Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 391 | 22nd May 2015

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS BLOG: top five tips for engaging PCCs

Jess Mullen, Senior Policy and Projects Officer at Clinks, wrote a blog for NCVO last week that offers five top tips for engaging with police and crime commissioners. Jess says: "In the run-up to the 2015 general election, predictions of a hung parliament meant that the future of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) looked unclear, with all parties except the Conservatives promising significant reforms. However, writing following the Conservative Party’s election victory, it is clear that PCCs are here to stay." Read Jess's blog and her five tips here

CLINKS RESPONSE: regulating health and social care in prisons

Clinks has submitted a response to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) consultation on regulating health and social care in prisons and young offender institutions, and health care in immigration removal centres. Our response is based on discussions with Clinks members at two workshops held in London and Leeds. Read the response here 

CLINKS SURVEY: tracking TR survey closes today

Over 200 of you have taken part in our quick survey on Transforming Rehabilitation (TR), which will help us to paint a picture of the voluntary sector's experiences so far. Alongside some basic information about your organisation, we ask you three questions - if you plan to be involved in TR, how your involvement will be funded, and if your funding has been affected by your involvement in TR. The survey closes today, so if you haven't completed it yet, please take five minutes of your time today to share your experiences of TR. Have your say here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: police and mental health

With an estimated 20%-40% of police time spent on mental health related incidents, a new briefing by charity Revolving Doors Agency highlights promising work by police and crime commissioners (PCCs) to improve responses for people facing mental health problems. The briefing is designed to highlight promising practice among PCCs which could be replicated in other areas. It argues that PCCs are in an important position locally to bring key strategic partners together and improve responses, and highlights areas of promising practice. Download the briefing here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: the future of education contracts in prison

Prisoners' Education Trust has published a briefing on the future of education contracts in prison, in light of the current Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) phase 4 contracts for prison education coming to an end in July 2016. They welcome the successes of OLASS 4, in particular the increase in the numbers of prisoners achieving entry level, level 1 and level 2 qualifications, including in literacy and numeracy. The briefing sets out what areas within the current system need improving and how that could be achieved by changing the way the existing contracts work. Find out more here 

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: contribute to a new project on dogs in prisons

Lemos&Crane is seeking to promote positive projects for prisoners working with assistance and rescue dogs in UK prisons. They are looking to establish a picture of projects taking place in UK prisons, which would typically be partnerships between prisons and dog charities, and to develop further ideas for potential partnerships in the future. If you are from a dogs charity or a dogs and/or animal rescue centre that has experience of, or aspirations to, work in prisons then they would like to hear from you. They are also interested in hearing from professionals who either work in or with a prison or young offender institution. Get involved here 

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: supporting individuals experiencing mental distress

Together for mental wellbeing has launched a new service in York that works alongside individuals who frequently contact emergency services when experiencing mental distress. The York Pathways Service works with vulnerable individuals to understand their distress and develop resources to support them take steps towards improving their health and wellbeing. The service also works strategically with the emergency services and other key organisations to develop ways in which they can work together more effectively and as a result help prevent individuals from reaching crisis point. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: measuring the impact of women's centres

The Ministry of Justice's Justice Data Lab has published its latest report, summarising the requests for re-offending information for the period 2nd April 2013 to 30th April 2015. Since the last report in April, Justice Data Lab has analysed a request from 39 Women’s Centres throughout England, providing analysis of the support they provide against a matched national comparison group. This analysis shows statistically significant results in the one year proven re-offending rate. Read the latest results here 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspecting probation services under TR

The latest HM Inspectorate of Probation report on the early implementation of Transforming Rehabilitation found that adult probation services present a mixed picture with challenges remaining. Improvements need making to risk screening tools and IT systems, but inspectors were pleased to see that cases were being allocated correctly to the NPS or CRC, risk escalation processes are working, and offenders interviewed gave positive comments. Read the full press release and download the report here 

AWARDS: for small charities in the South West

Bath Building Society has opened its annual Charity Awards, established to support as many local initiatives as possible from the growing number of requests that the Society receives each week asking for support. Charitable organisations that operate in and deliver projects that are beneficial to residents of Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol are eligible to apply. Organisations must have an annual income of £200,000 or below. The total award pot is £5,000. The deadline for applications is 8th June 2015. Find out more and apply here 

AWARDS: for charities addressing the causes of poverty and disadvantage

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Awards 2015 are looking for the most effective community-based projects in the UK that are helping people trapped in cycles of poverty, breakdown or disadvantage to transform their lives. Innovative and effective projects that are addressing the root causes of poverty are welcome to apply. Voluntary groups with charitable objectives and registered charities may apply as long as they: work directly with people living in poverty in the UK; are seeking solutions that will help people out of poverty and enable them to change their lives; are addressing the causes of poverty, not just the symptoms; and have an annual turnover of less than £3 million. Winning organisations will receive a cash prize of £10,000. The deadline for applications is 12th June 2015. Find out more here 

FUNDING: urgent deadline for North East youth projects

The Wellesley Trust Community First Fund's grants programme has an imminent deadline of 1st June. Grants of between £250 and £10,000 are available for organisations who advance education and relieve hardship for children and young people living in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Durham. Applicants do not have to be a registered charity, but grants are only available for charitable activities. Find out more and apply here 

FUNDING: expanding your peer support service

Mind's Peer Support programme is offering 45 grants of between £5,000-£15,000 to organisations that want to offer peer support to more people, and work with them to build an evidence base for the effectiveness of peer support. Organisations in their pilot areas of Suffolk, Leeds, Coventry and Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Lancashire, Southampton and New Forest, Devon, Teesside, London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and London Borough of Westminster can apply. The deadline for applications is 10th June, find out more here

FUNDING: to benefit the community in St. Albans

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available from The Community Grants Fund in St. Albans to support the delivery of projects and activities that benefit the local community. The funding is for capital expenses, fixed term projects and/or to give added value to existing activities, and the criteria includes provision of support for vulnerable adults and families; intergenerational activities; community cohesion; and reducing inequalities. Applicants may submit up to three applications for different projects. The deadline for applications is 12th June 2015, find out more here

FUNDING: for homelessness services

The Tudor Trust has committed to giving small grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 to homelessness agencies to establish and grow organic and lasting connections between formerly homeless people and others in their communities, allowing them to build lives outside of institutional programmes and professional support networks increasing their long-term wellbeing and resilience. In this first phase of the project they are focusing on towns and smaller cities. If you run a homelessness service which supports resettlement in or near any of the following towns - Blackpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Carlisle, Colchester, Gloucester, Hastings, Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Torquay, or Worcester - you can apply for support here [free registration required]

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: influencing PCCs

NCVO are running a free webinar [28th May, online, 12-12.45pm] to help voluntary organisations to understand the drivers and remit of police and crime commissioners, and think through why and how best they can be influenced. This will be an interactive webinar, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions. This webinar is for senior managers, trustees, or leaders of voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that are engaged in community safety or victim support work. Find out more and read the preparatory literature here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: the impact of parental offending on children

i-HOP is delivering a rolling programme of workshops across England for all professionals working with children and families. The two-hour workshops are free and aim to raise awareness about the impact of parental offending, highlight ways in which professionals can ensure these children and families receive the support they need and consider how professionals in your local area can work together to support these families effectively. New dates/locations are being added all the time and currently include Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Liverpool, South Tyneside, Blyth Valley, Carlisle, Leeds, Wakefield, Basildon, Silver End, Runcorn and Colchester. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: shaping future resettlement services

'The Road to Resettlement: Paving the way to reducing reoffending' is a NoOffence! event [22nd September, Newbold Revel, from £50] that will focus on shaping future services towards an evidence-based ‘what works best’ approach. "There is a growing and significant need to provide effective resettlement services developed from research. Suitable planning is essential and should utilise available research and evidence to achieve effective delivery of required services. A ‘one size fits all’ simply doesn’t work; with evidence suggesting it is necessary to provide tailored services to meet the particular needs of individuals. So how can we all achieve this?" Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: developing restorative practices

Restorative Solutions CIC are hosting their 'Practitioner training' [20th - 22nd July, Manchester, £295 + vat], which aims to enable participants to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively practice restorative approaches. On completion of this training, you should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of restorative justice, sensitivity and recognition of the needs of others when applying restorative approaches, and the ability to identify and practice appropriate restorative approaches in a variety of settings. Find out more and book your place here 

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Through the Gate Services' | 9th June, Manchester, free | Details
  • 'Alternatives to custody: a critical look at UK practice and policy' | 10th June, London, donations | Details
  • 'Preventing Radicalisation in Prisons' | 22nd July, London, £225 | Details
  • 'Influencing decision makers and commissioners' | online course, free | Details

RESOURCE: donated goods for your service users

In Kind Direct is a charity set up to support charities and non-for-profit organisations with donated goods. Goods range from cleaning products, toys, toiletries, clothes and a range of other items that can be used to run services and give to the people they support. They are currently looking to engage with voluntary sector support services in London. Find out more and get involved here 

OPPORTUNITY: new website for offender arts charity

The Koestler Trust is looking for tenders for re-designing its website. For the brief and application details please email info@koestlertrust.org.uk with ‘website tender’ in the subject line.

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member vacancies this week include: An Arts Team Volunteer with the Koestler Trust [London], A Project Worker [an IRC] and a Through the Gate Worker [HMP Holloway/London] with Hibiscus Initiatives, a Project Counselling Coordinator with Women's Work [Derby], a Development Manager with Clean Break [London], a Family Engagement Worker with POPS [HMP & YOI Hindley], a Cafe Volunteering Coordinator with Changing Lives [Doncaster], an Assistant Support Worker with P3 Charity [Stroud/The Cotswolds], a Substance Misuse Recovery Worker with Brighton Oasis Project [Brighton], a Programme Facilitator with Kainos Community [HMP Guys Marsh], Prison Resettlement Workers with DePaul UK [HMP & YOI Rochester] and an Accomodation Support Officer with Anglia Care Trust [Ipswich]. For more information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Overnight stays for two at a choice of 33 hotels now start at £89 per room. Deal includes breakfast, dinner and wine, seven days a week until 31st July. Details 
  • Tip of the week II: "Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular­", a musical celebration of the iconic BBC series, is touring the UK and offering 40% off tickets in Leeds on 27th May using code 'DOCTORZOO'. Details 
  • Tip of the week III: Get free tickets for the vegetarian and vegan 'Just V Show' at London Olympia, 3rd-5th July. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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Contact Us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 7383 0966

 

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