Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 344 | 23rd May 2014

In this week's edition....

CLINKS CONFERENCE: new speakers confirmed

The latest speakers and panelists confirmed at our 'Joined up justice' event [1st July, London, from £50] include Baroness Lola Young, Julian Corner from LankellyChase Foundation, Simon Fulford from Khulisa, Jeanette Powell from HMP Peterborough and Ian Blakeman, Director of Commissioning at NOMS. This conference will ask what the role of the voluntary sector is, including its role in delivering to diverse client groups, supporting communities, and providing flexible and quality services. It will consider the relationships with new probation providers, changes to our prison system, and the cross-over between other departments. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: family charities merging

Clinks members Pact and Prisoners' Families and Friends Service (PFFS) are merging. Pact’s CEO, Andy Keen-Downs, will lead the combined charity, which will retain all of PFFS's current London-based services. Peter Droop, Chairman of the PFFS Board of trustees, said: "By transferring our services to a larger, stronger charity, we are confident that the work we set out to do will be sustained and will achieve even better outcomes." Andy Keen-Downs added: “By integrating PFFS services, which are based in the courts, the community and includes a helpline service, with Pact’s prison-based and community-based services; we are fulfilling the charitable missions of both charities and doing the right thing for the people we serve." Read the full story here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: policy update

The Ministry of Justice have published a policy update, intended to give information on some of the main issues of direct interest to voluntary sector organisations. Items include Transforming Rehabilitation, Women's Justice, NOMS Commissioning Strategy and Youth Justice. You can download it here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: events for offender employment providers

NOMS Co-Financing Organisation (CFO) has announced three events [4th June, Birmingham | 11th June, London | 18th June, Manchester] to provide organisations who have expressed interest with more information about the forthcoming ESF Operational Programme 2014-2020. The focus of NOMS CFO is to help offenders move towards mainstream provision or into employment by addressing their barriers to work through facilitating access to comprehensive support mechanisms appropriate to their individual circumstance and assessed need. Find out more here

FUNDING: addressing the causes of conflict and injustice

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has launched its new grant programmes. The Trust seeks to transform the world by supporting people who address the root causes of conflict and injustice. It is interested in funding work which: is about removing problems through radical solutions and not simply about making problems easier to live with; has a clear sense of objectives, and of how to achieve them; is innovative and imaginative; and where the grant has a good chance of making a difference. Deadlines are in August and September for the various themes. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: quality family support services

'Quality Services – Ticking All the Boxes' is an Action for Prisoners' Families seminar [25th June, London, £35] that will look at all aspects of quality for family support services including quality assurance, workforce selection and development and evaluation. This event will help you establish the quality of your services and demonstrate this quality to commissioners. It will also provide a means for commissioners to recognise quality services. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: challenges in commissioning TR

'Commissioning to Transform Rehabilitation' is an Academy for Justice Commissioning event [17th June, 5.30pm - 7.30pm, London] at which Colin Allars, Director of Probation, and Ian Blakeman, Director of Commissioning at NOMS, will each discuss the challenges faced in setting up and managing the new National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies whilst working within complex delivery environments. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: the future of rehabilitative interventions

'Community sentences cut crime' is a Howard League for Penal Reform conference [15th July, London, from £135] that will discuss government proposals for a new National Probation Service and a revised system of rehabilitation. What impact will these proposals have on the future of rehabilitation interventions? The day will include the Community Programmes Awards 2014 when winning projects will be awarded for their outstanding work in the community. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: accommodation within the CJS

'Stable Housing - is this really an option?' is a No Offence! and Fry Housing Trust event [10th September, Birmingham, from £132] focusing on the importance of accommodation within the criminal justice sector. The conference will explore: the importance of accommodation, as a service and also its significant link to desistance; and the future of accommodation, both in relation to the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda and within the current economic environment. Attention will be given to the responsibility on local authorities and the specific issue of ‘intentionally homeless’, along with a look at the affordability of the private rented sector. More information and bookings here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Beyond Forgiving: A South African story' | 27th May, London, free with promotional code 'LONDON' | Book your place here

PUBLICATION: punishment without purpose

'Punishment without purpose' is a recent Prison Reform Trust briefing that analyses changes to the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme and its impact on fairness, decency and rehabilitation behind bars. Drawing on the experiences of people in prison and their families, the briefing highlights the impact of the changes and calls for an urgent review of the new IEP scheme, with a renewed focus on ensuring effective rehabilitation and safe and decent conditions. Download the briefing here

PUBLICATION: women's mental health

'I am more than one thing' is a new report from Women’s Health and Equality Consortium (WHEC) that explores issues around women's mental health. The report builds on existing evidence to highlight women’s experiences of poor mental health and wellbeing and their interactions with the mental health system. It also aims to identify support needs or barriers that women encounter in the process of seeking support across the voluntary and statutory sector. Download the report here

PUBLICATION: community  justice

'Crime and 'Community': Exploring the scope for community involvement in criminal justice' is a recent report from the Institute for Criminal Policy Research which explores the concept of community justice. Specifically, it addresses three questions: How has central government, since Labour came to power in 1997, perceived the role of local communities in tackling crime and disorder? How do the members of local communities perceive their own role in tackling crime and disorder? To what extent do government aspirations for community justice match those of the general public, and what are the main areas of discord between governmental and public expectations? Download the report here

OPPORTUNITY: illustrating your restorative justice work

IARS are looking for case studies illustrating restorative justice in practice. They are particularly interested in powerful examples that show the breadth of the restorative justice practice including direct and indirect mediation, family group conferencing, healing and sentencing circles, youth offending and community panels and community boards. The deadline for submissions is 15th July; you can find out more here

OPPORTUNITY: share your examples of working at neighbourhood level

Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) are keen to transfer more control back to communities and to work at a very local level. In contrast to delivering services at a national or even county-wide level, they recognise there is a growing interest to focus on the ‘neighbourhood’ rather than larger areas when thinking about the design and delivery of public services. If you have any good examples involving your organisation and any research (evaluations), reviews, case studies or reports that demonstrate the kinds of benefits (and challenges) associated with your organisation’s activity at the neighbourhood level DCLG would love to hear from you. Submit information or find out more by emailing maria.o’beirne@communities.gsi.gov.uk

OPPORTUNITY: specialist social welfare fellowships

The Clore Social Leadership Programme has announced two new specialist fellowships for 2015. The Forces in Mind Fellowship (funded by The Forces in Mind Trust) is for someone working to support ex-service personnel and their families. The Housing and Homelessness Fellowship (funded by the Oak Foundation) is for someone working with marginalised individuals and communities in housing and homelessness in the UK. There are now seven Specialist Fellowships on offer in 2015, including older people, social justice, social finance and the North East. Find out more here

CONSULTATION: on a new giant prison in Wales

In 2013 the Ministry of Justice announced plans to build a large prison in Wrexham; the first prison in North Wales and, with a 2,000 place operational capacity, the largest prison in the UK. There are currently four prisons in Wales, although no facilities for either female or high risk offenders and limited facilities for young offenders. The Government has not confirmed which type of prisoners will be held in the new prison in respect of age, gender or security level. The Commons Select Committee are inviting written submissions on the state of the Welsh prison estate, rehabilitation in Wales, and concerns around the impact of proposed criminal justice developments on Welsh offenders. Contribute to the inquiry here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member vacancies this week include: an Office Assistant with LankellyChase Foundation [London], a WIRE Caseworker and Trainee Caseworker with St Giles Trust [London], 2 x Project Managers [Leeds and London] and a Case Worker/Support Officer [Kent] with Sova,  an Operations Manager and a Family Services Manager with Spurgeons [London prisons], a Mentor with Switchback [London], a Human Rights Adviser with Prisoners Abroad [London], and a Finance Manager, a Finance & HR Administrator and a Head of Artistic Programme with Clean Break [London]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

Tip of the week I: Stay at the 4-star Borrowdale Hotel for £139 a night, saving 40%, and including breakfast and 3 course dinner with wine. Details

Tip of the week II: Get 15% off at Homebase this bank holiday weekend. No code or voucher necessary.

Tip of the week III: 100 tips for cheap school holiday family fun. Details

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Joe Gardham

Clinks

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