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, often long after they have served their sentence.Firstly, we help people. We provide information, advice and support to people with convictions, including running an information site and confidential peer-run helpline. We help practitioners support people with convictions by providing criminal record disclosure training. And we support employers and universities in treating people with criminal records fairly.
Secondly, we advocate for change, working at policy level to address systemic and structural issues. We listen to and consult with people with criminal records, undertake research and produce evidence-based reports to inform policy makers and the public. We challenge bad practice, influence attitudes and speak truth to power. We co-founded and support the Ban the Box campaign and we are pushing to wipe DBS checks clean of old/minor criminal records.
Please help 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.
Latest news
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Unlock raises concerns as Charity Commission grants just six criminal conviction waivers
The Charity Commission has refused more than half of the applications it has received from peop...
Help us plan our future work
As a small charity rooted in the experiences of people with a criminal record, it’s really impo...
Rights groups condemn government’s failure to fix broken DBS system
Supreme Court ruled one year ago that disclosure and barring service rules breach rights DBS sy...
New tool to help work out if you need to disclose your criminal record
“Do I need to tell them about my criminal record?” That’s one of the most com...
Click here to find out more about #FairChecks
#FairChecks movement
Do you support a fresh start for our criminal records system? Join the #FairChecks movement to help push for reform.
Find out more about this ruling
Supreme Court rules criminal record regime disproportionate
We intervened in a Supreme Court case which challenged the government's approach to disclosing old and minor criminal records on standard and enhanced checks issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Find out the latest on this here.
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 wiping DBS checks clean of old/minor records, 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. See how you can help and get involved.
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 to people with criminal records. New dates available.
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.