Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 335 | 14th March 2014

In this week's edition....

CLINKS NEWS: we're awarded MoJ funding

We were delighted to hear last week that we've been awarded funding from Ministry of Justice to keep providing support for the voluntary sector. Alongside the continuation of our popular products such as Light Lunch, Partnership Finder and our policy work, we will also be working in partnership with Action for Prisoners' Families, Women's Breakout and BTEG to support a wider range of organisations. Find out more about the grant and what we're doing here

CLINKS PUBLICATION: evaluation report from prisoner literacy project

The Arts Alliance’s creative writing programme ‘Write to be Heard’ aimed to encourage hard-to-reach offenders to engage with education and arts opportunities in prison. The project encompassed a national creative writing competition, a schedule of creative writing workshops and master-classes, and a series of programmes broadcast on National Prison Radio. Over 250 prisoners took part in the workshops, and hundreds more entered the awards, contributed to radio shows, developed Virtual Campus content and benefitted from the creative radio shows broadcast across the prison estate. The resulting evaluation report shows impressive results and finds that creative workshops are a catalyst for change and can offer a pathway into engagement with more formal learning opportunities. Download the report here

CLINKS CASE STUDIES: the voluntary sector's experiences of commissioning

As part of our Sustainable Work with Offenders project we produced a series of case studies documenting our members' experiences of criminal justice contracting. Themes include: 'sustainability in a challenging environment', 'the impact of payment by results contracts', 'the transition from grants to commissioning', and 'subcontracting with the private sector'. These will be of interest to organisations engaged in, or considering, contracts and also commissioners of services. Find out more and download them here

CLINKS CALL FOR EVIDENCE: women offenders and debt

As part of Clinks’ role on the Advisory Board for Female Offenders, we are collating evidence that shows the relationship between debt/financial issues and women’s offending. If you have any evidence from your work, including case study examples, please send them to Nicola Drinkwater, Policy Officer at Nicola.drinkwater@clinks.org by Wednesday 19th March.

CLINKS REQUEST: office space in London needed!

We're on the move! We are looking for office space in Central London from August 2014. Our preferred locations are Kings Cross, St Paul's, Farringdon, Holborn or Old Street but would consider anywhere central or with good transport links. We're looking for about 1500 square feet [or 16 desk spaces], kitchen facilities, and access to a large meeting room. If you have space, or know of anyone who might have, please get in touch with jean.coates@clinks.org

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: funding to run a musical event

'Our Big Gig' is an annual event, run by Superact, that brings communities together to improve community cohesion and inspire people to take part in music making opportunities in their local area. 150 community groups are being offered the chance to run an Our Big Gig event. Those selected will receive a grant of £400 towards their event, plus publicity materials, resources and access to free event management training. Events must be at least four hours long, free to attend and present opportunities for people to participate in a range of musical activities. The deadline for applications from England is 31st March 2014. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new interactive radio series

Noh Budget Films is presenting '492 Korna Klub', an interactive radio drama series. The show aims to encourage listeners to actively participate and determine the course of the series by inviting them to communicate with the characters, share their thoughts, feelings and opinions and suggest solutions to the ongoing problems and dilemmas at the end of each episode. The show will be launched today, Friday 14th March 2014, on Galaxy Radio 102.5 FM at 4pm. To get involved, click here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: do you support the families and children of offenders?

Suzanne Perry from i-HOP says: "Calling all i-HOP users! Please could you take 5 minutes to complete our quick 10 question user survey? We hope you find that the information from the website, helpline and/or our newsletter is helpful in your work supporting the children and families of offenders. It is essential that we can demonstrate the impact of our service and ensure that it is as effective as it can be. The results will be used to evaluate and improve i-HOP. Please follow this link"

COMMISSIONING: youth services in Greater Manchester

As part of Trafford’s wider strategy for improving service user engagement and participation Trafford Youth Offending Service are looking to commission a number of specialist providers to improve their active engagement of young people, their families, and victims. There are six lots, with values ranging between £14,000 and £30,000. The deadline for expressing an interest is 7th April. Find out more here

FUNDING: to improve your sustainability, capacity and scale

The Big Potential Programme provides funding to improve the sustainability, capacity and scale of voluntary sector organisations in England in order that they may deliver greater social impact. Organisations must: have a track record of products/services that bring about charitable outcomes or health, environmental or education benefits; have ambition and potential to raise up to £500,000 (repayable) investment; have potential to develop activities to generate financial and social returns for investors; and be financially healthy and be able to meet their core costs during the lifetime of the grant. Eligible organisations will be able to access specialist one to one support before making an application for grants of between £25,000 and £75,000 to undertake more in-depth investment readiness work. Find out more here

FUNDING: to move homeless young people into employment

The Fair Chance Fund is a £15 million payment by results programme that aims to move at least 2,500 homeless, young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) into sustainable accommodation and at least 1,000 of those into sustained employment, education or training over three years. Service providers who have evidence of a positive and proven track record of working with vulnerable young people, and the ability to work with the identified client group to achieve positive accommodation and employment, education and training outcomes are eligible to apply. Providers must also have support from at least one local authority. The programme will only accept full bids of between £500,000 and £3 million for work with between 50 and 600 people. The deadline for expression of interest forms is 22nd April 2014. Find out more here

FUNDING: to support the unemployed in Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire Council is inviting tenders for a programme to support the unemployed and economically inactive. The deadline for the receipt of tenders is 31st March. You can download the specification document here

FUNDING: to support coastal communities

The Coastal Communities Fund is designed to support the economic development of coastal communities by promoting sustainable economic growth and jobs, so that people are better able to respond to the changing economic needs and opportunities of their area. It funds a wide range of projects, including those that support charities, the environment, education and health. Funding awards of between £50,000 and £2 million are available for projects lasting up to two years. Innovative bids will be welcomed from businesses, social enterprises, local enterprise partnerships, charities, voluntary groups and local authorities supporting economic development within the community. Applicants are required to submit a stage one application by 30th April 2014. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: the future of Youth Offending Teams

Only Connect is running an event on the future of Youth Offending Teams (YOT) in the face of ongoing reforms and cuts [28th March, 6.15pm, London, free]. With a mix of policymakers, practitioners and academics, they hope to illuminate the past successes and assess the future potential of YOT work. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: moving away from homelessness for good

'Long-term well-being and resilience for homeless people: New ideas and action for policy makers and practitioners' is a Lemos & Crane event [26th June, London, from £222] that will bring together leading experts, experienced front-line practitioners and innovative practitioners to consider how homeless people can be supported to build long-term resilience and well-being to move away from homelessness for good. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: the value of practitioner-led research

'Translating Practice into Policy: the value of practitioner-led research' is a Griffins Society event [24th March, London, free] to debate the challenges of bringing about meaningful change to criminal justice practice and policy. Why should we value practitioner-led research? What kind of research and for what purpose? What are the potential benefits and to whom?  Evidence-based practice and policy has become the mantra, but with an increasingly volatile and fragmented landscape presenting enormous challenges, just how easy is it to influence either? For more information and to reserve a place, please e-mail chris.leeson@thegriffinssociety.org

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: offenders with learning or developmental disabilities

'The 13th international conference on offenders with intellectual and developmental disability' is a National Autistic Society two day conference [10th - 11th April, Newcastle, from £210] for reflection and sharing for services providing care for offenders with a learning disability and/or developmental disabilities, including autism, both in the public and independent health and social care sectors and the Criminal Justice System. Featuring presentations from eminent international speakers, as well as smaller scale research and innovations in the concurrent sessions, this conference will provide delegates with an opportunity to learn new strategies and share good practice. Find out more here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: women offender services in Wales

Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Cymru - Women’s Pathfinder Project are holding a VCS consultation event [20th March, Cardiff] for organisations across Wales who deliver services to women offenders, whether specifically or as part of a wider client base. The event will present some of the findings from the All Wales Women's Crime Re-offending and Needs Profile Analysis; gather information from agencies on existing service delivery to women; and develop collaboration between the voluntary sector and the Women's Pathfinder in relation to female offenders in Wales. For more information and bookings, email paul.niekraszewicz@wales.probation.gsi.gov.uk

RESOURCE: online directory for people who've been in care

'Former Children's Homes' is a new online encyclopaedia of life in former children's homes and orphanages. The website, which is free, independent and not-for-profit is the only online directory of former children’s homes in England. Gudrun Limbrick, who set up the site, explains: "Before this website was set up, it was extremely difficult for people who were in care to find out anything about the homes or orphanages in which they once lived. I am endeavouring to get news about the website out as widely as possible as people all over the country are looking for information about the children’s homes they once lived in." Find out more here

RESOURCE: video on women in prison

'Naked state: incarcerated women, feminism and the transformational power of poetry' is a video by Light Lunch reader Leah Thorn, as part of the recent TEDx talk series. Leah talks about how poetry can help women find their voice, bridge cultural and age differences, and enable them to express their emotions. She also refers to the power of creativity in prison, and her love of seeing women flourish; their self esteem rising and confidence growing through having their voice listened to. Watch the 17 minute video here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member vacancies this week include: a Finance Manager with Together Women [Leeds], a Support Worker and facilitator at Soaps and Stories [London], 2 x Relief Workers with Langley House Trust [Rochdale], a Support Worker with KeepOut [HMP Brixton], a Complex Needs Worker with Women in Prison [London], and a Senior Play Worker at Spurgeons [London]. For more information about these vacancies, and plenty more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: The White Horse Hotel, a pretty Georgian inn on the outskirts of Hertford, has put together an exclusive package for £89 per room. The deal includes breakfast, bottle of wine and 3 course dinner. Details 
  • Tip of the week II: 50 tips for the over 50's. Details
  • Tip of the week III: 100 free things to do with children such as how to make a shoebox guitar, pinhole camera and loads more. Download pdf 

EXTRA INFORMATION

Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Join Mailing List

Contact Us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 0207 248 3538

 

About Clinks Light Lunch

This edition of Light Lunch has been sent to the inbox of 10,261 people working (or with an interest) in the Criminal Justice System of England & Wales. Who are they?

To submit content, email joe.gardham@clinks.org before 5pm Wednesday

To unsubscribe, email joe.gardham@clinks.org

[Terms of Use]

 

Designed, composed and circulated every Friday by...

Joe Gardham

Clinks

Mob: 07969 727 129