Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 421 | 15th January 2016

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS BRIEFING: release on temporary license

'Inside Out: The role of the voluntary and private sector in providing opportunities for rehabilitation for people on temporary release' is a new joint briefing by Clinks and the Prison Reform Trust, based on a survey of voluntary and private sector providers of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) placements in the community. It reveals that recent changes to the ROTL policy have had a significantly negative impact on the ability of voluntary and private organisations to provide volunteering and work experience opportunities for people on temporary release. We believe that this represents an obstacle to effective rehabilitation by reducing employment and resettlement opportunities for people being released from prison. The briefing makes a series of recommendations intended to inform the government’s review of Release on Temporary License and wider plans for prison reform. Download it here

CLINKS BLOG: supporting the families of prisoners

Clinks has long championed the voluntary sector’s contribution to supporting prisoners and offenders. The breadth of experience and expertise demonstrated by our membership reinforces the importance of delivering the right services to the right people at the time of need. Patrice Lawrence, Clinks' Development Officer, Families, has written a new blog post that says: "Imagine that someone close to you is suddenly removed from your life. They may be the parent of your child, the person paying the bulk of your housing costs, the main carer for you, if you are elderly or unwell. They may simply be someone you love and care for. Crime can have a devastating impact on victims. For children and other family members of someone who is arrested and detained, the effect can be equally distressing. This is why Clinks believes that a nationwide strategy to identify and support the families of prisoners is vital." Read Patrice's blog post here

CLINKS SURVEY: supporting older offenders

Clinks member RECOOP (Resettlement and care for older ex-offenders and prisoners) work with the older offender population. We have invited them to work with us to increase the support available to our members who are providing services for older offenders and ex-offenders. A survey has been compiled which we encourage you to complete so that we can increase the range and quality of services offered to older offenders and improve working partnerships between RECOOP, Clinks and other stakeholders working with this group. RECOOP offers a range of support within prisons to improve physical and mental health, resettlement and independent living interventions, as well as other activities to promote healthy well-being, self-esteem and confidence. Have your say here

CLINKS SURVEY: volunteering in prisons

Clinks believes that volunteers have an important part to play in prisons. What do you think? Our Valuing Volunteering project is collecting evidence about prison volunteering and we're looking for the opinions of volunteers in prisons in England and Wales, and the staff who work with them. This survey is your opportunity to have your say - your views will contribute to a report to the National Offender Management Service, who commissioned the project at the request of Andrew Selous MP, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Rehabilitation. Find out more and have your say here

CLINKS SURVEY: influencing decision makers

Clinks, as part of the Voluntary Sector Strategic Partners of the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England, is gathering evidence about the support charities need to influence politicians, key decision makers and funders. By taking part in a short 15-minute survey you will be helping make sure that funders and decision makers know more about your needs - it is a powerful way of getting your voice heard! The deadline for responses is 31st January 2016. Complete the survey here

CLINKS NEWS: latest volunteering in Europe newsletter

The latest newsletter from our Justice Involving Volunteers in Europe (JIVE) project features a national conference for volunteers working in the Criminal Justice System in Portugal; an update on the pilot of the JIVE training programme in Italy; and support for families of offenders in Hungary. If you would like to have a short article included in February’s edition please email robert.price@clinks.org. You can download the latest edition here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Prime Minister's social policy speech

Sam Thomas of Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition has written a blog that surmises David Cameron's speech this week around social policy. Sam says: "The PM’s conviction – strongly expressed in the speech – is that social issues such as substance misuse and family breakdown lead to and reinforce poverty. However, this argument is hard to sustain in the face of the evidence, not least from the Hard Edges study on severe and multiple disadvantage, that poverty is primarily a cause, not a symptom of social problems." Read the short blog post here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspection of unpaid work

HM Inspectorate of Probation has published a thematic inspection of the delivery of unpaid work. It found that although some unpaid work was well managed and well delivered, much of it was simply not good enough, and its potential to rehabilitate was not always exploited. Unpaid work is the most frequently imposed requirement of a community sentence, and also facilitates the greatest length of time that an offender is likely to be in close contact with a member of probation staff. Paul Wilson, HM Chief Inspector of Probation said: “At a time when government policy prioritises work to reduce rates of reoffending, this report raises important strategic and policy questions about the rehabilitative potential of unpaid work. It appeared in most cases that unpaid work was simply viewed as a punishment that was being administered by a separate group of probation staff. We felt this was a wasted opportunity.” Read more here

COMMISSIONING: supporting people with multiple needs in Manchester

Inspiring Change Manchester is a Shelter-led partnership funded through Big Lottery Fund’s £112m Fulfilling Lives initiative: Supporting People with Multiple Needs. The programme’s aim is to transform the support received by people with multiple needs. As lead organisation, Shelter is managing a commissioning process to identify and appoint providers to deliver specific services in support of the next two-year business cycle of this programme. Shelter plans to commission two specific services from specialist organisations which will be fully integrated with the wider programme. The first service will focus on operational delivery; empowering service users and joining up work delivered by partner delivery agencies. The second service will focus on peer mentoring, and Shelter are particularly keen to hear from grassroots organisations, user-led organisations and organisations with a track record in involving volunteers with lived experience of multiple needs in engaging service users. The process ends on 8th February, so find out more and register an interest here

FUNDING: for victims of crime services in Sussex

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations in Sussex that are supporting victims of crime. Projects should reflect the priorities of the police and crime plan, which are to enhance, develop and commission initiatives to improve a victim’s ability to cope and recover; improve the experience that victims and witnesses have of the Criminal Justice System where a crime is reported; and ensure that services are effective and responsive to the needs of victims and the vulnerable. The deadline for applications is 5th February. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: community safety in Dorset

Grants of between £50 and £3,000 are available for local not-for-profit projects that aim to make Dorset safer whilst supporting the police and crime commissioner’s priorities to reduce the number of victims of crime and anti-social behaviour; reduce the number of people seriously harmed in Dorset; help protect the public from serious threats to their safety including organised crime and terrorism; reduce re-offending; increase people's satisfaction with policing in Dorset; and support neighbourhood policing that is appropriate for both rural and urban communities in Dorset. The deadline for applications is 22nd February. Find out more and apply 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 with 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 MEMBER'S EVENT: the future of young people in Wales

'Tackling Tomorrow – How can our young people be given a hopeful future' is a Cymorth Cymru event [11th February, Cardiff, £130] that offers an opportunity to explore the key issues and answer important questions about the future of young people in Wales. The event will include sessions on the role of young people in the economy; eradicating exclusion; welfare reform; and homelessness provision for young care leavers. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: offenders with a learning disability

'Offenders with a Learning Disability: Who Cares and Why Bother?' is an Academy for Justice Commissioning evening seminar [10th February, London, free] that will share the lessons learnt from a recent project, joint funded by NOMS and Calderstones NHS Foundation Trust. Evidence tells us that offenders with a learning disability represent a major challenge to those working in prison and community settings. The seminar will highlight how this challenge presents major opportunities. Opportunities which will not only benefit offenders with a learning disability, but may have a significant impact on service delivery and efficiency. Find out more and book here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: integrated offender management

The Home Office are hosting a 'National Integrated Offender Management (IOM)' conference [9th & 10th March, Bedfordshire, free] for senior leaders and practitioners working with IOM teams across England and Wales. Delegates will hear the latest IOM policy and meet colleagues from the police, probation and prison service, as well as voluntary sector partners. Clinks are looking for an organisation to deliver a speech to the conference. If you are a Clinks member, and interested in showcasing your work with IOM teams at the conference, please email nathan.dick@clinks.org. To register your interest in attending please request an application form from IOM.info@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk. Free stalls are available to the voluntary sector on request.

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'When the personal becomes the political: Mining the Value of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2013 | 16th March, London, from £95 | Details

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

This week's vacancies include: A Community Case Manager with Women in Prison [Surrey], a Workforce Development and Learning Coordinator with DISC [Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber], a Women’s Accommodation Support Worker with Brighton Women’s Centre [Eastbourne and Hastings], and a Studio Assistant with Synergy Theatre Project [London]. 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 overnight in an 18th-century retreat in historic Battle, East Sussex. Deal includes breakfast and two-course dinner. Details
  • Tip of the week II: For £75 two people can stay overnight at an Art Deco seafront hotel in Bournemouth. Deal includes breakfast, three-course dinner and 25% off spa treatments. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Restaurants want January diners. Get up to 50% off with these vouchers. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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