@nextchapterscotland.org.uk
At Next Chapter Scotland we help people to navigate the stigma and discrimination they can face due to involvement with the criminal justice system (SC052899) www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk 0330 355 7145
Have you experienced Scotlandβs justice system?
π£οΈ We want to hear your voice.
π‘ Your insights will help identify where things need to improve.
π€ Youβll be listened to, not judged
To book your place or find out more, get in touch:
π§ info@nextchapterscotland.org.uk
π± WhatsApp: 07591339618
π‘ βFacing a criminal investigation β even when innocent β can feel like a form of mental torture.β
Nicola Sturgeonβs words may be personal, but the experience is universal.
We stand with people through that weight replacing stigma with support.
π www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
When online βjusticeβ turns to vigilante backlash, whole families can be harmed, not helped.
π Weβve created trauma-informed guides & templates to help people respond safely.
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/commun...
#SupportNotStigma #NextChapterScotland
Shame isnβt justice.
It isolates people long after a sentence ends but it doesnβt have to.
At Next Chapter Scotland, we believe no one should carry that weight alone.
π Learn more:
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/shame
#SupportNotStigma #NextChapterScotland
π New Blog: Quiet at Last
Mark explores what it means to live after a wrongful conviction and questions the idea of βpolicing by consentβ when your trust in the system is gone.
π nextchapterscotland.org.uk/blog/quiet-a...
#LivedExperience #NextChapterScotland
π No One Should Feel Unsafe for Speaking Out
What matters is that people feel safe β full stop.
No one should face threats or abuse for sharing their experiences or supporting others.
At Next Chapter Scotland, we stand for safety, dignity, and respectful dialogue β for everyone.
π£οΈ Got experience of Scotlandβs justice system? Your voice matters.
Join a workshop (Glasgow, Dundee or online) to share your story & help shape future justice policy.
π© Info & sign up: info@nextchapterscotland.org.uk
#LivedExperience #JusticeReform
Looking for someone who really listens?
Our Listening Ear service offers weekly chats with trained Psychology & Counselling students. A safe, no-pressure space for anyone affected by the justice system.
π¬ Get in touch | places are limited.
π nextchapterscotland.org.uk
A conviction for violence can follow you for years, in work, travel, even volunteering. At Next Chapter Scotland, we help people move forward with confidence, not shame. π
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/the-im...
#SupportNotStigma #JusticeScotland
π‘ Did You Know? | Week 9: Stigma Still Shapes Lives
Stigma doesnβt end when a sentence does, it lingers in workplaces, communities, and even families.
At Next Chapter Scotland, we believe in support, not shame.
π Find help:
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/commun...
#SupportNotStigma
π’ Research Opportunity
PhD candidate Alex Burgess is exploring prevention of sexual harm.
Seeking voices of professionals + those with lived experience.
Confidential. Strengths-based.
π© alexandra.burgess@postgrad.plymouth.ac.uk
#SupportNotStigma #ResearchMatters
π New Blog: A Journey to Self-Employment
What happens when jobs wonβt give you a chance? You make your own.
One of our community shares their honest story of rebuilding after a conviction.
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/blog/a-journ...
#SupportNotStigma #LivedExperience
π‘ Did You Know? | Week 8
π Some colleges & courses still ask about convictions, even for spent ones.
Itβs confusing, but your past shouldnβt block your future.
Weβre here to help you learn with confidence.
π nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/education
#SupportNotStigma
Taking the first step is the hardest.
But it might just lead to the small, steady kind of change you need.
Listening Ear is about real people, real chats, real support.
π If youβve been thinking about reaching out, this is your sign.
π Finding housing after a conviction can be tough, rejection, confusion, judgement.
Weβve pulled together clear info to help you know your rights and get the support you deserve.
π nextchapterscotland.org.uk/information/housing
#SupportNotStigma #NextChapterScotland
π‘ Did You Know? | Week 7: Volunteering Isnβt Always Straightforward
Even unpaid roles can involve disclosure checks and spent convictions might still appear.
Weβre here to help you understand your rights and options.
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/volunt...
π New blog now live: Chasing Myself
From a departure lounge, Mark reflects on grief, identity + the lasting effects of a wrongful conviction.
βIβm chasing someone Iβm not sure even exists anymoreβ¦β
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/blog/chasing...
#LivedExperience #NextChapterScotland
Our Listening Ear service is here for those quiet moments when you just need someone on the other end of the phone. No pressure. No judgment. Just kindness.
π One hour a week. One human connection.
π Get in touch to find out more.
π New blog from @NextChapterScotland:
βMum, can Dad come?β
A powerful look at how ordinary questions carry extraordinary weight for families living under the Sex Offenders Register.
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/blog/mum-can...
π New school resources now live too β find them on our site.
π‘ Did You Know? | Week 6
Even after a conviction is spent, the internet can keep your past alive, headlines, court reports, old news.
Weβre here to help you deal with the online impact and move forward.
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk
#DidYouKnowSeries #DigitalFootprint #SupportNotStigma
Our wonderful helpline team are having a break from the 30th June to 4th July. Email and WhatsApp support will still be available.
We'll be back on the phones from 10am on Monday 7th July π
π‘ Did You Know? | Week 5
πΌ Starting your own business doesnβt always avoid disclosure issues. Some licences & insurances still require background checks.
Weβre here to help you understand the rules.
π nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/self-employment
#SupportNotStigma
π€ Yesterday we brought together policy makers, academics & lived experience voices to talk justice reform. The stories shared during our Platform were powerful, honest & moving and proof of why change is urgent. More to come π
#AmplifyingVoices #NextChapterScotland
π‘ Did You Know? | Week 4 β Travel Can Be Limited
A criminal record can stop more than just job offers β it can block travel too. βοΈ
Some countries may deny entry, even if your conviction is spent.
We help you understand your rights + plan ahead.
π www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/travel
To join Scottish sex workers in opposing further criminalisation under the Nordic Model;
- follow Scotland4Decrim on Instagram
- if youβre based in Scotland, use our email your MSP tool to demand they oppose the proposed Nordic Model: t.co/DOkwW8dQoa
Weβre building a Next Chapter Music Playlist πΆπ
What songs lift your spirits when the dayβs been tough?
Drop your feel-good favourites below, weβd love to add them!
#NextChapterScotland #CheerUpPlaylist #MusicHeals #SupportNotStigma
π Weβre a small charity with a big mission, to support anyone affected by the justice system in Scotland. Help us keep going. Your donation supports our helpline, peer work & more.
π Donate or learn more: www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/donate
#SupportNotStigma #NextChapterScotland
π‘ Did You Know?
Insurance isnβt always straightforward if you have a conviction. π‘π
Some providers ask about spent + unspent convictions β leading to higher costs or refusals.
We help people navigate this:
π nextchapterscotland.org.uk/topic/insurance
#SupportNotStigma
ICYMI π Our CEO Eppieβs written "Here, with you", a childrenβs book to help families navigate tough conversations about the past.
Profits help support Next Chapterβs work.
π Read more: www.nextchapterscotland.org.uk/blog/not-a-m...
#SupportNotStigma
π‘ No one should feel alone after justice system involvement. Our Listening Ear project offers regular friendly phone calls with trained volunteers. Just a space to be heard. π
π nextchapterscotland.org.uk/contact
#SupportNotStigma #ListeningEar
