Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 515 | 15th December 2017

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS REPORT: recommendations paper

Clinks has published its state of the sector recommendations paper. Our 2017 state of the sector research shows that many voluntary organisations are experiencing significant challenges. In response to these findings we consulted with key stakeholders from charitable trusts and foundations, government, criminal justice agencies, and voluntary organisations themselves to set out recommendations for change. This paper sets out what Clinks intends to do to support voluntary organisations, what can be done by voluntary organisations themselves, and recommendations for independent funders and government. Coinciding with Local Charities Day, Clinks' Senior Policy Officer Nicola Drinkwater has written a blog introducing the report here

CLINKS RESPONSE: homeless code of guidance

Clinks has responded to the Department for Communities and Local Governments’ consultation on the homeless code of guidance for local authorities. Overall, we recommend that the role of housing authorities in relation to public, private and voluntary organisations working with people in contact with the criminal justice system is made explicitly clear. This should help ensure there is no duplication in activity and that people in contact with the criminal justice system do not fall through gaps in provision. Our response also highlights the need for housing authorities to work with voluntary organisations and their service users as key strategic and delivery partners, and that the wording relating to spent convictions is made explicitly clear to avoid confusion. Find out more here

CLINKS NEWS: supported housing consultation

Clinks will be responding to the Department for Communities and Local Government and Department for Work and Pensions inquiry into housing costs for short-term supported accommodation. We will focus our response on encouraging join-up with the criminal justice system. If you would like to feed into Clinks’ response please send any information to Nicola Drinkwater at Nicola.drinkwater@clinks.org by 5th January.

CLINKS PARTNER'S NEWS: universal support

The Making Every Adult Coalition, of which Clinks is a member alongside Homeless Link and Mind, is responding to the Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry into universal credit. If you have any case studies or information about whether or not universal credit has been working well and how it could be improved, how important 'universal support' is to the success of universal credit, and if there are local variations in the quality of universal support, the coalition would like to hear from you. We are especially interested in the impact of the roll out of universal credit and universal support on equalities groups, including women, people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and people leaving prison. The deadline for submissions is 5th January. To contribute, please email Chris Brill at Chris.Brill@homelesslink.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: women affected by substance abuse

Adfam is seeking your views to help shape training for women and practitioners as part of its new project to support women affected by both someone else's substance use and domestic abuse. It is consulting with services to learn what will be most useful and running focus groups with affected women. It has a short 5 minute survey designed for practitioners working in substance use family support services or women-only services. All responses will be anonymous and the results will be written up and disseminated widely. The deadline for responses is 18th December. Complete the survey here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: domestic abuse driving crime

The Prison Reform Trust has published '“There’s a reason we’re in trouble”: Domestic abuse as a driver to women’s offending'. The briefing highlights the links between women’s experiences of domestic violence and their offending. It finds that criminalisation, particularly through imprisonment, compounds the problems of women affected by abuse, that there are few measures in place to support women whose offending is linked to abusive relationships and that current legal defences do not include the spectrum of abuse that lies behind some women’s offending. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: resolving issues out of court

Transform Justice has published ‘Less is more- the case for dealing with offences out of court’, a report which suggests that out of court actions would be more suitable for many low level offences. Recent years have seen a large decline in the use of out of court disposals to deal with low level offending. More than half of first-time offenders now go to court rather than receive a caution, compared to one in five ten years ago. The report suggests that a justice reinvestment approach is developed which uses the savings which diversion brings to police, prosecutors and courts to fund local programmes designed to further reduce crime and prevent offending. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation inspectorate's annual report

HM Inspectorate of Probation has published its 2017 annual report. The Inspectorate states that none of the government’s aspirations for Transforming Rehabilitation have been met. It highlights that voluntary sector involvement in the delivery of probation appears to be diminishing rather than flourishing and that Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) arrangements for funding organisations is short-term and insecure. In addition it finds that many CRCs are not commissioning the full range of specialist services to meet service users’ needs. Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: five minute interventions

HM Prison and Probation Service has published 'Prisoners’ perceptions of care and rehabilitation from prison officers trained as five minute interventionists'. This research reports on the experiences of ten male prisoners who participated in Five Minute Intervention (FMI) conversations with prison officers. This is a technique to turn everyday conversations into rehabilitative opportunities using skills such as Socratic questioning, active listening, and affirmation. Prisoners interviewed described changes to their thinking skills as a result of FMI conversations, as well as changes in their perception of officers. The research concludes that FMI training is likely to be important in improving relations between prisoners and staff but notes limitations to the study, including that participating prisoners were selected by the staff members themselves. Find out more here

FUNDING: local improvements

Nottingham County Council has a 'Local Improvement Scheme' fund aimed at developing and improving communities in the county of Nottingham. Voluntary organisations can apply for Capital grants of between £1,000 and £50,000, and three year Revenue grants of between £1,000 and £30,000 per annum. Projects can use the funding to develop one of the following objectives: People live independently for as long as possible; people are healthier; families prosper and achieve their potential; people live in vibrant and supportive communities, people can access the right care and support at the right time. Groups must have 50% match funding in order to apply for either grant. The deadline for applications is 8th January. Find out more here

FUNDING: tampon tax fund

The government has launched the £15 million Tampon Tax Fund. Charitable, benevolent and philanthropic organisations based and working in the UK can submit applications for grants of at least £1 million. The fund allocates money generated from the VAT on sanitary products to projects that improve the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. There is £15 million for the current fund which covers 2018-19. There is no maximum level of grant. The grant must represent more than 50% of the applicant’s collective annual income. Grants may be for one or two year projects, with a maximum of two years up until 31st March 2020. The deadline for applications is the 28th January. Find out more here

AWARDS: youth justice

Pearson and The Communication Trust have launched the 2018 Shine a Light Awards. The award categories include a Youth Justice of the Year Award for all organisations and individuals involved in the youth justice system, be they public, private or voluntary, in England. These awards recognise the incredible contributions of teams, schools, settings, young people and individuals across England who champion innovative work and excellent practice in supporting children and young people’s speech, language and communication. They are keen to encourage individuals, teams and settings with the youth justice sector to showcase their achievements and enter the awards. The deadline for entries is 12th January. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Case Managers with Achieve North West [Cumbria and Lancashire], an Operations Manager with Elizabeth Fry Charity [Reading], a Resettlement Case Manager with Catch 22 [HMP Bristol], a Supported Accommodation Team Leader with The Magdalen Group [Norwich], an Area Manager with Hestia Housing and Support [London Bridge], Trustees with Anglia Care Trust [Ipswich], a Volunteer Secretary to the Board of Trustees with Advance [London], and an Administrator/Receptionist with The Nelson Trust [Stroud]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

DID YOU KNOW…

Clinks members can promote their latest news, events and opportunities to over 11,000 subscribers? Find out more here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Four night Forest of Dean activity adventure holiday from £169. Details
  • Tip of the week II: A Christmas rose plant for £10. Details
  • Tip of the Week III: 144 Millie's cookies for £50. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

About Clinks Light Lunch

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Rhiannedd Mclean