Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 411 | 23rd October 2015

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS NEWS: our new Chief Executive Officer is in post

Our new Chief Executive Officer Anne Fox has been in post for one week so we caught up with her so she could say hello to members via Light Lunch. "My first week at Clinks has been a really busy one - reflecting on what Clinks does and needs to do and the membership. The sector is vibrant, diverse, active, involved in so many areas of work on behalf of offenders and their families. I’ve come from another coalition of voluntary sector organisations at a time of change and reform which presents both opportunities and challenges to the sector. I look forward to using what I’ve learned and know in working with the sector and wider partners so that together we can achieve more than we ever would alone – because what we can do together is important to so many people and families’ life chances. To those I’ve already met, thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to meeting many more of you in the weeks, months and years ahead."

CLINKS EVENT: putting service user voice at the centre of the debate

'Just and affordable rehabilitation: what does good look like?' is our national conference [1st December, London, from £50] that will explore some of the solutions to improving the lives of people affected by crime, and shine a light on how the voluntary sector can contribute by putting service user voice at the centre of the debate; delivering distinct approaches to tackle inequality and over-representation; working towards better collaboration across sectors; tackling health inequalities; and thinking about devolution to local areas. Speaking at the event will be Dame Anne Owers, Clive Martin, Anne Fox and Andrew Selous; and experts will take part in a panel discussion on what good rehabilitation looks like. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S OFFER: discount on Directory for Social Change services

Clinks has teamed up with DSC to offer our members 20% off funding websites (new subscribers only) and all DSC products. DSC provide training courses, publications, online databases, research, and conferences, including popular fundraising resources such as The Directory of Grant Making Trusts and www.trustfunding.org.uk. For a 20% discount code, email your membership number to joe.gardham@clinks.org

CLINKS NEWS: improving welfare to work for people with multiple needs

As a member of the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) Coalition, Clinks contributed to the MEAM response to the Committee’s call for evidence and made recommendations as to what can be done to improve welfare to-work provision for people experiencing multiple and complex needs. The Committee have now published their report and we are pleased to see that they have acknowledged a number of the key points that we raised in our submission. Find out more here

NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR ARTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE BLOG: creating new narratives

"We are always telling stories about ourselves, consciously and unconsciously. Some of them we have told so many times that they have become part of our identity. Sometimes we embellish them for an audience, to make us look good and often the ones that we tell ourselves in the dark make us look very, very bad. Our stories can help us move forward or hold us back in old patterns and narratives... By telling ourselves a new story about an old dream, we begin to see ourselves differently and possibilities for fresh narratives emerge." In a new blog post Kate McCoy, Safe Ground's Women's Programme Development Coordinator, talks about a project Safe Ground has been running in women's prisons to create new narratives. Read the full piece blog here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: creative charity wins award

Handmade Alliance are pleased to be this year’s winners of the Charity Times Social Champion Award on 7th October. They were one of few social enterprises nominated for an Award. The award was given to the social enterprise or entrepreneur who could show they have “consistently delivered an outstanding service to the end-beneficiaries, promoted and raised its cause...and demonstrated excellence all round.” Mairi Duthie, CEO/Founder, stated: “It is a huge honour to receive recognition for the hard work that we do. We dedicate this award to the team members who are in prison rather than here tonight.” Read the full story here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: prisoners' families' organisation wins regional awards

At the inaugural North East Charity Awards 2015 on 8th October 2015, Nepacs was announced as the winner of The VONNE award for Uniquely North East. The awards are designed to recognise the hard work and innovative thinking by local charities. Helen Attewell, chief executive of Nepacs, said: "Congratulations to all our staff and volunteers, members and supporters - Nepacs is the 'Uniquely North East' North East Charity of the Year Award winner! Recognition of all your hard work and recognition of how important our work is in supporting positive futures for prisoners and their families." Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new Chief Executive for Women in Prison

Women in Prison (WIP) announced this week the appointment of Dr Kate Paradine as its new Chief Executive. Dr Paradine brings a wealth of experience to WIP, previously she was National Quality Lead for CRI and is a current Trustee at Clean Break. Dr Paradine says, “It is a great honour to join a charity that has such a strong reputation for campaigning and effectively supporting women to change their lives”. Dr Paradine succeeds Rachel Halford who stepped down earlier this year after ten years commitment to the charity. WIP’s Chair of Trustees Yvonne Roberts says, “Penal reform is at a crossroads, the excellent skills and experience of our leadership team, combined with the high standard of work already provided by a dedicated staff, means that we have a much improved opportunity to achieve the change that our founder Chris Tchaikovsky campaigned for over thirty years ago – real justice for women.” Read the full press release here

FUNDING: supporting the hard to reach with their tax obligations

HMRC will provide £4.5 million over the next three years for voluntary sector organisations to provide advice and support to HMRC customers who need extra help understanding and complying with their tax obligations. Grants will range from £10,000 to £450,000 with a maximum threshold set at 50% of the organisation’s turnover (last audited accounts). Registered charities, voluntary and community sector organisations, social enterprises, mutual and co-operatives based in the UK with an income exceeding £40,000 a year can apply. Organisations must be able to help HMRC customers that are hard to reach and who cannot or will not interact directly with HMRC either due to culture, language, trust, or geography. The deadline for applications is 8th November 2015. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: pressures on our public services

Clean Break's latest play, Joanne [until 31st October, Soho, £15] explores the pressures on our public services as one young woman buckles under pressures of her own. Five characters share a common thread: Joanne. But it’s not about her. It’s about Stella, whose tomorrow is as far away as winter from summer. It’s the way Grace finds her song on the footpath between two cars. It’s about Alice’s MBA wasted on plugging holes, Kath’s patients crawling alongside her after the night shift and it’s Becky caught in the crosshairs of what’s best and what’s right for her students. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: restraint and solitary confinement of children in prison

The Howard League for Penal Reform Lecture 2015 [3rd December, London, 5.30-8pm, donations welcome] will be given by Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, author of the report of an independent inquiry into physical restraint, solitary confinement and forcible strip searching of children in prisons, secure training centres and secure children's homes. Find out more and book your place here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Islam and Black History' | 28th October, Newcastle, free | Details
  • 'Knowledge exchange in university-prison partnerships' | 10th November, Bath, free | Details
  • 'Prisoner Wellbeing' | 14th November, Warwick, free | Details

CONSULTATION: shaping the voluntary sector's involvement in health and care

The Department of Health is consulting on their future investment and partnership with the voluntary sector. Topics covered include grant funding, commissioning processes, the role of local and national infrastructure, and the role of the voluntary sector in promoting equality and reducing health inequalities. There are two consultation papers to respond to online, as well a series of webinars and consultation events. If you would like to discuss your response, or see a draft of Clinks' response, please email hazel.alcraft@clinks.org. The deadline for responses is 6th November, for more information click here

OPPORTUNITY: improving outcomes for black and Muslim men in the CJS

The Young Review are seeking to appoint members to the Young Review Independent Advisory Group to the Ministry of Justice and National Offender Management Service. These are voluntary positions for an initial three year term. The people appointed will reflect a wide range of skills and experience but critically will have a strong desire and the knowledge, skills and experience to make a real difference. The Young Review works with communities, voluntary sector organisations, ex-offenders, private and public providers and government to address the challenge of improving outcomes for young black and/or Muslim men in the Criminal Justice System. The closing date for applications is 26th October 2015. Find out more and apply here

OPPORTUNITY: internships for people from disadvantaged backgrounds

The Civil Service diversity internship programmes are designed to give students from a minority ethnic background, those from a socially or economically disadvantaged background, and disabled students an idea of what it’s like to work in the Civil Service. The Summer Diversity Internship Programme (SDIP) puts talented undergraduates and graduates, from diverse backgrounds, on a 6 to 9 week work placement in a government department. Some interns are offered a coaching programme to help improve their skills and move towards getting a place on the Civil Service Fast Stream. The application window for the SDIP closes on 4th January 2016. Find out more and apply here

OPPORTUNITY: football coaching for unemployed young people

The Prince's Trust are offering free football coaching badges for 16-25 year olds not currently in employment, education or training, living in London. Their free football coaching programme offers a FA Level 1 Coaching qualification, Emergency First Aid and Child Protection qualifications, the opportunity to work with Crystal Palace Football Club Foundation and learn from professionals, the chance to meet new people and improve your communication and teamwork skills, and up to three months' progression support with the Prince's Trust to help you find further work or training. There's a taster day on 3rd November in Croydon. Find out more here

RESOURCE: custodial sentencing for second knife offence

The Standing Committee for Youth Justice has published a briefing for Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) on how children are affected by the new law which came into force in July, that creates a presumption that courts will impose a custodial sentence for a second knife offence – including possession. There has been some confusion about how this new law applies to children, which this briefing seeks to clarify; by explaining exactly what the new law says, including the discretion it gives courts not to apply a custodial sentence to children. It goes on to explain what the new law means in practice, including what YOTs may want to include in their pre-sentence reports to inform the court’s decision on whether to pass a custodial sentence when a child is convicted of a second knife offence. Download the briefing here

RESOURCE: an alternative guide to mental health

The King's Fund has produced an animated alternative guide to mental health services in the UK. The animation explores the range of services available, highlighting key issues in mental health provision. Released to coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2015, the animation was produced with input from three experts and advice from a mental health nurse and a senior colleague from a mental health charity. Click here to see the guide

PUBLICATION: making every adult matter in the North East

An evaluation has been published showing the impact of developing a coordinated approach to supporting adults with multiple and complex needs in Sunderland. The evaluation undertook a snapshot of the cost of four clients on services across the City 12 months prior to Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM)'s intervention and again after 12 months coordination. There were cost savings of £44,505 within criminal justice and £52,980 within health. Download the evaluation here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Job vacancies this week include: a Centre Programmes Manager, a Senior Practitioner, and a Project worker with Changing Lives [Doncaster], a Housing Management Apprentice [Redcar], and a Support Assistant [Redcar, Darlington, Richmondshire, Hambleton/Northallerton, and Doncaster] with Foundation, an HR Advisor [Leeds], and a Drug & Alcohol Education Co-ordinator [North East] with DISC. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: For £99 two people can stay two nights at The Worsley Arms hotel near York. Deal includes breakfast and wine voucher. Details
  • Tip of the week II: 100 free or cheap things to do with the kids in the half term. Details
  • Tip of the week III: For £23 two people can enjoy a two course lunch at Marco Pierre White's restaurant in Newcastle. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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