Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 367 | 7th November 2014

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In this weeks edition....

CLINKS BLOG: TR preferred bidders announced, what does it mean?

Nathan Dick, Head of Policy and Communications at Clinks, has written a blog following the announcement of the Transforming Rehabilitation preferred bidders. The blog entitled ‘What does it mean? TR preferred bidders announced’ discusses: What role will the voluntary sector actually play in delivering services? Why didn’t we get a voluntary sector lead preferred bidder? What about the 13,500 other voluntary sector organisations that work with this client group? and next steps for organisations involved, and not involved, in the reform programme. Read the blog here

CLINKS NEWS: have your say on support for arts organisations

Each year, the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice ask their members to complete a brief survey about their experience of the arts and Criminal Justice System. The answers they receive are incredibly useful in shaping their future work. If you have five minutes to spare, they would be extremely grateful if you could answer some questions about the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice as well as the wider arts and Criminal Justice System, sharing your thoughts on the challenges facing the sector and what you think they can do to further support you or your organisation. Click here to complete the survey

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: listener scheme wins awards

Samaritans has been been recognised at the prestigious Charity Times Awards for it's Listener Scheme, in partnership with NOMS. Since 1991, Samaritans has worked with the prison service to deliver the Listener Scheme across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Samaritans volunteers select, train and support prisoners to become Listeners. Listeners provide confidential peer support to their fellow inmates who are struggling to cope. Last year alone, more than 1,500 trained Listeners answered 75,000 requests for support from offenders. The partnership was praised for its innovative and targeted approach that had a real impact in contributing to safer custody objectives. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: successful campaign delivers lasting change for young people

Children caught up in the Criminal Justice System were able to lead a campaign for change thanks to support from a Howard League for Penal Reform project whose impact will be felt for years to come, an independent evaluation has found. Frances Crook, Chief Executive of Howard League, said: “Successful U R Boss campaigns have given voices to the voiceless and helped deliver lasting change, including an end to routine strip-searching of children in prison and a commitment by the majority of police and crime commissioners to incorporate young people’s views on justice issues in their plans. Most recently, 350 young people were involved in developing a manifesto for change, which highlighted the key issues in youth justice as young people themselves see them." Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: national restorative justice mapping project

The Restorative Justice Council (RJC) has published the results of a national restorative justice mapping project. The RJC commissioned researchers at the Hallam Centre for Community Justice at Sheffield Hallam University to undertake the project, which aimed to provide a snapshot of restorative justice provision across England and Wales. A national restorative justice mapping exercise is unprecedented in the UK and this is therefore the first time the RJC has been able to provide a picture of provision across the country, one that includes detailed information about the use and availability of restorative justice. Jon Collins, RJC CEO, said: “This mapping project demonstrates just how far restorative justice has come in recent years, from a niche subject to a mainstream issue.” To read the full national report click here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: new prison gets approval

Wrexham Council has given final approval for the construction of a £212 million prison, due to open in 2017. Wales Office Minister Alun Cairns said: "North Wales has long needed its own prison and this final approval is very welcome. This development, through its construction, running and maintenance, will bring a huge number of jobs to Wrexham and the surrounding region and give a great economic boost to north Wales’ economy." Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said: "We remain in no doubt that the prison will be a huge benefit to the region. Once operational it is estimated that the prison will create about 1,000 jobs and boost the local economy by about £23million per year." Read the press release here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Prisons Week

Prisons Week this year will be 16th - 22nd November. Monday will focus on those who work in prisons, Tuesday is for prisoners, Wednesday is for those who are victims of crime, Thursday is for staff working in the Criminal Justice System, and Friday is for families. Find out more and get involved here

COMMISSIONING: solitary confinement in the youth estate

The Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) is inviting pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) for a research project on solitary confinement practices in the youth justice secure estate. The research will include analysis of data obtained by OCC and visits to secure institutions (Young Offender Institutions, Secure Training Centres and Secure Children’s Homes) in order to observe practice, and interview children and young people and staff. The aim is to obtain an accurate picture of the causes, prevalence, nature and impact of solitary confinement practices in the youth justice secure estate. The £20,000 contract has a deadline of 28th November for PQQs. Find out more here

FUNDING: European Social Fund opportunities

The Big Lottery Fund has awarded £630,000 of funding to 36 organisations across England to raise awareness of opportunities available through the European Social Fund (ESF) from 2015 to 2020. The funded projects will provide guidance to voluntary sector organisations about the European funding that will be distributed in their Local Enterprise Partnership areas and which will be matched by funding from the Big Lottery Fund. It is anticipated that £260 million of ESF funding will be available and will be matched by the Big Lottery Fund for projects to tackle poverty and promote social inclusion. Find out who won in your area and get in touch with them here

FUNDING: start up grants for creative organisations

Grants of up to £150,000 are available through the South East Urban Coast Creative Enterprise Support Scheme, which aims to help creative businesses in Hastings, Tendring and Thanet to grow and create new employment opportunities. Funding is intended to contribute to the costs of starting up or growing a business, thereby creating new permanent jobs and/or safeguarding existing ones. Applicants must operate within the creative sector. Submit an expression of interest here

FUNDING: improving London's high streets

The Mayor of London's High Street Fund aims to support projects that will make London’s high streets better places to visit, live and do business in. Funding is available to boroughs, sub-regional partnerships, town teams and business improvement districts (BIDs), community groups and charities within London that have a desire to lead the regeneration of their high street. Local authorities should be integral to all partnerships however they are not expected to necessarily lead a bid or eligible activity. The deadline for applications is 1st December; find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: how words can help relieve pain

'How do words help relieve pain?' is the penultimate event [10th November, London, £11] in The Forgiveness Project’s series on ‘Conversations on Forgiveness’. Exploring how the written and spoken word can help the recovery process will be Mr Gee, the acclaimed London poet, musician and comedian; and Marian Partington, whose sister was a victim of serial killers Frederick and Rosemary West and who has seen first-hand how recounting her story to offenders through The Forgiveness Project’s RESTORE programme has helped change lives. The conversation will be led by Melissa Benn, a writer, novelist and campaigner who writes regularly for the Guardian on a range of social issues, including education. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: information sharing

'Sharing Information to Transform Public Services' is an Academy for Justice Commissioning seminar [3rd December, 5.30pm, London, free] led by the Centre of Excellence for Information Sharing. Massive change is on the horizon for most organisations and partnerships with many seeking to transform their services, with information sharing remaining a barrier for many. The Centre of Excellence for Information Sharing has been set up to help drive this change, with a focus on practical solutions that break down information sharing barriers. To book your place, email academy@noms.gsi.gov.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: restorative practices

'The Road to Restoration' is a No Offence! conference [3rd December, Manchester, from £50] that aims to examine a broad range of restorative practices across the public, private and voluntary sectors, at all levels of the Criminal Justice System. It will look at where restorative justice fits in the new commissioning landscape, and what effective delivery looks like. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: multiple needs in Yorkshire

‘Multiple Needs, the Next Steps’ is a DISC conference [5th December, Huddersfield, free] that will launch the WY-FI project and celebrate DISC’s 30th birthday. The conference will bring together experts, practitioners and service users to share practical insights and co-produce solutions, and aims to give advice and practical assistance on how to develop organisational knowledge of multiple needs delivery services, and developing best practice in Yorkshire. Speakers include Julian Corner and Fergus McNeill. Book your place here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: charity governance

Greater London Volunteering is running an event [14th November, London, free] on charity governance for the voluntary sector. Speakers include Russell-Cooke solicitors, who partnered with Clinks to produce 'Subcontracting: guidance for boards' for organisations interested in becoming a Transforming Rehabilitation provider, London Funders and Reach. Find out more and book your place

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS AND TRAINING

  • 'Broadmoor Hospital: Past, Present and Future' | 20th November, Southend on Sea, free | Details
  • 'Talking Justice: Transforming Lives' | 3rd December, Bristol, free | Email for details

PUBLICATION: sex workers in Wales

The Sex Work Research Wales project team, which includes Clinks' Louise Clark as an independent researcher, have published a summary of findings from their four year research project into sex work in Wales. The project, led by Clinks’ member Gibran UK in partnership with Swansea University, carried out in-depth research with service providers and members of the sex worker community as well as collating the views and opinions of the wider community. Download the report here

PUBLICATION: successful partnership working with probation

Earlier this year, the mental health charity Together for Mental Wellbeing commissioned Professor Paul Senior at the Hallam Centre for Community Justice, Sheffield Hallam University, to research the long-standing partnership between Together and probation in London. Using a retrospective case study approach, Professor Senior undertook a systematic inquiry to reveal the crucial behaviours and characteristics that make a partnership thrive. Recommendations outline how critical factors of partnership working should be replicated in the development of new partnerships. Read the report here

PUBLICATION: young people in detention

Young Lives Behind Bars' is a new report from the British Medical Association which highlights that, although the origins of offending behaviour are complex, many of the children and young people in detention represent a failure by the individuals and agencies whose job it is to care for and support them. The report says that many of the children and young people who end up in the Criminal Justice System come from chaotic backgrounds, and are often victims of violence, abuse or neglect. They are unable to thrive socially, emotionally or physically, and are among the most vulnerable individuals in our society long before they reach detention. Download the full report here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Members’ vacancies this week include: a Project Manager with the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice [London], a Peer Recovery Support Worker [North Tyneside] and a Client Lead [Chester-le-Street] with Changing Lives, a PPO Mentor with Foundation [Durham], an Employment Support Worker and 2 x SOS Caseworkers with St Giles Trust [London] and a Grant Writer with Spark Inside [Home-based/London]. For further information about these vacancies and many more click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Drive to any Halfords store for a free winter check (usually £15) which includes your car's battery, wiper blades, oil levels, screenwash levels, and head/tail lights.
  • Tip of the week II: Get 50% off three night stays at top of the range boutique hotels across Europe. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Get 30% discount at Laura Ashley online and instore.

EXTRA INFORMATION

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