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 […]
From the outset of the recruitment process, employers will ask you to share a lot of personal data to enable them to contact you and assess your suitability for a role. It has become common practice for employers to ask prospective employees about their criminal convictions and many will also carry out formal criminal record […]
As a small charity rooted in the experiences of people with a criminal record, it’s really important that our work is shaped by the needs of the people that we exist to help. We are developing our plans for Unlock’s work in the next few years. We want to make sure that they reflect what […]
Welcome to our monthly summary for January 2020. 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 […]
Our Disclosure Calculator is a web tool that makes it simple to calculate when convictions become ‘spent’ and no longer need to be disclosed to employers and insurers. Feedback from users highlighted that our calculator user guide could be improved with the use of images to help individuals navigate their way through the Disclosure Calculator […]
“Do I need to tell them about my criminal record?”. That’s one of the most common questions that our helpline receives when people are applying for work or volunteering roles. But it’s not a question that has a straightforward answer. The starting point is: You only have to disclose if you’re asked.” But then it […]
To help improve the reach of our helpline, people with hearing and/or speech difficulties will now be able to contact us using the Relay UK service. Callers can download the Relay UK app to their mobile phone or tablet or use it via their textphone (Minicom or Uniphone) by adding 18001 before our helpline telephone […]
Last year the Department for Work and Pensions created some new guidance to help people leaving prison understand how to claim Universal Credit. To look at how effective the guidance has been and to help the DWP improve future products, they’re looking for feedback. We wanted to share this across our networks, so that people […]
Together with the charity Transform Justice, Unlock has launched the #FairCheck movement to help push for a fresh start for the criminal records system. Our outdated criminal records regime is holding hundreds of thousands of people back from participating fully in society. Even a minor criminal history can produce lifelong barriers to employment, volunteering, housing […]
This month we’ve written a further article for InsideTime ‘Through the Gate’ section which provides information on one of the seven criminal record stages – leaving prison. A copy of the article can be found below. Many people who contact our helpline are looking for answers to specific questions. However, some say “I’ve just been […]
Welcome to our monthly summary for December 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 […]
We're developing our plans for Unlock's work in the next few years and want to make sure that they reflect what people with criminal records want and need from us.
Let us know your views by completing our short survey.