Find out the latest updates to hub.unlock.org.uk
As part of our Fair Access to Employment project we’re looking for examples of employers who have carried out inappropriate levels of criminal record checks. We’re gathering this information to feed into our legal strategy which aims to put an end to unlawful criminal record checks. We’re especially keen to hear from anyone who believes […]
In the year April 2018 to March 2019, our helpline was contacted by 7,776 people, 88% of whom had a criminal record. Our information hub was visited by 1,381,871 and 50,622 people used our disclosure calculator. Have a look at the infographics below to find out more about the support we provided. Helpline Online
Business in the Community’s Ban the Box campaign launched in October 2013 at which time, 24 employers had committed to support the campaign. Nearly 6 years on and over 130 employers have now removed the ‘tick box’ from application forms which ask about criminal convictions. We’ve developed BITC’s list of Ban the Box employers into […]
A criminal record can be a real obstacle in getting on in life. But what we don’t know is what additional barriers women face that men don’t. Last year, we published a report (A life sentence for young people) that looked at the specific problems people face from criminal records they acquired in their youth. […]
Welcome to our monthly update for August 2019. This provides a summary of: the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord discussions on our online forum other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. Have you stumbled […]
Life without a bank account can be difficult, if not impossible. A bank account can offer so much more than just a place to store our money. From paying direct debits or utility bills, or receiving a salary or benefits, to simply identifying you as someone who exists, bank accounts are a huge part of […]
Welcome to our monthly update for July 2019. This provides a summary of: the latest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord discussions on our online forum other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. Have you stumbled […]
You’d think that employers looking to recruit the best people for their vacant roles would want to advertise their roles in as many places as possible to ensure that they had cast their nets as wide as they could. So you may be surprised to learn that about half of all jobs are not advertised […]
This month, we’ve written a further article for InsideTime ‘Through the Gate’ Section which gives a bit more information about who Unlock are. A copy of the article can be found below. Since 2016, Unlock has written regularly for Inside Time’s ‘Through the Gate’ section which focuses on some of the issues that people leaving […]
Welcome to our monthly update for June 2019. This provides a summary of: thelatest updates to our self-help information site for people with convictions recent posts to our online magazine, theRecord discussions on our online forum other news and developments that might be of interest to people with a criminal record. Have you stumbled across […]
‘Moral turpitude’ is a legal concept in the US and is important when trying to work out whether you can travel under the Visa Waiver Scheme (ESTA) or whether you need to apply for a visa from the US Embassy. The information that’s available from the US Embassy can make it difficult to match your […]
A criminal record can be a real obstacle in getting on in life. What we don't know is whether women face additional barriers that men don't.
Please help us understand the barriers that women face in terms of their criminal record by completing our online survey. All responses will be confidential and no personal details shared externally,