Criminal Justice

The aim of this Programme is to strengthen the evidence base for structural and practical change for young adults to support their rehabilitation and desistance from crime.

What are we trying to achieve?
The criminal justice system (CJS) focuses mainly on responding to crimes committed by men. Although some progress has been made in the CJS for children, the distinct needs of young adults, women, and those from minority ethnic communities are not a priority. Changes are needed in policy and practice, backed up by evidence to show where the system is failing. By funding and disseminating research, advocating for tailored policy and good practice, and by campaigning with others for change, Barrow Cadbury Trust will influence the CJS and those working in. We will use robust evidence to improve service design, and support criminal justice agencies? to achieve better social and economic outcomes.

To date we have:
Developed a robust case, and advocated for, a more effective approach to young adults at all stages of the CJS, achieved through research, pilot projects and supporting practitioners and policy makers who want to work with us. Please go to the Transition to Adulthood (T2A) website to find out more;

Engaged with initiatives that shine a light on the additional challenges women involved (or at risk of involvement) in the CJS face, and supported organisations which advocate for those women; and contributed to projects that highlight the over-representation of people from minority ethnic, Muslim and Gypsy/Traveller communities at all stages of the CJS, challenging policy-makers to do more to address this ongoing and growing disproportionality.

Our current funding objectives are:
Build on T2A’s evidence base for effective, distinct approaches for young adults from point of arrest to resettlement following custody. T2A has developed a pathway model for highlighting 10 stages in the criminal justice system where young adult specific interventions could reduce the number of young people in the justice system.

Supporting work that focuses on the distinct needs of girls and women involved in crime, with an emphasis on early intervention, and work to highlight and address the disproportionate over-representation of young Minority Ethnic, Muslim and Gypsy/Traveller people in the CJS.

Projects that amplify the voices of people with direct experience of the CJS who not often heard or listened to by decision-makers; and projects that shine a light on the parts of the CJS that are not often scrutinised or are contentious.

Funding priorities
We want to fund work that can influence national policy and practice. We expect all projects we support to include voices or views of people involved in the CJS. We are interested in:

Young Adults
Young adults policy and research projects that add to our Transition to Adulthood (T2A) evidence base. Research and advocacy projects that address the specific challenges faced by young adults involved in crime (such as leaving care, or barriers to employment and housing).

Projects that enable the voices of young adults involved in the CJS to be heard by policy makers, commissioners and service leaders.

Equalities
Research and advocacy projects focusing on why there is an over- representation of children and young adults from Minority Ethnic, Muslim and Gypsy/Traveller communities in the criminal justice system.

We are also interested in better understanding the experiences on young adult women, their life experiences before entering the CJS, their experiences following conviction and what support they need to have a stable life.

Funding in Birmingham
We have strong historic links to Birmingham and the surrounding area. We are particularly interested in hearing from Birmingham-based organisations wishing to undertake projects that fit the criteria above with a view to influencing policy and practice in Birmingham and the surrounding area. In addition we wish to support projects in the Birmingham area that:

  • Bring together policy-makers, practitioners and the voluntary sector to promote good practice for young adults within the CJS; and
  • Amplify the voices of young adults and/or women and/or minority ethnic communities from Birmingham and the surrounding area, who are involved in the CJS so they are heard by policy makers, commissioners and service leaders.

Making an application
If you think your work reflects meets the criteria above or you want to find out if it is eligible please complete an enquiry form. We aim to respond to enquiries within 10 working days.

Please only fill in an application form if you have already discussed your project with us and we have asked you to do so.

Specific exclusions
Direct provision of services to individuals, unless they are based in the West Midlands, and there are clear plans for learning from the project to influence national policy or practice.

Start-up funding for Community Interest Companies (CICs) or small businesses.

We rarely fund university research projects. Where we do, it is either (a) work we commission ourselves as part of building our evidence base for social change, or (b) is in partnership with a voluntary sector or social change organisation where the research is part of a long-term programme of work aiming at the systems change our programme seeks to achieve.

Any other questions please email [email protected]


Key Contacts

Laurie Hunte

Criminal Justice Programme Manager
Contact Me