Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 446 | 22nd July 2016

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS CASE STUDIES: volunteering in prisons

As part of the Valuing volunteering in the Criminal Justice System project, commissioned at the request of Andrew Selous MP, Clinks gathered 14 case studies to give examples of a diverse range of volunteering managed by different organisations working in prisons in England and Wales. The case studies cover: how volunteers are involved in each organisation’s work; what resources are used to recruit, train and manage volunteers; what barriers to volunteer involvement have been encountered; and how these barriers have been overcome. Download the case studies here

CLINKS DISCUSSION PAPER: engaging with prison reform

At the request of Andrew Selous MP, the Reducing Re-offending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has published a discussion paper setting out key issues and ideas that the group believes will support the voluntary sector’s engagement with the prison reform programme. The RR3, chaired by Clinks, exists 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 paper looks at the role of the voluntary sector in supporting rehabilitation, engaging the sector in closing and opening prisons and engagement with new Reform Prisons. Download the discussion paper here

CLINKS BRIEFING: proposals to limit housing benefit

This briefing, written by Homeless Link in collaboration with seven other voluntary sector organisations including Clinks, gives information about the government's proposed cap on the amount of rent that housing benefit will cover in the social sector to the relevant Local Housing Allowance. It looks at the likely impact that this cap will have on supported housing and asks that the government remove it. The Department for Communities and Local Government and Department for Work and Pensions are conducting a review into supported housing, which is likely to be published in the Autumn. The briefing has been sent to key decision makers, including MPs. Download the briefing here

CLINKS PARTNER'S RESPONSE: BAME representation in criminal justice

Clinks' partner, the Young Review, has responded to the government's review of Black, Asian and minority ethnic representation in the Criminal Justice System (CJS). Set up in partnership with Clinks in 2012, the Young Review focusses on improving outcomes for young Black and Muslim men in the CJS. This submission makes a number of recommendations including reviewing the process for downgrading a prisoner's status, further developing service user involvement, and improving the ethnic representation of staff in the CJS. Download the response here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: women with autism

The 'Living and Working with Autism' guide has been produced by the St Giles Trust in order to support a better understanding of women with autism spectrum condition (ASC). The guide aims to inform and support both staff and service users, through the process of diagnosis and to point people towards support services. The guide was developed as part of a NOMS funded project to provide information and support to female offenders in HMP Holloway with high-functioning autistic and/or schizoid personality disorder (PD) traits. The project aims to support women to break out of the cycle of offending and to improve outcomes for high risk, high harm ASC/PD female offenders returning to the community from custody. Download the guide here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: restorative justice quality marks

The Restorative Justice Council has updated its Restorative Service Quality Mark (RSQM) qualification and launched a Training Provider Quality Mark (TPQM). Both aim to address changing needs within the restorative practice field. The RSQM enables organisations to show that the quality of their restorative work has been externally accredited against six Restorative Service Standards. The TPQM provides a badge of quality for training providers and guarantees that the training they provide will teach restorative practitioners how to deliver high quality services that are safe and effective. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: contribution to criminal justice

The 2016 Criminal Justice Alliance Awards will give prizes of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 to three organisations, or individuals, who have materially contributed to improving outcomes across the criminal justice pathway, from policing to prisons and probation, during the last 12 months. Winners will be selected by a judging panel that includes crossbench peer Baroness Young of Hornsey, legal journalist Joshua Rozenberg, Director of Anawim Joy Doal and Mark Johnson, founder and Chief Executive of User Voice. Entries are open until Friday 16th September. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in central London on 17th November. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new psychoactive substances and the homelessness sector

Homeless Link has published a short briefing on new psychoactive substances covering key information for staff in homelessness services. Over recent years, the increase in popularity of 'legal highs' has been a significant challenge for the homelessness sector. Following the introduction of the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, this briefing provides a basic summary of the legal and policy context, plus good practice guidance and further reading. Download the briefing here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prison inspection methodology

HM Inspectorate of Prisons has launched a project to review and update their expectations, and inspection methodology, for adult male prisons. You can sign up for project updates. They want their expectations to be both relevant and instrumental in improving outcomes for prisoners, and to reflect the changing prison landscape. They are currently appointing an external advisory group to provide expert advice and guidance and to act as critical friends. A public consultation process will be held in early 2017. In the meantime they will be engaging with a range of stakeholders and will publish updates on their website. Sign up for updates here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation services inspection

HM Inspectorate of Probation will be carrying out a Quality and Impact inspection in North London during the weeks commencing 5th and 19th September 2016. If you have any queries about this, please contact HMI Probation (Enquiries) mailbox at HMIP.Enquiries@hmiprobation.gsi.gov.uk

FUNDING: social inclusion and poverty reduction

The Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion has published a Call for Operating Grants for EU-Level NGO Networks. The objective of the call is to provide operating grants for 2017 to European level networks active in the promotion of social inclusion and poverty reduction. Activities which may be funded include: the creation and improving of networks, exchanges of good practices; capacity-building; awareness and dissemination; studies, analyses, mapping; research; training activities; conferences and seminars. A total budget of €10.3 million is available. Funding will be for up to 80% of the total eligible costs of the work programme. The deadline for submissions is 16th September 2016. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: overcoming barriers to employment

Grants of between £10,000 and 30,000 are available to voluntary sector organisations in the Solent LEP area. The grants are for innovative projects resulting in economically inactive participants engaging in job searching, training or employment and/or unemployed individuals engaged in training or employment. Projects should focus on supporting people living in areas of deprivation, or those that face significant or complex barriers to employment. All applications must clearly show how new or innovative ideas can deliver evidence-based pathways towards employment for the participants, as well as how projects will compliment local provisions. The deadline for applications is 23rd September 2016. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: coastal communities in Wales

Funding awards between £50,000 and £300,000 are available in Wales as part of Big Lottery Fund's Coastal Communities Fund. The funding aims to support the development of coastal locations by promoting sustainable economic growth and jobs, enabling local people to respond to the changing needs and opportunities in their area. Consideration will be given to how plans for economic growth address local needs and priorities, the number of jobs that will be created and their long-term sustainability. The closing date for stage one applications in Wales is noon on 29th September 2016. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: refurbishment and construction

The Rose Foundation has opened for applications from registered charities in London undertaking refurbishment and construction projects that cannot afford the kinds of resources and professional advice that larger projects use. Organisations can apply for grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 to assist them with the design and construction process. Eligible expenditure includes: general refurbishment; repair to a roof or windows; creation of a disabled access or the provision of new toilets; adapt or create a classroom or bedroom or to extend a building. Application is by letter and can be made from now until 31st March 2017 for funding in 2018. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: commissioning in a devolved landscape

The Academy for Justice Commissioning are holding an evening seminar, 'Effective commissioning in a devolved landscape: an NAO perspective' [13th September, Bristol, free]. The National Audit Office's Aileen Murphie will outline how commissioning can be effective in a changing landscape and help to shape public services around the needs of the individual. As powers and funding are devolved, will this enable people at the front line to shape more effective services, improve outcomes and value for money? Find out more and book here

BLOG: changes in criminal justice

Clinks' CEO Anne Fox has written a guest blog for NPC with her thoughts and reflections on the latest criminal justice announcements. Anne writes, 'The change and uncertainty that the country is now facing feels like an extension of what we in the criminal justice sector have been experiencing for many months now. Indeed, before Brexit and its political fall-out drew the press’s gaze to Whitehall, it felt to many as if there was news about our justice system, especially prisons, on our radios and in our newspapers every day. So where do things stand at present?' Read the blog here

RESOURCES: families and young people

Beyond Youth Custody has published two resources that explore the important role families can play in supporting young people who are released from custody. ‘The role of family support in resettlement: a practitioner’s guide’ is aimed at practitioners who work with young people and their families. It explores the family’s unique position to fulfil key characteristics that research has shown are associated with effective resettlement support. Its partner publication, ‘The role of family support in resettlement: a policy briefing’ outlines key themes including the importance of investing in family approaches, and the need to empower family members by supporting the supporter through identifying and meeting wider family support needs. Download the resources here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Job vacancies this week include: a Production Coordinator with Fine Cell Work [London], Volunteer Trustees with The Nelson Trust [Gloucestershire], an Alcohol Support Worker with Community Links [Kirklees], an Internship with Restorative Justice for All [homeworking], an Ex-offender Exhibition Host with Koestler Trust [London], a Young Women's Project Worker with The Magdalene Group [Norwich], a Finance Manager with Spark Inside [London], and a Criminal Justice Caseworker with One25 [Bristol]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Pay only £4 to get a discount card which gets you 2for1 and 50% off at more than 6,500 restaurants. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Fly from London to Bordeaux in September for £26. Details
  • Tip of the week III: A 3-night break in Venice is £119pp. Deal includes return flights, 4-star accommodation and a gondola ride. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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