The Only Connect team played a significant role in the 2024 Anne Peaker Lecture, titled "Inspiring Futures," organized by the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA). This annual lecture honors the legacy of Anne Peaker, a pioneer in integrating the arts into the criminal justice system, and highlights the transformative power of the arts for people within this system.

During the event, key findings from the "Inspiring Futures" research project were shared, showcasing the impact of arts interventions on the lives of those in the criminal justice system. The lecture featured various stakeholders, including Only Connect's Simon Pellew OBE and Ben Digby, who contributed to discussions on the future of arts in criminal justice.

Only Connect, as a partner in the Inspiring Futures project, helped to demonstrate how creative engagement can support rehabilitation and reintegration. Their involvement emphasized the importance of through-the-gate work, where creative projects like music production and promotion provide meaningful opportunities for personal development and social reintegration.

The lecture also included a celebration of the creative outputs from the project, further underlining the critical role of arts in fostering positive change within the criminal justice system