About UNLOCK
On this page:
About Us Back to top
UNLOCK, the National Association of Reformed Offenders T: 01634 247350
35a High Street F: 01634 247351
Snodland
Kent E: enquiries@unlock.org.uk
ME6 5AG W: www.unlock.org.uk
UNLOCK is a Registered Charity (Charity Number 1079046)
UNLOCK is a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company Number 3791535) The UNLOCK Team Back to top
President Back to top
Lord Ramsbotham | President
Judge John Samuels Q.C. | Vice President
Members of Staff Back to top
Bobby Cummines FRSA | Chief Executive
Julie Harmsworth LLB FRSA | Deputy Chief Executive
Chris Bath | Director of Projects
Christopher Stacey LLB LLM | Information & Advice Manager
Debbie Young | Administrator
Trustees Back to top
Mr Mark Oaten MP
Mr Joe Baden
Mr Bruce Gill
Mr Dave Smith
Patrons Back to top
Lord Corbett Castle of Vale | Patron Baroness Helena Kennedy Q.C. | Patron
Professor Andrew Coyle | Patron Ms Flo Krause – Barrister of Law | Patron
Dr Silvia Casale | Patron Dr Deborah Cheney | Patron
Ms Anne Piggott OBE | Patron Mr Matthew Hyde | Patron
Dr Phil Bayliss | Patron Ms Kate Adie OBE | Patron
Mrs Jill Stevens | Patron Mr Edward Garnier Q.C. | Patron
Mr Dexter Dias Q.C.| Patron
About UNLOCK Back to top
Who are UNLOCK? Back to top - UNLOCK was established as a charity in 2000
- UNLOCK was set up by and is led by reformed offenders
- UNLOCK has over 5,000 members and 5 employees
- UNLOCK is independent
- UNLOCK does not take government funding to deliver contracted services
- UNLOCK aims to achieve equality for reformed offenders and a society in which reformed offenders are able to fulfil their positive potential through equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities
What does UNLOCK do? Back to top - UNLOCK receives thousands of letters, phone calls and emails. In response we:
- Offer direct information, support and referrals to expert organisations
- Develop and deliver innovative projects to demonstrate how problems can be solved
- Run campaigns that seek to change discriminatory laws, policies, practices and attitudes
- Act as a channel for the voices of reformed offenders to influence policies, practices and attitudes
What are UNLOCK’s current objectives? Back to top - Improved access to bank accounts, insurance and financial capability training
- Implementation of anti-discrimination laws to support equality for reformed offenders
- Enabling of prisoners to vote in line with the European Court of Human Rights judgement
- Establishment of a community-based alternative to prison focused on training and employment
- A trusted, flexible and high quality information service
- More positive public opinion of reformed offenders
- Development of a strong community of reformed offenders committed to equality
What has UNLOCK achieved so far? Back to top - Provided thousands of reformed offenders and family members with information and support
- Developed a service offering access to insurance to people with convictions and their families
- Highlighted prisoners’ need to open bank accounts and convinced Halifax to run a pilot project
- Set up bank account opening projects in 5 prisons, in partnership with Halifax and Barclays
- Developed financial capability training specifically for former offenders called ‘UFC’
- Trained 130 staff and peer supporters in 33 prisons and 8 community-based charities to deliver UFC
- UNLOCK has contributed to many TV and radio programmes, as well as stories in the printed media including the BBC, Sky, Channel 5, The Times, The Guardian and the Independent
- Established the UNLOCK Forum, an internet-based community solely for people with previous convictions to share experiences, highlight issues, ask questions, support each other and work towards equality
Click here to download a copy of "About Us".
Vision / Guiding principles and beliefs Back to top
Vision - Equality for reformed offenders
“A society in which reformed offenders are able to fulfil their positive potential through the enjoyment of
equal opportunities, rights and responsibilities.”
Guiding Principles and Beliefs
- A reformed offender is any person who, having been convicted of a crime, and having accepted that they committed crime in the past, is determined to live a crime-free life in the future.
- The experiences of reformed offenders can be used constructively as a highly effective way of helping others to leave crime behind.
- The wisdom gained from engaging with offenders, their families, the wider community, our own experiences and those of other skilled professionals should be treated with equal respect when seeking to identify barriers to reintegration and developing innovative solutions.
- UNLOCK welcomes positive partnerships with individuals and private, public and voluntary organisations.
- Giving reformed offenders a fair opportunity to help themselves means that they can take full responsibility for leading a crime-free life, and will dramatically reduce re-offending.
- Where other organisations are working effectively, UNLOCK will act as a hub. Where needs are not being met or even recognised, UNLOCK will look to develop and implement innovative solutions.
- UNLOCK will strive to achieve what others say is unachievable.
- Think big. Act big. Stay small.
- UNLOCK is not a service-delivery organisation, nor does it wish to be.
Key facts about reformed offenders Back to top
There are some interesting facts and statistics about reformed offenders and people with convictions. We have brought some of these together in a page on the key facts about reformed offenders.
Accounts and Trustees' Annual Reports Back to top
Under the Charities Act 1993, charities with an income in their reporting period exceeding £10,000 must submit a copy of their accounts and a Trustees' Annual Report (TAR) to the Charity Commission. The below documents are taken directly from the Charity Commission website. If you have any problem accessing these documents, please email chris.stacey@unlock.org.uk.
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