Please check out our brand new animations. Real voices, real stories, real people ❤️

🎥 Brand Film There are 12.5 million people in the UK with a criminal record. Behind every number is a person, a family and a future. Everyone deserves the chance to turn the page.

🎥 Stigma A sentence ending doesn’t mean life goes back to normal. This film highlights the barriers created by stigma and the strength found in community and lived experience.

🎥 Fear The fear of the unknown can take over but hearing from someone who has been there can help show the way through.

🎥 Isolation When everything feels overwhelming and you don’t know who to turn to, one conversation can make you feel understood and less alone.

🎥 Today we’re releasing four new short animations created with @mediaco-op.bsky.social sharing real experiences of isolation, fear, stigma, and hope when navigating the justice system. 💛 Support, not stigma. 👇 The films are in the thread below.

✨✨✨Please share ✨✨✨ This course is one of a kind! People who have a conviction for a sexual offence face the most extreme form of stigma. This training course can help them to survive the storm.

When people speak out about their own lived experience of the criminal justice system, whether that be as a person convicted of a crime or a victim of crime - NO-ONE should be subjected to death or rape threats. People are entitled to call for change without fear of vigilantism.

To join Scottish sex workers in opposing further criminalisation under the Nordic Model; - follow Scotland4Decrim on Instagram - if you’re based in Scotland, use our email your MSP tool to demand they oppose the proposed Nordic Model: t.co/DOkwW8dQoa

Sometimes doing a lot of campaigning for sex work decriminalisation is pretty hard work. Other times, your opponents are like this… Anyway, everyone go and follow @scotland4decrim on Instagram to support sex workers fighting for their safety, health, and human rights! 💪

Follow @scotland4decrim on Instagram (no BlueSky account yet!) to support sex workers in Scotland organising for their rights, against Ash Regan’s bill and in favour of full decrim. Language isn’t the issue - it’s the material consequences for sex workers. Criminalisation endangers sex workers.

For more about the #spycops public inquiry, see our FAQ campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2020/01/29/u...

“We can’t have foreign-funded broadcasters poisoning the national conversation with these ugly lies. Ofcom needs to say ‘Stop’.”

Remember, if you work for a charity and would like some free copies of my (very beautifully illustrated!!!) children’s book for your service users, please reach out.

Sensational headlines cause real harm. We’ve seen it. We’ve lived it. Here’s why we’ll always stand by people with lived experience — not tabloid shame. #SupportNotStigma #NextChapterScotland

Please donate if you can. The more resource we have, the more people we can reach.

Thankfully I’m still sunning myself 🌅

🟡 Our helpline is back open! 📞 We’re working through a backlog after last week’s closure. 💬 If you’ve messaged us, please know we’re on it — and we truly appreciate your patience. 💛 We’re here, just catching up. 🔗 nextchapterscotland.org.uk/contact #SupportNotStigma #NextChapterScotland #WeHearYou

🌈 We’re proud to stand with LGBTQ+ communities this Pride month — especially those impacted by the justice system. At Next Chapter Scotland, we believe in fighting for human rights, dignity, and inclusion for everyone. No one should face barriers because of who they are. 🖤💛 #Pride2025

If you work for a charity and would like some free copies of my book, to give to people you support, please reach out. www.herewithyoubook.co.uk

One of the team at @nextchapterscotland.org.uk is a freelance social media whiz. If you’re looking to support people with experience of the criminal justice system and you need some social media support, please reach out to Mark at: [email protected]

Before the inevitable tabloid headlines kick in - here's a blog I've written explaining the background to my new children's book: www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/blog/not-a-monster-a-mum To buy the book, visit: www.herewithyoubook.co.uk @nextchapterscotland.org.uk #criminalrecord #selfcompassion

I'm ridiculously excited to say that I have published a book to help parents talk to their children about choices they've made in their past that still impact on their lives today, bringing love, openness and compassion to the conversation. You can buy the book now: www.herewithyoubook.co.uk

Just been to a showing of the brilliant Censoring Palestine. If you haven’t seen it, I really recommend finding out where you can watch it! youtu.be/hJCxfDwoVjY?...

Yesterday I was emailed by a barrister: "In my network I have on average one trans suicide per month. Its devastating and a genoicde of a whole group of people." Those in the trans community know this is true. Wes Streeting's vigorous attempts to suppress this reality is unforgiveable.

For the last few months we have been working with the wonderful www.heartinmouth.org. It's not been an easy task to work out how best to communicate the messages of @nextchapterscotland.org.uk, yet Ishbel has been an incredible guide, sounding board and critical friend all wrapped into one!

Today and every day

In a new study published in the Journal of Criminal Justice today, we find that solitary confinement is associated with increased risk of return to prison. Long periods of solitary confinement are associated with a 15 to 25% increase in re-imprisonment rates. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

☎️ Our #CallToConnect campaign aims to ensure people in prison stay connected to loved ones: shorturl.at/GIyK0 Research from Swansea University finds prison-leavers often don’t have phones or consistent WIFI, impacting access to essential services supporting rehabilitation. shorturl.at/BjOLu

If you've been effected by early release - this one's for you! Vox Liminis are hosting songwriting sessions the 21st and 22nd May.

Sentences for #protest cases in the UK are far too long & haven’t always taken conscientious motivation into account. Our #CriminalDefence Team discuss a recent ruling involving #JustStopOil supporters that resulted in number of reduced sentences. Read their thoughts in the comments:

One of my favourite bits of poetry on the back of a toilet door in Belfast botanic gardens ❤️ “You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting” - I good reminder for us all.

This 💔⬇️ #IStandWithUkraine 🔗 www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

With Liz Truss backing her, what can go wrong? (PS I think the Telegraph means 'woman' - unless, of course, they label all the men with children who are jailed 'father'.)

Last of the ceilidh spam, but what a night! I'm so proud of @scotrefugeecouncil.bsky.social & everyone who contributed to the night! At a time of ugly, hate-fueled, divisive, rhetoric - we came together, danced hand in hand & said #AyeWelcomeRefugees That's how it's done. ✊🏽 HUGE love!! ❤️🫶

Cornrows represent one of the most enduring and significant hairstyling traditions in Black culture, with roots that extend far deeper than mere aesthetics. The term "cornrows" emerged between the 16th and 19th centuries in colonial America, named for their resemblance to agricultural 1/8

The deadline is tomorrow! Do you support people experiencing #homelessness? Whether you work in outreach, housing, social work, health, probation or another role St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity want to hear your views in their #FrontlineWorkerSurvey 2025. Have your say: buff.ly/IFnmun0

Agreed. If they leave, we should bolt the door behind them. 99-percent.org/what-if-we-s...

In Norway everyone pays the same tax as everyone else + the wealthy pay an annual "wealth tax". A couple of years back, some greedy Norwegian billionairs tried the same tactic & moaned they'd move to Switzerland. Norway shrugged & said "bugger off" then! blog.magnuslegal.com/norwegian-we...

With the far right mobilising the issue of grooming gangs in order to malign the immigrant Muslim population, it's perhaps worth revisiting a wee blog which outlines the 5 political functions of the Scapegoat Mechanism. 👇👇👇#ReneGirard #Scapegoat erasmusresearch.com/understandin...

@georgemonbiot.bsky.social is right to point out that political capture has compromised counterterrorism policing. We would suggest that the political policing of domestic populations is central to understanding why a domestic police force was formed. #spycops erasmusresearch.com/the-politics...

Let's get this right. However Police Scotland dress this, Sheku Bayoh was killed by the police. Killed.

I am truly terrified for Hamdan. If you don’t know who Hamdan Ballal is, he is the director of No Other Land and he and Yuval both won the Oscar for Best Documentary this year

We should find a way to tackle harm in society instead of focussing all our anxiety on a few individuals while lots of the same goes on outside. Reports do not reduce harm. See e.g. transformharm.org for better ideas.

📢 Today we publish analysis warning that without urgent investment, over 210,000 Scottish children (22%) will be trapped in poverty by 2030 🏟️ That’s enough children to fill Murrayfield Stadium x 3 - and double the legal target Read the briefing 👇 www.ippr.org/articles/ach...

Check out our locations across Scotland! - As of this week we're based in Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and North Ayrshire! - Doing our bit to help ensure families have the tools to give their children the best possible start in life.

Dads Antenatal! - Thanks to all of those who came along to our workshop in Edinburgh last night. We run them in Glasgow, Edinburgh and online. Come meet other Dads to be, and get some hands on experience. You can book your space here: www.dadsrock.org.uk/antenatal

Good News! All of our weekend groups are on! Sat - Edinburgh and Glasgow Sun - Irvine and Edinburgh Free, and open to Dads and children aged 0-5 yrs. Come along and join us to have a chilled out time with your wee one and some other dads. Sign up here 👉 dadsrock.beaconforms.com/form/2805e263

📖 Weekend reading! A just and compassionate #Scotland is one that supports the well-being of its older people. www.povertyalliance.org/guest-blog-n...