We’re delighted that one of Unlock’s long-standing helpline volunteers, Simon, was shortlisted for the Helpline Partnership’s ‘Helpline Volunteer of the Year’ award. On hearing the news, Simon said: “I’m delighted to have been shortlisted for the Helpline Partnership ‘Volunteer of the year’ award. As much as this is recognition that the work I do for

We’ve just published our update for October 2019. This months update includes: An update on the new costs of all Disclosure and Barring checks. A personal story highlighting Lucy’s success in getting a newspaper to remove an article relating to her conviction. A link to a discussion on theForum around a probation officer’s insistence that

Evidence shows that some groups are disproportionately criminalised: care leavers, people from low income households and some ethnic groups. Despite education being widely recognised as a key factor in successful rehabilitation, admissions policies to date have presented psychological and practical challenges to access. When UCAS removed the criminal convictions tick box for applicants to non-regulated

Trailblazing UK universities are leading the way in helping people with convictions access higher education by signing the ‘Fair Chance for Students with Convictions’ pledge. The pledge is the result of a 12-month project conducted by Unlock, a charity for people with convictions, and supported by the UPP Foundation, a charity founded by University Partnerships

Last week, more than a year since the consultation closed, the Cabinet Office published a summary of responses to their Call for Evidence (CfE) on employing people with convictions. But what does this summary of responses mean for the future? This blog looks at some of the promising signs, some areas for improvement, and questions

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment Advising with Conviction – Full-day Training Workshop Tuesday 26 November 2019  SORRY – SOLD OUT London| 9.30am – 4.45pm | Waiting list available Advising with Conviction – Full-day Training Workshop Wednesday 26 February 2020 London| 9.30am – 4.45pm | From £139 per person – Book your place

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

We were recently contacted by an insurance broker who wished to place an advert on our online magazine, theRecord. In line with our standard procedures, we reviewed the insurer’s website to ensure that they were a reputable company and able to help people with convictions. Although the organisation were offering a range of products suitable

We were recently contacted by an individual who wished to highlight some out of date information which he’d seen on the website of a courier company in relation to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In an FAQ on their careers website, the company had posed the following question: “What’s is meant by an unspent

We were recently contacted by an individual who raised concerns about a misleading question and statement around criminal record checks on a music schools application form. The majority of roles being advertised by the music school were teaching roles which would be eligible for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. However, neither the question

Darren contacted our helpline after a job he’d been offered with a local council had been withdrawn following receipt of an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Although Darren’s convictions were all spent (from 30 years ago) and minor, as there was more than one, they were not eligible to be removed (or ‘filtered’) from

Terence received a conviction for a sexual offence when he was a teenager; he’s now in his 40’s. He contacted our helpline recently seeking advice around an issue he was having with social services. Terence explained that he had recently started a relationship with a lady who had two children. However, they had been forced