When I get out of prison I want to be able to read to my kids

Criminal Justice Programme

Removing the systemic language barriers to justice and rehabilitation

Improving access to justice and rehabilitation through:

  • Evidence

    Conducting research to understand the impact of language barriers

  • Knowledge

    Supporting frontline practitioners to enhance their skills

  • Good Practice

    Developing innovative and impactful models of support

The Bell Foundation's Criminal Justice Programme seeks to break down the language and cultural barriers to accessing and achieving justice and rehabilitation for individuals who speak English as a second or additional language (ESL) in contact with the English and Welsh criminal justice system.

The Bell Foundation works in partnership to change policy and practice for individuals in contact with the criminal justice system who speak English as a second or additional language.

The Bell Foundation, often working in partnership, develops training and resources to improve the criminal justice sector’s ability to respond to the needs of individuals who speak English as a second or additional language.

  • 1500+ Resources downloaded in 2022

A grant scheme to fund organisations supporting victims of crime who speak English as a second or additional language. 

Language for Change was a grant-making scheme launched by the Foundation in 2015. 

  • 8,000+ People with convictions who speak English as a second or additional language reached

Research is an integral part of the Foundation’s work in criminal justice.

The Criminal Justice Programme builds partnerships with organisations that support anyone in contact with the criminal justice system – as a victim, witness, arrestee, detainee, or person in prison or under probation supervision – who speaks English as a second or additional language.
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We believe in diversity, valuing difference and tolerance. Discover more about our values, beneficiaries, strategy and how our programmes empower beneficiaries to overcome exclusion through language education.

There is strong evidence that access to wider support and opportunities has been improved either directly through the provision of help e.g. via casework or peer mentoring, or indirectly through the development of English language skills. Independent evaluation

Our partners

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The Criminal Justice Programme seeks to break down the language barrier to accessing justice and rehabilitation for individuals in contact with the criminal justice system for whom English is an Additional Language.