Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 358 | 5th September 2014

[[{"fid":"864","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

In this week's edition....

CLINKS REQUEST: what do you think of the support we provide?

The Ministry of Justice has asked us to coordinate an independent review of criminal justice infrastructure, in order to assess its impact and determine its future. As an infrastructure organisation, Clinks wants to see healthy voluntary sector organisations that are effective at supporting the most marginalised people in our communities to desist from crime and get their lives back on track. By taking part in our quick survey you will help us to determine the future direction of support for your organisation and how it should be funded. This is a crucial piece of work for all Light Lunch readers to get involved in, so please take five minutes out of your Friday to have your say here

CLINKS GUEST BLOG: how can we make evidence easier?

In our latest guest blog, James Noble from NPC and Amy Hochadel from Project Oracle talk about evidence. Using evidence to design and improve services is gradually becoming the norm across the UK’s social and voluntary sector, but it’s easier said than done. Data collection can feel like a distraction from core activities and it is often hard to know where to start. James and Amy cover the purpose of evidence collection, challenges of good evidence, making use of evidence, and provide a really handy presentation. Read their blog, ask them questions or share your thoughts here

CLINKS DIRECTORY: update your Directory of Offender Services profile

We want to make sure that our Directory of Offender Services is as up to date and relevant as possible in order to help service users and professionals locate the services they need. If your organisation is included in the directory, please make sure that your details are up to date. Search for your entry on the directory here, and if any changes need making, you can find instructions here or email luke.martin@clinks.org

CLINKS SURVEY: how do you involve volunteers in your organisation?

Volunteering within the Criminal Justice System provides governments with an opportunity to deliver effective crime reduction and community safety strategies at a reduced cost to the public. The JIVE project, led by Clinks, is undertaking a European study on the unique role that volunteers perform within the system and their contribution to supporting offenders, their families and victims of crime. By participating in our research you'll assist the project in understanding more about this including the selection and training of volunteers, how organisations structure their activities and how they keep them motivated and engaged. Share your views and experiences here before the survey closes on 12th September

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: MoJ says TR is on track

The Ministry of Justice has said this week that there are over 80 bids to win Community Rehabilitation Company contracts as part of Transforming Rehabilitation. They have revealed there are an average of four bidders in each area, with more than half the bids including a charity, mutual or social enterprise. Chris Grayling said: "The competition is on track and we expect to award contracts by the end of 2014 ... almost 1,000 organisations, including 700 listed as VCSE (voluntary, community or social enterprise) have put themselves forward to work with the chosen providers..." Read the full news release here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: give evidence to prevent deaths in custody

The Harris Review into self-inflicted deaths in National Offender Management Service custody of 18-24 year olds is holding a Public Hearing [25th September, London] to provide an opportunity for anyone who would like to contribute to the Review and who would prefer to give oral evidence or views directly. The purpose of the Review is to make recommendations to reduce the risk of future self-inflicted deaths in custody and will focus on themes including vulnerability, information sharing, safety, staff prisoner relationships, family contact, and staff training. Find out more and book your place here

FUNDING: diverting young people from crime in Kirklees

The Kirklees Small Grants Programme offers up to £500 to constituted not-for-profit organisations working within Kirklees, who deliver projects that offer young people opportunities to engage in positive developmental activities as a diversion from crime and anti-social behaviour. The projects should be aimed at young people between the ages of 8 and 19 years or up to 25 years if they have disabilities. The next deadline for applications is 17th September. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: for healthy young people

Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available to registered charities and not-for-profit organisations that are based in areas in the UK where Tesco has stores. Funding is available to provide practical benefits, such as equipment and resources for projects that directly benefit health, sustainability or opportunities for young people. The deadline for applications is 21st September. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: teaching English to non-English speakers

The Creative English Innovation Fund offers funding to registered charities, including faith and community groups, who want to use innovative methods to teach basic English to non-English speakers. Preference will be given to organisations that are seeking to reach Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Somali communities although applications for working with other groups will also be considered. Grants of either £7,500 or £10,000 are available. The next deadline is 22nd September. Find out more here

FUNDING: financial education

Grants of up to £5,000 are available for self help groups and other innovative projects that will help educate people about money/debt/consumer issues. Projects must assist people to improve their quality of life through knowledge and understanding of how to manage and take control of their own financial situation. Projects must also provide outcomes that will benefit their wider communities. Not-for-profit constituted groups/organisations within the UK that have an annual income of less than £500,000 and whose unrestricted reserves are less than six months of their running costs are eligible to apply. Applications are now being accepted until 30th September 2014. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: find a partner to deliver your dream project

Charities in England and Wales are eligible to apply for funding to deliver the project they have always dreamed of, but never had the opportunity to bring to life. All applications must come from at least two organisations that have joined forces to deliver an innovative project. The lead organisation must be a registered charity. The other organisations can be another charity, a voluntary group or a community interest company. Two funding awards are available: £750,000 for charities with over £1.5 million turnover, and £250,000 for smaller charities with a turnover below or equal to £1.5 million. The deadline for applications is 30th September. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: community safety in Hertfordshire

Local voluntary and community sector organisations, registered charities, public sector organisations and businesses whose projects, services or activities contribute towards the priority areas set out in the Police and Crime Plan for Hertfordshire, can apply for some of the £125,000 that is available for Round 4. Funding is at the discretion of the Crime Commissioner and there are no set limits to the amount that can be requested. Projects need to address one of the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan themes, which are: Building on Success, Public Focus, Offender Pays, and Business Sense. Activities could include but are not limited to practical work, research projects, equipment and materials, awareness raising, or training. The deadline for applications is 30th September 2014. Find out more and apply here

COMMISSIONING: drug and alcohol treatment

Oldham MBC is looking to commission a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service. The overall aim of the new treatment system is to deliver integrated recovery-orientated treatment that supports people to maintain long term recovery from their addiction and to enhance support to people with multiple or complex dependencies. To address this aim, the service will enable problematic drug and alcohol users to make positive changes to their lives and support them to move towards a life free from dependency, addiction and criminal offending. The £2m, two year contract has a bidding deadline of 29th September. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: moving on with forgiveness

'Can you move on without forgiveness?' is The Forgiveness Project's seventh conversation [15th September, 6pm, London, £11] in their 10th anniversary series. Discussing whether forgiveness is the only route to healing after a traumatic event will be Camilla Carr, who was held hostage by Chechnyan rebels for 14 months in 1997, and Richard Wilson, whose sister was murdered in Burundi by a group who have never admitted responsibility and who continue to kill civilians amid a climate of near-total impunity. The conversation will be led by Simon Fanshawe who is co-founder of Stonewall and has written extensively about forgiveness. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: relationship and family support

Action for Prisoners' Families are running a 'Relationship and family support' seminar [23rd September, London, £35] that will look at relationship and parenting support. Negotiating family relationships poses many challenges for prisoners, offenders, their partners, children and their relatives. Parenting and relationship support can really help. This seminar will help those selecting, delivering or commissioning services to make the most of opportunities offered by parenting and relationship support. Find out more and book your place here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Making best use of social assets and systems serving mental health, tackling substance misuse and supporting those in the criminal justice system' | 8th October, Bristol, free | Details
  • 'Faith and Justice Taster Day' | 15th October, Liverpool, free | Details
  • 'What are the alternatives to policing?' | 22nd October, London, donations | Details

OPPORTUNITY: be part of a NOMS CFO supply chain

EOS is planning to tender for Round 3 of the NOMS CFO programme, and is targeting five areas where they want to establish partnerships: East of England, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire & Humber. They are particularly interested in hearing from organisations able to offer: End-to-end case management services for offenders, including for specific offender cohorts, e.g. women, young offenders (16-24), those with disabilities; Specialist support services for offenders, covering the nine reducing reoffending pathways; and Strong local links and delivery infrastructure. If you are interested in working with EOS download their expression of interest form here

OPPORTUNITY: industry trips for your young people

NXG Project CIC is running fully funded industry trips to post 16 learners on entry level up to level 2 qualifications at colleges and training providers in London and the South East. The industry trips help learners explore career options in various industries through fun and engaging trips and activities. Find out more here

RESOURCE: for organisations supporting sex workers

The National Ugly Mugs (NUM) Scheme connects local organisations who support sex workers and enables individual sex workers wherever they work in the UK, in whichever sector, to become members and access information. They promote the safety and well-being of sex workers across the UK by providing them with greater access to justice and protection by enabling them to make reports about all kinds of crimes made against them. They currently have over 2,240 members who are all able to access the reporting and alerting mechanism enabling the sharing of information, informing sex workers of some of the dangerous perpetrators who are active in their area. If your organisation works with sex workers whether that be on a daily, monthly or annual basis then you can sign up to NUM here

PUBLICATION: gang-involved young people

'Family matters: a snapshot of the support available for families of gang-involved young people in the UK' is a Catch22 report that looks at publicly-funded services within the local authority areas with the highest levels of gang and youth violence. The report found that families of gang-involved young people are, in general, experiencing the same issues as other at-risk families with complex needs. While there is little direct evidence of effective practice with families of gang-involved young people, there is a substantial evidence base relating to general family support work. The results of this research suggest that family support services should draw upon this when working with gang-involved families. Download the report here

CONSULTATION: victims' service funding in Merseyside

The police and crime commissioner for Merseyside, Jane Kennedy, and her deputy, Cllr Ann O’Byrne, are currently seeking the views of victims of crime as part of a consultation process which will be used to make decisions on funding support services for victims. The consultation involves a number of focus groups, as well as an online survey. Take part here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Members' vacancies this week include: a Senior Administrator/Data lead with Lifeline Project [HMYOI Feltham], a Special Projects Manager with Housing for Women [London], an Administrator, 4 x Restorative Justice Practitioners and a Manager with Remedi [various], a Caseworker with Prisoners Abroad [London], a Policy and Project Manager with London Voluntary Service Council [London], a Project Worker with 1526 Independent People [Bristol], an Administrative Officer with Howard League for Penal Reform [London], a Director of Operations with Foundation [Leeds], a Prison Leaver Engagement Worker with Shelter [HMP Leeds/HMP Wealstun] and a Project Worker with Women’s Work [Derby]. For further information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Two people can enjoy a 3-course set-menu dinner at the AA Rosette awarded 'Digby's' restaurant in Leeds for £49. Details
  • Tip of the week II: O2 customers can get a £10 voucher at Fragrance Shop with no minimum spend. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Eurostar is having a £59 sale on return journeys booked before Tuesday 9th September. Details

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 8,648 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 12pm Wednesday

To unsubscribe, email joe.gardham@clinks.org

[Terms of Use]

 

Designed, composed and circulated every Friday by...

Joe Gardham and Ben Watson

Clinks

Mob: 07969 727 129