Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 465 | 9th December 2016

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: inquiry on prison reform

Clinks has published the evidence that we submitted in September 2016 to the Justice Committee’s inquiry on prison reform. Clinks' submission, which pre-dated the Government's publication in November of the Prison Safety and Reform white paper, highlights that voluntary organisations have a key role to play as strategic and delivery partners in the prison reform programme, helping prisons to become more community-facing institutions and enabling in-reach by volunteers and non criminal justice agencies to undertake a range of activities known to support desistance. Download the response here

CLINKS NEWS: website review

Clinks is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from organisations to conduct an independent review of our website. We would like to commission a review to provide clear recommendations for how the website might be improved so it better serves our audience and enhances user experience. The review would work with our communications team, website users, Clinks members and stakeholders to audit the content, structure, accessibility, integration and ease of use of our website. The final report must be presented before 31st March 2017. The deadline for EOIs is 16th January. Download the EOI here

CLINKS SURVEY: one week left to take part

Time is running out to complete Clinks' State of the sector survey - this is your chance to influence policy and practice. The survey closes on 16th December. Please take 25 minutes to evidence the challenges you and your beneficiaries are experiencing and share your successes, so we can advocate on your behalf. The survey gathers the evidence we need to support the voluntary sector and lobby on your behalf. Your anonymised responses will contribute to a report which will be shared with our network of 15,000 contacts and sent to key policy decision makers. The information you told us in last year's survey was presented to Ministers at the Ministry of Justice, senior officials at National Offender Management Service, at the Office for Civil Society, in various submissions to Lords and Commons select committees, and to the Government Relations Team at No.10. Complete the survey here

CLINKS PARTNER'S NEWS: employment outcomes and multiple needs

Making Every Adult Matter has written a statement in response to the Dame Carol Black review, which has now published its report. In July 2015 the then Prime Minister David Cameron asked Dame Carol Black to undertake an independent review into the impact that drug and alcohol problems and obesity have on employment outcomes. Many people with multiple needs have substance misuse problems and the report has implications for how they are supported to overcome barriers to work. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: what difference can a prison officer make?

Has your life been positively impacted by a prison officer? Unlocked would like hear from you. They’re gathering evidence, anecdotes and memories to help the outside world understand what difference a good prison officer can make to the lives of prisoners and detainees – both on the inside and in life after prison. Complete the survey here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: merger of two charities

St Giles Trust, which supports ex-offenders and adults facing disadvantage, and Royal London Society (RLS), one of the UK’s oldest charities assisting ex-offenders, are set to merge. St Giles Trust will take over the work of RLS. The two charities work with some of the most disadvantaged people in London and across the UK. Rob Owen OBE, Chief Executive of St Giles Trust, said: “We were very honoured to be selected by the board of Royal London Society to continue its legacy, helping those facing serious disadvantage have a step up into employment". Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: state of our prisons

The Prison Reform Trust has published the latest annual edition of the Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile, supported by the Bromley Trust. The briefing presents the latest facts and figures on the state of our prisons, people in prison, health in prison, and rehabilitation and resettlement. The Prison Reform Trust's analysis finds that the 30 most overcrowded prisons in England and Wales are twice as likely to be rated as failing by the prison service compared with prisons overall. Download the briefing here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: views of restorative justice

Restore:London are seeking the views of victims of crime and offenders. The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime has commissioned Restore:London (a non-profit consortium led by Catch22 with key partners Restorative Solutions, Khulisa and the IARS International Institute) to deliver the first ever Pan London Restorative Justice Service, a victim-led approach to the provision of restorative justice across London. There are two surveys, with one for offenders and one for victims of crime. They are open until the end of December. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: young homeless people

1625 Independent People's Money Tree project has been awarded £34,812 from the NatWest Skills and Opportunities Fund to deliver money skills sessions to hundreds of young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. A Money Tree Coordinator will train Volunteers/Peer Mentors to work alongside support staff providing practical support and informal education around money matters e.g. opening bank accounts, switching energy providers, working out realistic budgets and applying for grants. Read more here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: new grant standards

The Cabinet Office has announced 10 grant standards that seek to promote effective grant applications across all government departments. The standards replace the anti-advocacy clause that was launched earlier this year and was subsequently paused after calls to have it removed by many charities. CEO Anne Fox says, "Grants are good. However, they are only ever as good as the thought, intention and processes behind them. For all those reasons we welcome the government’s announcement of 10 standards of good grant making – this is something we can support departments with, work alongside them to get it right and make better grants that fund the right services; services that people need and want.” Find out more here

FUNDING: homeless people in the community

StreetSmart offers grants of between £500 and £20,000 for charitable projects that help the homeless to make a better life for themselves, focusing on mental and physical health, employability and sustainable independent living. Applications are welcomed from charitable organisations that work with homeless people in various parts of the country. The deadline for applications is 31st December 2016. Read more here

FUNDING: vulnerable children and young people

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Tony Lloyd, is providing the Youth Aspiration Fund for a third year in a row. This year, a total of £500,000 is available to support work with vulnerable children and young people at risk of offending or risky behaviour within the Greater Manchester area. Public, voluntary and community sector organisations with a company bank account operating within Greater Manchester are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is 19th January 2017. Read more here

FUNDING: women and girls

In the Autumn Statement 2016 the Chancellor announced the 2017/18 Tampon Tax Fund. This year the £15 million Fund is inviting charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations across the UK to bid into one or two categories. The funding is for projects which address either of the following two categories: Violence against women and girls or organisations working to improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. The deadline for applications is 27th January 2017. An application form, criteria and guidelines are available upon request by sending an email to: ttf@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

FUNDING: sustainability and growth

The Investment for Impact Fund will provide investment packages of between £50,000 and £150,000 made up of loans, or a mixture of grants and loans, to charities and social enterprises in the North West of England. Loans must be used for activities which will enable the organisation to scale up or become more sustainable. Grant awards will depend upon an organisation’s needs and associated risk. Non-financial support is also available both pre and post financial investment. Expressions of interest can be made at any time until March 2019. Find out more here

FUNDING: to become investment ready

Access - The Foundation for Social Investment is providing £4 million worth of grants over two years to charities and social enterprises in England that require extra help to become investment ready. The Reach Fund is one of a number of new models Access is testing in order to boost organisations' investment readiness. Grants of between £5,000 and £15,000 are available to eligible organisations to implement an investment readiness plan. Applications are accepted at any time. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: engaging the service user

'Experts by Experience – Engaging the Service User' is an Academy for Justice Commissioning seminar [17th January, 2017, London, free] in which Dr Kieran McCartan, Associate Professor in Criminology and Leader of the Social Science Research Group at University of the West of England, and Paula Harriott, Head of Involvement at Revolving Doors Agency will discuss the importance of understanding the service user voice within the Criminal Justice System. They will give an overview of the importance of the service user voice and the need to hear it in planning and will also share how to engage with service users (especially high risk, vulnerable or challenging populations). Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: engaging the disengaged

Do you work with young people who are disengaged from mainstream education or intervention provision, marginalised or at risk of offending? Reflex is running an 'Engaging the Disengaged' training course [25th January 2017, Manchester, £35]. Through interactive exercises, case-studies and tried and tested techniques, this course will provide participants with an introduction to a number of communication and engagement techniques which will assist them on the front-line of face-to-face delivery. The day will include material on understanding a young person's journey through the Criminal Justice System. To book your place, please contact Training@reflex.org.

NON MEMBER'S EVENTS AND TRAINING

Fundraising training | 16th December, online, free| Details

PUBLICATION: commissioning in crisis

Lloyds Bank Foundation has published 'Commissioning in Crisis', a report looking at current contracting and procurement processes. The Foundation carried out research that sought to better understand the processes behind commissioning, to identify good practice and call out poor practice. Paul Streets OBE, Chief Executive of Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, said: “This report should be a real wake up call to commissioners of local public services. We are alarmed at the scale of the commissioning crisis which is engulfing small charities and threatening their very survival." Download the report here

FEATURED VACANCY: Directors

Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) is looking to recruit new directors for early 2017 [Voluntary post, quarterly London meetings]. ICVA provide a national resource on custody visiting, working closely with government and criminal justice organisations to raise public awareness on the rights, entitlements, health and wellbeing of people held in police custody. ICVA is particularly keen to appoint directors who have experience and skills in: influence with central government bodies, communications and PR, law, human resources, and income generation. Candidates must share IVCA's commitments to fair and humane treatment and to improving custody and the experience of those in police detention. Candidates should submit a CV along with a covering letter by Friday 23rd December. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Job vacancies this week include: a Family Project Worker with Changing Lives [Wolverhampton], an Administration Assistant with Safer London [London], a Drug and Alcohol Practitioner - Prison Exit Team with rAPT [London], a Trainee Navigator with DISC [Batley], an Advocacy and Support Team Worker with Women@thewell [London], Directors with Independent Custody Visiting Association [London], a Case Officer with Sova [North Powys], a Project Development Keyworker - Female with The Nelson Trust [Bridgwater], and Trainer/Assessor with St Giles Trust [Cardiff]. For more information about these vacancies and many more click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: 40% off mains at Prezzo. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Get a plant worth £26 for £1 plus postage. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Get 1/3 off cinema tickets at Vue on Tuesdays. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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Clinks