Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 498 | 18th August 2017

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS RECRUITMENT: special interest group on accommodation

Clinks is recruiting up to fifteen people from voluntary organisations with expertise in accommodation for people in contact with the criminal justice system to form a special interest group. The group will report to the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group that provides expertise and voluntary sector representation to the Ministry of Justice in relation to their policy developments. The first meeting will take place on the 27th September in Leeds or London. Please contact Nicola Drinkwater with a brief explanation as to why you would like to attend by 8th September at Nicola.drinkwater@clinks.org

CLINKS PUBLICATION: women in theatre

Clinks, alongside the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, has published a case study from Clean Break. Clean Break is a women-only theatre company which delivers high-quality theatre-based courses, qualifications and specialist support for women with experience of the criminal justice system. This case study explores the impact of current policy and funding arrangements on Clean Break and gives the experiences of Frankie, a former Clean Break student. When describing the work of Clean Break, Anna Herrmann, Head of Education said “we are able to challenge, in a human way and through the stories of women’s real lives, people’s perceptions of the criminal justice system.” Read the case study here

CLINKS BLOG: rehabilitation in Latvia

In this guest blog, Martin Kruklis of St. Luke's Support Association, a non-governmental organisation in Latvia, writes about his organisation’s mission to build a socially active and inclusive civil society, taking care of former prisoners and their families. Martin shares his perspective of working with people with convictions in Latvia, and discusses his organisation’s approach to rehabilitation. He writes 'Natural social integration, which excludes stigmatisation and destroys prejudices, reveals the positive potential and usefulness of the people “written off” by society'. Read the blog here

CLINKS PARTNER'S EVENT: valuing the voluntary sector

The Academy For Social Justice Commissioning is holding a seminar on 'Valuing the Voluntary Sector' [11th September, Ministry of Justice Headquarters, free]. This seminar will look at the successes and challenges for voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system. Clinks' Senior Policy Officer, Nicola Drinkwater, alongside NCVO's Research Officer, Lisa Hornung, will share the results of the state of the sector research - what is working, what could be improved and lessons to be learnt for commissioners. They will also discuss how voluntary organisations play an essential role in people’s lives, the significant challenges they experience and why ignoring them is not an option. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: equality in the justice system

The Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG), and the Coalition of Race Equality Organisations (CORE), is calling on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) voluntary, community and faith groups to mobilise before and after David Lammy MP launches his review into the treatment of BAME people in the justice system next month.  BTEG and CORE believe BAME organisations have a great deal to offer but are often starved of resources. Jeremy Crook OBE, Chief Executive of BTEG, says: “We appreciate system and culture change in the criminal justice system will not happen overnight, it will be incremental, but we should demand a fair justice system within five years.” Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: children's stories

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) has launched new charity website backed by Michael Palin which features a series of animations where prisoners’ children tell their stories with their own words. The children tell their experiences of police home raids, prison visits and express their feelings and thoughts around their parents' imprisonment in a creative way. Pact commissioned an animator, thanks to a Comic Relief grant, to work directly with the children, so that they could create their own characters for the films. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: partnership and collaboration

Together For Mental Wellbeing is seeking partnerships to work to solve current commissioning challenges and share expertise. Together is a provider of criminal justice mental health services. A voluntary sector provider of court liaison and diversion services in the UK, it also delivers a range of criminal justice services nationally, working alongside statutory/ non-statutory partners, including police and probation, to provide clinically robust, psychological informed and locally adapted services. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: coping with custody

Ormiston Families has a new web-based resource for families dealing with imprisonment. The website features sections on imprisonment and families for both professionals and people directly affected. It also includes a list of resources and specific guides to taking children through what can be a difficult process. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prison reform in the news

Justice Secretary David Lidington has written an article for the Evening Standard, focusing on prison reform and rehabilitation. The article discusses his plans to set up a new unit accountable to ministers, plans to have one prison officer 'key worker' per six prisoners, and improving security. He writes 'I want to see prison numbers come down. We need better custody that cuts reoffending and crime. And we need to ensure judges, magistrates and the public have full confidence in the other penalties available.' Read the article here

FUNDING: drug and alcohol addiction

The London Community Fund has grants of up to £10,000 available across London for work which supports people affected by drug and alcohol addiction, and their families. The fund will support all work which will help a person to achieve and sustain recovery, as well as preventative work to help individuals identify risky behaviour that might lead to a later addiction. The fund will also help families to cope with the stress of addiction and to support their family member’s recovery process. The deadline for applications is 22nd September. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: develop your business

The Grants4Growth scheme has grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 available for firms in Greater Lincolnshire to help with business growth. Funding is being offered to purchase capital assets which stimulate production and sales, create innovations and efficiencies and ultimately help increase the area’s profitability and create high value, sustainable jobs. The grant is available to all eligible small to medium businesses based within the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership area, including North and North East Lincolnshire which can demonstrate growth potential and the ability to create jobs within the area. Applications are ongoing. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: build relationships

Cardboard Citizens has accredited training opportunities available to its members. These include PEARL, a practical hands-on qualification which has been designed to allow learners to demonstrate their skills in building relationships and working with others; and Peer Mentoring - Training & Best Practice, for those wishing to further their involvement with the company, become ambassadors and support new members. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: working with young people

Respect is holding 'Working with Young People- Making a Difference' [19th September, London, from £120]. The event is aimed at those who work with young people who are violent or abusive to family members or in their own relationships. It aims to address new approaches on violence and abuse, trauma-informed work and supporting parents affected by their child's violence. Find out more and book your place here

FEATURED VACANCY: Partnerships Manager

Making Every Adult Matter Coalition (MEAM) is seeking an enthusiastic, highly competent individual with substantial expertise in mental health to join the MEAM local networks team as Partnership Manager [£30,891 per annum, London, full time]. The candidate will ideally have experience of cross-sector working with the fields of homelessness, substance misuse and criminal justice, bringing this expertise along with mental health specialism to the role. The candidate will be employed by Mind and will work to significantly raise the profile of MEAM and the needs of people with multiple and complex needs nationally within Mind and across the local Mind network. . Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: a National Careers Service Adviser with Career Connect National Careers Service Team [HMP Preston/HMP Risley], a Housing Project Worker with Nacro [Birmingham], Case Officers with Sova [East of England], a Communications and Information Co-ordinator with Hibiscus Initiatives [London], a Visit Booking Worker with Jigsaw Visitors Centre [York], Volunteer Administration with Vision Housing [Croydon], an Apprentice Drug and Alcohol Practitioner with The Forward Trust [HMP Elmley], a Volunteer to Prevent Sexual Abuse with Circles South West [South West], and a Volunteer Distance-Learning Tutor with Criminon UK [Countrywide]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Two night mini cruise in Amsterdam from £69. Details
  • Tip of the week II: 39% discount on celebration cake at Patisserie Valerie. Details
  • Tip of the Week III: Up to 50% off the Cake and Bake Show. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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