respects have had similar experiences, especially in terms of trying to find a job.
Person with convictions // Member of our forum
I look forward to receiving your emails, news and updates.They are so useful. The fact that nobody else does this kind of thing makes it so important.
Person with convictions // Subscriber to our e-updates
I am tired of running away from my past. Unlock has been a critical first step in this process. You have provided me with clear, unambiguous guidance. As far as I am aware you are the only body/charity/website that offers the type of detail that is necessary for me to go forward.
Person with convictions
I would like to congratulate Unlock on achieving what some previously considered impossible. I hope that the hard work of Unlock will continue and that through that work, together we can remove some of the unnecessary obstacles faced by offenders who want to lead normal, law abiding lives.
Lord McNally, Minister of State for Justice // Speaking at the launch of our Disclosure Calculator
Thank you for all the help you have provided me to advance my Private Members Bill. The Government has accepted a good many recommendations contained in my Bill. I want you to know how much I appreciated your contribution.
The Rt Hon The Lord Dholakia // Commenting on reforms to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
When I first got in touch with you I was very low, but you gave me the emotional support and encouragement I needed. I had felt very isolated but knowing that someone else was there who knew what I was going through kept me going. I don’t know if I’d be here today if it wasn’t for Unlock.
Person with convictions // Client of our helpline
I could not believe it when I found your website this evening. I am nearly in tears... I feel absolutely fantastic, more than that, it’s like being reborn.
Person with convictions // User of our website
The new DBS site leaves a lot to be desired in terms of info. Yours is much clearer and more helpful.
Person with convictions // User of our online Information Hub
The disclosure training provided by Unlock is engaging and comprehensive. We held a REACH staff event to look specifically at the changes to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and staff who attended commented how useful the day had been. Whilst the principles around disclosure are a core part of any service that assists people with convictions into employment, some of the legal aspects are quite complex and I would recommend anyone who works in this field to think about completing the Unlock training to ensure they are fully up to date. This training would also be very useful for employers who wanted to inform their recruitment policies and procedures.
Carrie Peters, Director of REACH // Commenting on training provided to project workers who support people with convictions in finding sustainable employment