Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 399 | 17th July 2015

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In this week's edition...

LIGHT LUNCH: funding special

There will be no Light Lunch next week (Friday 24th July). Instead, look out for a special funding bulletin containing a host of local and national funding opportunities.

CLINKS NEWS: one more week to tell your story

Clinks' State of the Sector survey is now open until the 24th July, giving you one more week to tell your story about the voluntary sector’s role in the rehabilitation and resettlement of people in the Criminal Justice System. Thank you to almost 100 of you who have responded so far. One emerging trend can be summarised in a quote from a recent respondent: "Whilst writing bids, searching for funding and trying to assure employees the future is bright, time is taken away from what we do, there are only so many hours in a day…with current funding only covering the bare essentials there is little room to expand on what we do." Does this reflect your own experiences? Read more on our emerging trends here, and complete the survey here

CLINKS VACANCY: development officer - families

Clinks has an exciting opportunity to lead our work on families of offenders. This will include providing a lead on policy, promoting the work of families organisations to key stakeholders, and increasing their influence and voice. The deadline is fast approaching, please make sure you apply by the 22nd July. Find out more here

CLINKS OPPORTUNITY: voluntary sector experts sought

Clinks is seeking 10 senior experts from the voluntary sector working in criminal justice to form the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) leadership board. RR3 has existed since 2011 with the purpose of building a strong and effective partnership between the voluntary sector, the Ministry of Justice, and the National Offender Management Service to reduce re-offending. The chair for the group and its secretariat is provided by Clinks. The deadline for applications is 24th July. Find out more here

CLINKS REQUEST: improving health & care services for offenders

Are your service users getting the best possible health and social care? If you work with offenders or their families in Greater London or Yorkshire and Humber, we need to hear from you by Friday 7th August. Clinks are working with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to gather evidence about the experiences of people in contact with the Criminal Justice System using healthcare services. Your feedback will help CQC’s inspectors decide when to inspect a service, what to look out for and what questions to ask to make sure any issues are being addressed. They need to hear about individual stories of good or bad care, and any common issues you have picked up on with healthcare services in your area. Find out more and share your feedback here

CLINKS DIRECTORY: Just Mentoring has moved

The Just Mentoring directory is now available through the Clinks website; providing key information about vital mentoring services for offenders. The directory is easy to search, and you can contact the listed services to enquire about referrals and volunteering directly through the Clinks website. If you run a mentoring service for people in the Criminal Justice System you can list that service for free, showcasing it to service users, commissioners and volunteers. Search the Just Mentoring directory here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: views on restorative justice

Recent polling by Restorative Justice Council (RJC) sought the public’s views on restorative justice and found that 77% of people think that victims should have the right to meet their offender. The RJC is now calling for a right to access restorative justice to be included in the forthcoming Victims’ Law, which the government plans to introduce during the current parliamentary session. RJC's CEO Jon Collins says, "The Victims’ Law could be a significant step forwards in ensuring much more widespread provision for restorative justice, which is clearly something the public support." Find out more about RJC here

CLINKS BLOG: Michael Gove's speech

As reported in the Guardian on Wednesday, Michael Gove is billed to make a major speech on prisons and probation today, Friday 17th July. Clinks’ senior policy officer, Jess Mullen will blog about what he says on Friday afternoon. You will be able to read the blog after lunch time on Friday 17th July here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prison inspector's annual report

Nick Hardwick, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales, has published his Annual Report 2014-2015. It is his fifth and final annual report as Chief Inspector of Prisons. He says, "...new Ministers are continuing to talk of rehabilitation, further reductions in public expenditure are likely to affect all the sectors we inspect and important decisions have to be taken about the Inspectorate itself. As plans and policies for the future are developed, there are some important lessons to be learnt from the last five years. This report provides a new benchmark against which progress to date and future progress can be measured." Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: deaths from legal highs

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has published a 'Learning Lessons Bulletin' examining deaths of prisoners where the use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) was suspected. The PPO says there is emerging evidence that there are dangers to both physical and mental health from 'legal highs', such as Spice or Black Mamba, and there may in some cases be links to suicide or self-harm. Staff and other prisoners may be at risk from users reacting violently to the effects of NPS. Download the bulletin here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: criminalisation of women

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Women in the Penal System has published a 'Report on the Inquiry into Preventing Unnecessary Criminalisation of Women'. The Inquiry stemmed from the conclusions of previous APPG inquiries and reports by the Howard League for Penal Reform that found the majority of women involved in the Criminal Justice System do not need to be there, women are criminalised too quickly and easily, and the problems they face ought to be addressed by other agencies at a much earlier stage. The Inquiry focussed on what criminal justice and non-criminal justice related agencies were doing to reduce unnecessary criminalisation and any barriers to their work. Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspection of probation

HM Inspectorate of Probation is carrying out an Inspection of Early Work and Effective Recording undertaken by the NPS and CRCs in Wigan & Bolton during the week commencing 24th August 2015. If you have any queries about this, please contact HM Inspectorate of Probation (Enquiries) mailbox at Enquiries.HMIProb@hmiprobation.gsi.gov.uk

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: networking for BAME sector

BTEG and partners including The Choices Consortium, London CRC and NOMS, are hosting a networking event [23rd July, London, free] where attendees can find out about changes and up and coming commissioning opportunities within the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and wider social sector. The event is the first in a series of opportunities for Black and minority ethnic tutors; mentors; employment brokers; education, training and employment providers; emotional support workers; gender-based violence workers; and trauma and education specialists. The event aims to give attendees an increased understanding of the sector's capacity building needs, improved awareness of the health implications for work within the CJS, and an update on the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' TRAINING: on victims' rights

The IARS International Institute, in partnership with Khulisa, is holding a training event entitled 'Victims' Rights in Restorative & Criminal Justice' [30th July, London, free]. The training is designed to equip professionals with the tools and knowledge on victims’ rights in restorative and criminal justice. It aims to ensure that practices conform with the new EU Victims' Directive 2012/29/EU establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime. Additionally, there will be a focus on the Directive's restorative justice requirements and on increasing knowledge on how to treat and interact with victims. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: for victims of serious physical assault

Escaping Victimhood have free places available on their residential workshop programme [1st-4th September, Midlands] for adult victims of a serious physical assault who are suffering the effects of that trauma. The programme consists of sessions on trauma education and tools for change complimented by art, photography, massage and other therapies as well as one to one sessions. This is a residential programme in a comfortable and safe venue with others in a similar situation, led by experienced, skilled facilitators. Find out more here or contact Debra Clothier on 07715209415

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: criminal justice research

The Butler Trust is marking its 30th Anniversary with the 'Research into Practice Conference' [16th September, Cambridge, free]. The event will feature talks by four of the world’s leading criminal justice researchers, and will focus on emerging themes from their research, and implications for managers working in criminal justice settings. In addition, Professor Alison Liebling, Director of the Institute of Criminology’s Prisons Research Centre, will be giving a talk immediately after the event, open to anyone attending the conference. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: the impact of trauma on women and girls

'A Life Mapped Out' is a Changing Lives event [18th September, York] that will explore the cumulative impact of trauma on women and girls in the Criminal Justice System. The event will look at the neurological and behavioural impacts of trauma, and repeated victimisation, leading to systemic disadvantage and discrimination. It will feature a theatrical production informed by the lived experiences of women serving sentences at HMP Low Newton. Book your place by the 7th August by contacting central.office@changing-lives.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: debating penal policy

'Justice and Penal Reform: Re-shaping the penal landscape' is a Howard League for Penal Reform conference [16th - 18th March 2016, Oxford, from £150]. The conference is part of the 'What is Justice? Re-imagining penal policy' symposium, which aims to generate debate around the conventional role of the penal system, ultimately promoting a reduced role for the penal system while maintaining public confidence, fewer victims of crime and safer communities. Find out more and book your place here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS AND TRAINING

  • 'Preventing Radicalisation in Prisons' | 22nd July, London, from £175 | Details
  • 'The Costs of Youth Justice' | 14th October, Liverpool, from £20 | Details

GOVERNANCE: updated trustee guidance

The Charity Commission has published a new version of ‘The essential trustee’, the key guidance document for all charity trustees in England and Wales. The guidance explains what the regulator expects of trustees and outlines their responsibilities, and is for trustees to understand their key legal duties and avoid many of the basic errors that often lead to serious problems. Download the guidance here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies this week include: a Project Worker with Women's Work [Derby], Volunteer Mentors with Nacro - Switch Project [Middlesborough, Redcar, Cleveland], a Mentoring and Advocacy Service Key Worker with Together Women Project [Merseyside], a Responsible Tenant with Nacro [London], a Service Leader [East/East Midlands] and a Support Officer [Hull] with Sova, a Locality Manager with Lancashire Women's Centres [Blackpool], a Prison Project Lead with Fair Shares [Gloucester/Flexible], a Resettlement Caseworker with St Giles Trust [HMP New Hall] and a Catering Coordinator with Back on Track [Manchester]. For more information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: A gourmet break for two in Windemere is only £139. Deal includes meals, cream tea and Prosecco. Details
  • Tip of the week II: O2 smartphone users can get a free pack of Skylanders characters at GAME stores via the O2 Priority app. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Stay for seven nights in Madeira for £299 per person, including return flights, meals, and spa use. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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

 

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