Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 369 | 21st November 2014

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS BLOG: restorative justice

"Emotions were high; even as an observer, I came away feeling emotionally drained – I can only imagine the effect on those taking part.  As one woman came to the front and began reading her pre-prepared letter, ‘Dear Mum, You are my greatest victim…’, the already tense atmosphere seemed to contract.  Another shared her remorse at being here, and so missing the birth of her second grandchild. Clearly considering the effect their actions – and their imprisonment – had had on their families, was a difficult thing to come to terms with." Hazel Alcraft went to visit Prison Fellowship's Sycamore Tree project recently. Read her latest blog post here

CLINKS BLOG: our prisons may be secure, but are they safe?

Natalie Maidment attended the NEPACS AGM recently, where she heard Frances Crook, Howard League for Penal Reform, deliver a speech entitled 'Our prisons may be secure, but are they safe?' Frances reported that violence in prison has increased. As the prison population continues to rise, attacks on prison staff, as well as prisoner on prisoner violence also increase. Sexual violence in prison is much higher than anticipated and those who become victims are highly likely to continue to be abused. Sadly, reporting of these crimes is very low. Read Natalie's latest blog post here

CLINKS PUBLICATION: PCCs and the voluntary sector- two years on

Following our recent online survey, we've published a report on how you feel you've been able to engage with police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in the two years since they started in post. You were generally positive about how well PCCs understood the sector and were willing to engage in partnerships. However, key areas for improvement include opportunities for funding and strategic engagement and influence. There was no clear change between how you rated your overall engagement with PCCs and your previous overall engagement with police authorities, and more clarity over PCC's commitment to joined-up commissioning would be welcomed. Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: latest notes from Ministry of Justice advisory group

Clinks chairs and provides the Secretariat for the Reducing Re-offending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The  next RR3 meeting was delayed to ensure that it took place after the preferred bidders for the Transforming Rehabilitation programme had been announced. However, the MoJ were still able to produce a policy update designed to support this delayed meeting, which  gives information that should be of interest to the voluntary sector organisation working with offenders and their families. Topics include Transforming Rehabilitation, NOMS Commissioning Strategy, Youth Justice, Offender health, Women’s Justice and  Race. The policy update can be accessed here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspection of NPS and CRCs

HM Inspectorate of Probation have asked us to let Light Lunch readers know that they will be inspecting 'Early Work and Effective Recording undertaken by the NPS and CRCs' in Essex (South) during the week commencing 15th December 2014. For enquiries, email Enquiries.HMIProb@hmiprobation.gsi.gov.uk

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: changes to the prison capacity

NOMS are increasing the capacity of the prison population by creating spaces at HMP Downview (355 places) and Hatfield Lakes (124 places). This is alongside four new houseblocks, creating an extra 1,260 places across Peterborough, Parc, The Mount and Thameside. The Ministry of Justice continues to examine potential options for the HMP/YOI Feltham site, which may include a new prison alongside a new youth facility. Notice to terminate the lease on HMP Dartmoor was served to the Duchy of Cornwall in November 2013. However, no decision has been made on when the prison will close.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: out of court disposals pilots

The Government and police ran a consultation on the current adult out of court disposal (OOCD) framework which showed strong support for the need to simplify these arrangements. In response, they are piloting a new two-tier framework for OOCDs in three police forces; Staffordshire, Leicestershire and West Yorkshire, based around the conditional caution and the community resolution. This would see an end to simple cautions, cannabis and khat warnings; penalty notices for disorder; and offenders would have to take action to comply with a disposal, rather than simply accepting a warning. It is expected that there will be a role for the voluntary sector, working with police, in community resolutions and conditional cautions. The three month pilot started on 3rd November and will inform the decision on whether to roll this framework out nationally. Find out more here

COMMISSIONING: improving partnership working in prison

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is commissioning research to investigate ways to improve partnership working in prisons. This will help inform the integration of service delivery between prison, providers and wider partners by providing practical and strategic advice on how to make partnerships work more effectively in a custodial environment, in order to enable better outcomes for service users. The Invitation to Tender is now available and will close at 3pm on Wednesday 10th December. Please read the contract description to find out if your organisation is eligible. Click here to access the Invitation to Tender.

 

COMMISSIONING: restorative justice in the East Midlands

The police and crime commissioner for Nottinghamshire wishes to commission a provider to establish and manage an ‘Integrated Restorative Justice Service' for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire with a responsibility for promoting, co-ordinating and delivering victim centred restorativejustice services. The appointed Provider will work in partnership with the Commissioner to achieve the Commissioner's vision and objectives for restorative justice and his ambition as identified in the Police and Crime Plan. The £230,000, 14 month contract has a deadline of 17th December for applications. Find out more here

FUNDING: skills provision in the East of England

ESF Community Grants of up to £15,000 are available to small voluntary sector organisations working in the East of England to support both individuals experiencing multiple disadvantages and people from the hardest-to-reach communities to access employment and skills provision. Small is defined here as less than £300,000 turnover. Priority will be given to projects that target women, people with disabilities or health conditions, lone parents, individuals over 50, ethnic minorities and individuals underrepresented in the labour market organisations. The deadline for applications is 5pm on 28th November. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: for young people on low incomes in London

Grants of up to £20,000 are available for voluntary sector organisations in the London Borough of Lambeth who support low-income residents of the Borough. The Foundation exists for those in financial need who live in Lambeth, and its approach is to offer 'a hand up, not a hand out'. Funding is intended to support work with Lambeth residents - particularly those who are under 30 years of age - to move from underachievement, unemployment and financial disadvantage to achievement, employment and financial self-sufficiency. The deadline for applications is 1st December. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: forgiving the unforgivable

'Should you forgive the unforgiveable?' is The Forgiveness Project's tenth event [1st December, London, £11] in their 'Conversations on Forgiveness' series. Richard McCann’s mother became the first victim of the Yorkshire Ripper a week before his sixth birthday. The tragedy went on to trigger a downward spiral into abuse, pain and prison until Richard was able to use his experience to take responsibility for positive change.  It was writing his best-selling autobiography ‘Just a Boy’ that finally allowed him to confront his past. Richard will share his powerful story and then enter into conversation with Marina Cantacuzino, The Forgiveness Project’s founder and director, to consider how contributing to the charity’s prison work may have helped his journey of restoration and healing. Book your ticket here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: awards for work in Wales

Cymorth Cymru's 'Promoting Independence Awards' [5th December, Cardiff, from £37 +vat] celebrate the fantastic work that is being done in Wales to help some of the most vulnerable members of our society to fulfil their potential. Tickets include a drinks reception, 3 course meal, awards ceremony and a disco. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: community safety network for London relaunches

LVSC are relaunching the Reducing Re-offending and Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Subgroup [5th December, London, free]. The London Safer Future Communities  VCSE network runs a number of subgroups looking at key aspects of crime and criminal justice policy. The event event will include: a discussion on the Mayor's Office for Police and Crime's (MOPAC) new  Gangs and Serious Youth Violence Delivery Plan; IOM arrangements; updates on the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda; and crime-related health policy. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: court innovation

Centre for Justice Innovation are hosting a two day conference on court innovation [3rd & 4th February, London, free]. 'Better Courts 2015' will bring together practitioners and experts to discuss new ideas and practices in the UK court system. The conference aims to offer delegates the opportunity to find out about innovative projects taking place across the country, meet with practitioners and experts from around the world and develop their own ideas for meeting the challenges which face our courts. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: advising people with criminal records

Unlock have announced dates 2015 dates of their 'Advising with conviction' training for practitioners supporting people with a criminal record. Are you up to date with the laws around disclosing criminal records? The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act changed in 2014 for the first time in 40 years. The DBS now has a system for ‘filtering’ cautions and convictions. Do you feel confident in advising your clients on whether they need to disclose, and if they do, how to do so? Giving accurate and good quality advice to people with convictions will help them to increase their chances of finding and keeping a job! Find out more and book your place here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Night on my mind' graffiti exhibition | 21st - 28th November, London, free | Details
  • 'Focus on Resettlement Marketplace' | 28th November, HMP Drake Hall, free | Email for details
  • 'Criminal Justice since 2010: What happened? What Next?' | 23rd March, London, donations | Details

PUBLICATION: the importance of visitors' centres

Spurgeons have published a new report that highlights the increasingly complex needs and safeguarding concerns faced by children with a parent in prison and the importance of putting networks in place to support children when visiting a parent in prison. The report says the prison visiting environment has a vital role to play in supporting children and young people by providing an opportunity to identify those at risk. Spurgeons Chief Executive, Ross Hendry, said: “This report highlights that children passing through Visitors’ Centres can be highly vulnerable with complex needs and safeguarding concerns that can be overlooked. High quality services can pick these up early and if those services are not in place children are being left at risk in the short and long term." Download the report here

PUBLICATION: the impact of commissioning on volunteering

The Inquiry into the Future of Voluntary Services have published a paper on volunteering, claiming that contracting and commissioning have accelerated the rise of the ‘workplace model’ and the formalisation of volunteer management that “threatens the untamed and often maverick expression of free will that defines the authentic spirit of the volunteering impulse”. The report says that this view of volunteering as unpaid labour serves “to separate  and distance the work of VSGs from those volunteers and voluntary groups that occupy the world of activism.” Download the report here

CAMPAIGN: reading in prisons

The Reading Agency are trying to get all prisons in England and Wales running the Six Book Challenge over the Christmas holiday period. aunched nationally by The Reading Agency in 2008, the Six Book Challenge has grown five-fold in seven years with at least 40,000 people registering in 2014 through colleges, public libraries, workplaces and prisons. Participation in prisons has more than doubled in the last two years to around 9000 in 2014. The campaign launched on Wednesday,with features and adverts on National Prison Radio devoted to the Challenge and inviting offenders to register for the scheme through the prison library. Find out more and make sure your prison gets involved here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Members' vacancies this week include: a Fundraising and Development Officer with the Margaret Carey Foundation [Home-based], an Outreach/Resettlement Worker with The Footprints Project [Hampshire], a Director at the Criminal Justice Alliance [London], a Support Worker at KeepOut [HMP Coldingley], a Centre Manager at Together Women [Hull], a Senior Programme Manager at User Voice [London], an Administrator at Changing Lives [Newcastle], a Specialist Worker at CRI [Eastbourne], a PRG Administrative Assistant with Prison Reading Groups [Roehampton], an Employment Coach/Talent Coach with Back on Track [Manchester]. For further information about these vacancies, and many more, click here. 

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Get a free copy of 'The Little Book of Holiday Fun', featuring fun things to do with kids. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Buy one get one free on women's cosmetics sets at Sanctuary Spa using the code '241MSE'. Details
  • Tip of the week III: For £99 per night, check into a hotel overlooking Windermere in the Lake District and get dinner, bubbly and a late checkout thrown in. This package for two would normally cost up to £209. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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