Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 419 | 18th December 2015

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In this week's edition....

LIGHT LUNCH NOTICE

This is the last Light Lunch of 2015. We will return in 2016 with the first issue on Friday 8th January. Enjoy your festive break, and we look forward to working alongside you through 2016.

CLINKS VACANCY: policy intern

Clinks has an exciting opportunity for an individual looking to gain policy experience working for a small but national infrastructure charity, based in London. Clinks policy team works to keep our members informed about criminal justice policy and to ensure that the voluntary sector’s knowledge and expertise in rehabilitation and reducing reoffending is represented when policy decisions are made. A primary aspect of the role will be to carry out desk research and monitor government policy relating to criminal justice and the voluntary sector and provide administrative and operational support to Clinks' policy team. The successful candidate will also be able to develop their own policy interests where appropriate. The deadline for applications is 6th January. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS EVENT: tracking Transforming Rehabilitation

We are hosting a half day consultation and networking event [10am - 1.30pm, 27th January, London] with member organisations to discuss the voluntary sector’s emerging role in Transforming Rehabilitation. The event will provide an opportunity to get detailed feedback from surveys conducted by Clinks, NCVO, and Third Sector Research Centre. Delegates will have the opportunity to input into the design of future Clinks surveys, contribute to recommendations for government and probation providers, and share their own experiences of the recent changes to probation. This will support Clinks to ensure we make the right proposals for how the voluntary sector can and should be better involved in the development of new rehabilitation and resettlement services. Book your place here

CLINKS BLOG: be the change you want to see

Clinks CEO Anne Fox has written a short blog about collaboration and change. Anne says: "Change is sometimes hard - both facilitating it and dealing with it when it happens around us. We are in “the business” of change. And we’re in a constant cycle of change- the needs of those we work for change, the policies and services affecting them change, the money we have to support them and the levels of help and of hindrance we experience in doing so change." Read Anne's full blog post here

CLINKS NEWS: tweets from our winter conference

We have compiled a Storify of the social media activity from our winter conference, 'Just and affordable rehabilitation: what does good look like?', held on 1st December. This event explored some of the solutions to improving the lives of people affected by crime, shining a light on how the voluntary sector can contribute. The Storify includes tweets with questions from our members put to prisons minister Andrew Selous, and his thoughts on issues around prisons, youth justice, women in the Criminal Justice System, and Transforming Rehabilitation; and highlights of Clive Martin's valedictory speech. View the Storify here

CLINKS NEWS: arts and criminal justice in an international context

The National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice has compiled a Storify of the recent Anne Peaker lecture, which focused on the UK arts and criminal justice sector in an international context, with speeches from Selina Busby, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and Sara Lee, Artistic Director of the Irene Taylor Trust. View the Storify here

CLINKS MEMBERS OFFER: stay up to date on criminal justice policy

The policy landscape can change rapidly, making it difficult to keep abreast of what is taking place in the Criminal Justice System. Every month Clinks sends out a Policy Briefing listing important news, key new publications and interesting blogs, to keep you up-to-date with what is happening in the sector. This is an exclusive benefit for Clinks members. Membership is free for volunteer-run organisation or starts at just £40 for a year, and there are lots of other great benefits. Please see our membership page for more information

CLINKS SURVEY: training on building financial resilience

Clinks is planning a programme of training on building financial resilience. Please help us ensure we offer the right support by answering a few quick questions on your training priorities, how much time you can give and what format would suit you. Please complete our short survey here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: award for veteran support service

Clinks member Forward Assist, a holistic service supporting veterans' transition from military to civilian, won the recent Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Awards. Neil, from Forward Assist, says: "I served 16 years with the Royal Engineers. The biggest issue I had with my transition afterwards was learning how civilian systems work; from benefits, councils and the medical system. While we're serving, it's all on hand." Find out more in this short video

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: collaborative working award

Together for Mental Wellbeing has been presented with the Collaboration (integration) award at the second annual 3rd Sector Care Awards. The award recognises the way in which Together works with partners within its Pathways services in York and Rotherham; identifying individuals in need of support at the earliest opportunity and preventing them from entering the Criminal Justice System or calling on emergency services. Together also received the Community Engagement award for its community mental health services in East Sussex and its Director of Operations and Development, Cashain David, was a finalist in the Leadership category. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: controlling or coercive behaviour

The Home Office has published statutory guidance concerning controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship under the Serious Crime Act 2015 which received royal assent on 3rd March 2015. The new offence closes a gap in the law around patterns of controlling or coercive behaviour in an ongoing relationship between intimate partners or family members. The guidance provides information on identifying domestic violence, domestic abuse and controlling or coercive behaviour; circumstances in which the new offence might apply; the types of evidence for the offence; and the defence. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: review into the care of transgender offenders

Caroline Dinenage, Minister for Women, Equalities and Family Justice, has announced a review into the care and management of transgender offenders. She said: "Currently, transgender adult prisoners are normally placed according to their legally recognised gender. However, we recognise that these situations are often complex and sensitive. That is why prisons exercise local discretion on the placement of those who live, or propose to live, in the gender other than the one assigned at birth. However, we have received a number of representations expressing concern that the present system doesn’t sufficiently address the needs of transgender prisoners." Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: race in the Criminal Justice System

The latest statistics on race and criminal justice have been published by Ministry of Justice, finding that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups are over-represented at most stages throughout the Criminal Justice System, compared with the White ethnic group. Blogger Russell Webster said: "The MoJ observes that trends over time for each ethnic group have tended to mirror overall trends, with little change in relative positions between ethnic groups. This lack of change is the thing that gives me most concern. Given that the Macpherson report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence was published in 1999 and found that the Metropolitan Police were institutionally racist, why have things not improved over the last 15 years?" Read Russell's blog and download the report here

COMMISSIONING: women's services in the South West

Working Links in conjunction with the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) currently have an opportunity for the provision of Women’s Support Services as part of Transforming Rehabilitation in Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon and Wiltshire, Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. The successful bidder will provide gender responsive women’s services that enable engagement leading to improved health, wellbeing, finance and family relationships, education and training and women’s safety. The service will complement the CRC caseload, working with women on license and through the gate. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: London's voluntary sector in 2016

'A Space to Think: Tomorrow’s London' is an LVSC event [20th January, London] to kick start the new year. 2016 brings the London mayoral elections and further progression of the devolution programme, and the conference will provide voluntary sector organisations a space to think about what these and other challenges mean for their organisations and the people they work with. Exploring the political, economic, social and technological challenges and opportunities facing our sector, they will explore strategies to not just survive but thrive, to ensure the best outcomes for Londoners. Find out more and book here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: 21st Century policing

'Policing in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities' is an Academy for Justice Commissioning evening seminar [26th January, Manchester, free] featuring Jon Bannister, Professor of Criminology at Manchester Metropolitan University. Recent years have witnessed substantive change to the governance of policing and a dramatic reduction in policing budgets. Moreover, the nature and scale of crime problems have seen significant change. Jon uses the controversy surrounding the reform of police funding arrangements as a lens to plot the challenges and opportunities and commissioning choices facing policing in the 21st century. Book your place here

PUBLICATION: the world of prison discipline

'Punishment in Prison: The world of prison discipline' is a Howard League for Penal Reform report that looks at how prisons in England and Wales operate disciplinary hearings called adjudications, where allegations of rule-breaking are tried. A prisoner found guilty at an adjudication can face punishments ranging from loss of canteen to solitary confinement and extra days of imprisonment. Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “This bureaucratic, costly and time-consuming system of punishments then further feeds pressure on the prisons, creating a vicious cycle of troubled prisons and troubling prisoners." Find out more here

PUBLICATION: women in the Criminal Justice System

The FrameWorks Institute has produced a short film about women in the Criminal Justice System (CJS), for the women's justice hub One Small Thing. The film introduces watchers to some of the reasons women enter the CJS, routes out of it, and potential barriers to resettlement and rehabilitation. Watch the film here

PUBLICATION: mothers and babies in prison

‘Enhancing Care for Childbearing Women and their Babies in Prison’ is a new report from Action for Prisoners’ and Offenders’ Families (APOF), and the Hallam Centre for Community Justice, highlighting how mothers and babies in prison can often benefit from residing in a supportive Mother and Baby Unit (MBU). However, for reasons revealed in the report, places are not always available or taken up. The report draws attention to the often relentless and complex struggles of mothers in prison which are compounded by the high levels of mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, self-harm and domestic abuse amongst this group. Download the report here

RESOURCE: guidance on social investment

Big Potential provides further information and grants to organisations looking to explore their investment readiness. Their website provides many useful resources for organisations looking to explore social investment including a Guide to Social Investment and a diagnostic tool which are available to all, not just those looking to apply to Big Potential for funding. Find out more here

OPPORTUNITY: evaluate a women's research project

Prison Reform Trust are seeking an evaluator to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of their UK-wide Transforming Lives: Reducing Women’s Imprisonment Programme, 2015 – 2018. This evaluation will examine and explore the contribution the Transforming Lives programme has made in addressing the Prison Reform Trust core aim of reducing the number of women in the UK sent to prison. The closing date for tenders is 22nd January. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

This week's job vacancies include: A Research and Evaluation Assistant and a Client Engagement Worker with Changing Lives [Tyne and Wear], a Project Manager with Trailblazers [HMYOI Swinfen Hall and HMYOI Brinsford], a Service Manager with Community Links [Yorkshire and the Humber], A Tutor and Receptionists with DISC [Leeds], a Case Officer with Sova [Erith], an Employment Support Worker with St Giles Trust [London], a Restorative Justice Senior Practitioner with Thames Valley Partnership [Chilton] and a Part-time Project Co-ordinator with Restorative Thinking [Lancashire]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: 100 tips for cheap school holiday family fun. Details
  • Tip of the week II: For £89, two people can stay overnight at the Quayside Hotel in Brixham, South Devon. Deal includes three course meal and prosecco. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Two people can enjoy a three course dinner, cocktails and cheese board for £62 at Kensington's Park Terrace Restaurant. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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

 

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