Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 520 | 26th January 2018

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS BLOG: community volunteering

In this guest blog Alex Walshe of Step Together Volunteering discusses how community volunteering can transform the lives of those with previous convictions. Alex writes 'With the right support and the right placement, volunteering enables people with convictions to engage in positive and purposeful diversionary activity, improving integration into the community, and learning new skills to take into the workplace. For those that have been long-term unemployed or who have never worked before, volunteering provides an opportunity to experiment with different interests and strengths and consider career routes which could lead to more sustainable employment.' Read the blog here

CLINKS EVENT: community sentence treatment requirements

Clinks is running a consultation event [16th March, London, free] on Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs), on behalf of the Department of Health. It is open to anyone with lived experience of mental health or substance misuse problems and contact with the criminal justice system; family members; and voluntary sector representatives. Share your views on whether CSTRs work for people with mental health, drug and/or alcohol treatment needs, what works well, and the barriers to effective treatment. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: restorative justice

Why me? Victims for Restorative Justice is beginning a project which is looking to improve victims of hate crimes' access to restorative justice. 'Access to Justice: Hate Crime and Restorative Justice' aims to: produce knowledge about the barriers and considerations that need to be taken into account when doing restorative justice within hate crime scenarios; create practical guidance for professionals on doing restorative justice; and surface policy proposals. If you are interested in being involved in the project, contact laura.ho@why-me.org.

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: art from women in prison

The Koestler Trust will be displaying artwork by women in prison in key sites across the UK in 2018 as part of '100 Years On: An Art Trail by Women in Prison'. Koestler is looking for venues that might be able to host some of this artwork. The aim is that these ‘corridors of power’ will display around 100 artworks by over 50 women who have entered artwork and poetry into the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Koestler Awards, to coincide with the Vote 100 celebrations marking the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, which granted women the right to vote. Find out more and suggest a venue here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Trustee appointed

The Right Hon. Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury has joined Prisoners Abroad as a Trustee, bringing his expertise of the criminal justice system and influence in the sector to oversee and govern their work. He retired from working as President of the Supreme Court in the summer of 2017, after a five year service. Lord Neuberger said: “While I was a judge, I took an interest in, and supported, the work of this very important charity. They help many British prisoners abroad who would otherwise be living in serious deprivation, would have no access to life-saving medical treatment, and would have nothing to read. Now that I have retired I am honoured to have been asked to become a Trustee. As a Trustee, I hope to be able to contribute towards the vital and demanding work”. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: government services and Irish citizenship

The Traveller Movement has issued a call for evidence on the denial of government services to people because of Irish citizenship. A report commissioned by the Traveller Movement and authored by barrister Simon Cox has found that the rights and current status of Irish citizens in the United Kingdom post-Brexit may be at risk. This is because Irish citizens may no longer be protected by EU law. The Traveller Movement is particularly concerned about how this will affect the Irish Traveller community, who already face high levels of discrimination and may be more vulnerable to a loss of legal security post-Brexit. If you have any experience of Irish citizens experiencing difficulty in accessing services in the UK you can submit your information to policy@travellermovement.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: rebalancing act

Revolving Doors has published a blog from David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, on the one year anniversary of the publication of 'Rebalancing Act', a resource jointly produced by Revolving Doors Agency, Public Health England and the Home Office. Rebalancing Act was designed to support a broad range of stakeholders in understanding and addressing the health inequalities experienced by people in contact with the criminal justice system and reducing offending. The blog discusses how strong local leadership can foster partnerships and make a real difference to people’s lives. Read the blog here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: education commissioning

The Prisoner Learning Alliance has published guidance on new prison education contracts to be introduced in 2018. They will replace current Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) contracts and mark a new era of prison governor-led education commissioning. Prisons are being given increasing flexibility and control over education budgets and the ability to commission a wide range of provision. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: disabled prisoners

The Prison Reform Trust, University of Leicester, and University of Leeds are developing a proposal for a new research project into the experiences of disabled people in prison, specifically those with physical or visual impairments. They are looking for people with lived experience and other stakeholders with experience of the barriers disabled prisoners face to help shape the research. The first stage will be a stakeholder engagement workshop on 30th January, 10.30am-3.30pm at the University of Leicester, to discuss what the pressing issues are for disabled prisoners and how to focus the research. To request a place at the workshop, or for more information, please contact Dr Andrea Hollomotz, A.Hollomotz@leeds.ac.uk

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: discrimination in prison

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has published a Learning Lessons Bulletin entitled 'Complaints about Discrimination' which is based on a sample of 208 complaints received between January 2012 and July 2017. The PPO found that prison staff who investigate discrimination complaints often lack the training and confidence to address equalities issues effectively, and that prisons often fail to collect the equalities data needed to carry out a meaningful investigation. Elizabeth Moody, the Acting Ombudsman, said an analysis of more than 200 complaints handled by the PPO over five years showed that “all too often discrimination complaints are not investigated promptly.” Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: people powered recovery

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Complex Needs and Dual Diagnosis has published a report on social action called ‘People Powered Recovery’. The report says services for people with complex issues, such as addiction combined with mental health problems, could be transformed through social action. Social action, whether volunteering, peer support or community projects, can play a vital role in building people’s confidence and breaking down stigma. Read the report here

FUNDING: tackling extremism

The Home Office has opened round three of its four-year programme of grants and in-kind support for charities and other organisations in England and Wales who are working to challenge extremism in their communities. The Building a Stronger Britain Together Programme offers both grant funding and in-kind support to civil society and community organisations that are working to create more resilient communities, to stand up to extremism in all its forms and to offer vulnerable individuals a positive alternative. In-kind support is up to a value of £75,000. Grants of between either £1,000 and £14,999 or £15,000 and £50,000 are available. The deadline for applications is 16th February. Find out more here

AWARDS: drug prevention

The biennial European Drug Prevention Prize is open for entries. The award acknowledges and rewards high-quality drug prevention projects. The prize is designed to encourage the development of drug prevention work where young people are actively participating, stemming from the belief that the genuine involvement of young people improves the possibilities of successful drug prevention. Up to three youth projects will each receive a trophy and prize-money of €5,000. Projects including innovative approaches, particularly those using new technologies, as well as targeting young people under 18, are particularly encouraged to apply. The deadline for submissions is 31st May. Find out more here

CLINKS PARTNER’S EVENT: probation services

The Academy for Social Justice Commissioning is holding a seminar [27th February, Manchester, from free] on ‘Reflections on the delivery of probation services and the commissioning of probation services’. Dame Glenys Stacey DBE, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation will reflect on what probation inspection is telling us about the quality of probation services and offer her thoughts on what needs to be done to ensure probation services are delivered to a high standard to reduce reoffending and help change people’s lives. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: A Company Development Manager with Open Clasp [Newcastle Upon Tyne], an Administrator with St Giles Trust [HMP Swansea], a Mental Health Practitioner with Mind [Redcar], a Reader Leader with The Reader [Cambridgeshire], a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner with The Forward Trust [HMP Wormwood Scrubs], a Group Work Facilitator with Pact [HMP Berwyn], and a Tutor- Catering with Nacro [Ipswich]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: 30% discount on sale items at Urban Outfitters. Details
  • Tip of the week II: National Express coach journeys for £5 or less. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Four nights in Rome including flights from £79. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

About Clinks Light Lunch

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