Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 395 | 19th June 2015

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In this month's edition....

CLINKS SURVEY: make your voice heard

Clinks' State of the Sector survey is now open! This is your chance to tell your story and help us to influence decision makers. How is your organisation faring? What successes and challenges are you experiencing? In our last survey you told us the needs of your service users are increasing and becoming more complex, and that many of you are relying on your reserves; putting you at risk of closure. How does this compare with your current experiences? The information you provide is vitally important as it informs the crucial work Clinks does to support the sector, and lobby Government on your behalf. Please complete our survey here

CLINKS WORKSHOP: get ahead of the competition

Do you want to learn how to write winning bids? Clinks and Candour Collaborations are holding an interactive 'Writing winning bids' workshop [2nd July, Birmingham, from £50] to support organisations working in the Criminal Justice System to effectively identify contract and sub-contract opportunities, write strong narrative responses, and secure positions within supply chains. The workshop will also help you to understand how procurement works and how to submit high quality, high scoring bids. Find out more and book here

CLINKS PARTNER'S BLOG: solutions from the frontline

Mind's Policy and Campaigns Officer, Andy Kempster, has written a blog discussing the findings from MEAM's Voices from the Frontline project. The project aims to make sure the voices of people with multiple needs, and those who support them are at the heart of the policy debate. Andy says, "Working in policy, sometimes you begin to think you can come up with all the answers and that by looking at statistics or reading fancy reports you can decide what will work. By going out and talking to people who use and deliver services, I’ve learnt that this definitely isn’t the case." Read the blog here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new project for young women

Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) is developing a new project to help girls and young women to think ambitiously about their futures. In order to make the project as responsive as possible BTEG has launched a survey, and want to hear from girls and young women aged 11 to 25 from ethnic minority backgrounds including African, Caribbean, Asian, Middle Eastern and mixed ethnic origin. If you complete the survey you will be entered into a prize draw to win one of two £75 gift vouchers. The deadline for responses is 1st July 2015. Complete the survey here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation inspectorate in South Yorkshire

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation is conducting an inspection of early work and effective recording undertaken by the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies in Doncaster and Rotherham during the week commencing 27th July 2015. If you have any queries about this, please contact HMI Probation (Enquiries) mailbox at Enquiries.HMIProb@hmiprobation.gsi.gov.uk

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspection of youth offending work

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation has published a 'Full Joint Inspection of Youth Offending Work in Swindon'. The Inspectorate found "an evident commitment by Swindon Youth Offending Team to keep the children and young people with whom it worked safe, enhance their wellbeing and help to reduce the likelihood of them offending again . . . However, there were a number of gaps at an operational and management level in work to protect the public and safeguarding". Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: lessons learned from prisoner suicides

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales has published its latest 'Learning Lessons Bulletin' which examines learning from investigations into the self-inflicted deaths of prisoners being held in segregation conditions at the time of death. Eight prisoners killed themselves in prison segregation units in the financial year 2013/14 – four of these had been assessed to be at risk of suicide and self-harm. The bulletin is intended to encourage learning from these deaths, reduce the inappropriate use of segregation for the vulnerable, support safe practice and, ultimately, contribute to the prevention of future deaths. Download the bulletin here

COMMISSIONING: learning and skills tender

Learning Skills and Development Network wishes to invite applications from new and existing sub-contractors to tender for the delivery of high quality Skills Funding Agency education and training services for the 2015/2016 academic year. The contract is valued between £100,000 and £350,000, and the deadline for applications is 27th June. Find out more here

FUNDING: for people in severe financial hardship

Applications are now being accepted for the Money Advice Trust's Innovations Grants Programme. Grants of up to £30,000 are available per year for up to three years to charitable organisations in the UK. The Trust is looking for project proposals that demonstrate how they will support individuals or microbusinesses who are in severe financial hardship, who are financially excluded and/or who are hard to reach. They are particularly interested in funding the following themes: Household budgets, particularly how to help people with deficit budgets; cost effective ways to engage with clients to develop their money skills; overcoming barriers to accessing advice using established channels; and supporting self-employed clients who have low incomes. Register your interest by 5th July. Find out more here

FUNDING: enriching quality of life in Wales

The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust is open to applications to not-for-profit organisations in Wales that have a remit to serve a region or local authority-wide area. Grants of up to £7,500 are available for: volunteer-based sport projects; improving arts provision; improving the quality of the environment; and tackling social, personal, economic or cultural barriers within communities. The deadline for applications is 29th July. Find out more here

FUNDING: for grassroots groups

Grants of £500 are available to local grassroots groups, such as community allotments, social groups for older people, and groups running activities for young people, from across the UK. Skipton Building Society's 'Grassroots Giving' programme aims to support local communities by helping grassroots groups and organisations that are passionate about making life better for others to continue to grow. The funding is for projects that create empowering opportunities and make life better for local communities. Priority will be given to projects which get very little support elsewhere. Groups should have an annual net profit of less than £10,000, and the deadline for applications is the 31st July. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: young offenders' communication needs

'Working with Young Offenders - A Communication Skills Approach' is a one day workshop from Talklinks [16th July, Birmingham, £185] exploring the communication needs of young offenders and other vulnerable and high-risk individuals. Find out about the nature and presentation of communication difficulties in the young offender population; explore how hidden communication difficulties may be written off as 'bad behaviour'; and identify barriers to successful communication in your current practice. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: the next five years of criminal justice

Academy for Justice Commissioning's seminar 'The next five years of criminal justice for England and Wales' [20th July, Manchester, free] will be led by Professor Chris Fox who will offer his thinking around key questions concerning the new government’s criminal justice policy and the implications for commissioners and providers. The event will ask: What will criminal justice policy look like in the next five years? What broader trends in policy-making might influence the direction of travel? And what are the implications for commissioners and providers in this context? Find out more and book here

LIGHT LUNCH READERS' OFFER: free places at youth justice conference

'The Future of Youth Justice Conference' is a University of Salford event [3rd July, Salford, £325 + VAT] that will focus on how all those involved and with an interest in youth justice can help prevent children and young people under 18 from offending or re-offending. The event aims to provide delegates with insights into the latest policies and likely developments. There are ten complimentary places for Light Lunch readers, if you would like to attend, please send an email describing three ways in which Clinks' Light Lunch benefits you or your organisation, to joe.gardham@clinks.org

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS

  • 'Out in the workplace' | 25th June, Hull, from £40 | Details
  • 'Preventing Radicalisation in Prisons' | 22nd July, London, from £175 | Details

AWARDS: for successful business women

The NatWest Everywoman Awards are open to female business owners who have achieved significant success, and women who have overcome adversities such as financial constraints, social disadvantages or skills gaps. The Awards aim to shine the spotlight on successful business women and their achievements, while raising their profile to clients, industry press and the business community. You can nominate in one of six categories; the core categories will focus on the age of the business, and demonstrating the different achievements and challenges faced by business owners at various stages of the enterprise journey. Find out more here

PUBLICATION: the impact of arts therapy

'Arts and vulnerable people: examining the evidence base' is a Lemos&Crane paper reviewing the research evidence on the impact of arts therapy for vulnerable people including those with mental illness, older people, homeless people and prisoners. Participation in arts projects is linked to positive outcomes, such as symptomatic relief, raised self-esteem, and building social capital. Download the paper here

PUBLICATION: European drugs trends and developments

The 'European Drug Report 2015' highlights the changing dynamics in the heroin market, the latest implications of cannabis use and new features and dimensions of the stimulant, and the 'new drugs' scene. Russell Webster will be posting a blog every Wednesday for the next few weeks looking at some of the report's main themes. Read Russell's first blog and download the report here

MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies this week include: an Arts Training and Progression Manager with Synergy Theatre Project [London], a Senior Prison Project Lead/National Network Co-ordinator with Fair Shares [Gloucester], Women at Risk Mentors [Various] and a Mental Health Services Manager [Nelson] with Lancashire Women’s Centres, a Head of Dedicated Services and 4 x Case Workers with Well Women Centre [Wakefield], a Volunteer Coordinator with Circles South West [home-based], an Income Management Officer with Changing Lives [Newcastle], an Alcohol Recovery Officer with Anglia Care Trust [Ipswich], 2 x Through the Gate Workers with Housing for Women [London/HMP Holloway], a Business Development Manager with RISE CIC [London], a Policy and Public Affairs Officer with The Restorative Justice Council [London], Volunteer Mentors with Khulisa [Various], a Transforming Rehabilitation Service Manager with Ormiston Families [East Anglia], and 10 x positions with Changing Lives including a Young Women’s Development Worker [Newcastle], a Custody Community Case Worker [Nottingham] and a Finance Officer [Gateshead]. For further information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: An overnight stay for two at Lumley Castle in Durham is £99. Deal includes full English breakfast and afternoon tea. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Get 10 craft beers and a book on 40 UK breweries for £11. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Purchase sun cream for your summer holiday for only £1. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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

 

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