Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 534 | 11th May 2018

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS REPORT: the voluntary sector in Transforming Rehabilitation

Our third and final trackTR report on the voluntary sector’s experience of the changes to probation services, ‘Under represented, under pressure, under resourced’ confirms that Transforming Rehabilitation has failed to involve the voluntary sector. The voluntary sector’s services are under pressure and under resourced, and charitable funds are being used to deliver the quality of services we want and need from our probation services. The majority of the 132 voluntary organisations we heard from believe that their service users are suffering as a result. The report contains 11 practical recommendations we believe can make a difference, and help us to understand what the next generation of probation services could look like. Download the report here

CLINKS NEWS: shape our future strategy

Did you miss your chance to attend a Clinks strategy roadshow? You can still help shape our future strategy. Our 'Where next for the voluntary sector in criminal justice' roadshows visited six cities during April and May. We’ve met with voluntary sector leaders to help inform Clinks’ future strategy for 2019-22. We’re really grateful to all those who took part and fed in their ideas. We’re always happy to hear from you if you’re a voluntary organisation working with people in the criminal justice system and welcome suggestions as to what you need from us as your infrastructure organisation. You can still get involved by using #wherenext4cj on Twitter and by emailing anne.fox@clinks.org

CLINKS OPPORTUNITY: contribute to our event

Clinks has an opportunity for members to contribute to an evening event we are running on 17th September in London. The event will offer an insight into the criminal justice system to an audience largely from charitable giving livery companies. Members with an income of under £1.5 million working in the criminal justice system will be able to demonstrate the importance of their work, and develop valuable new relationships. The event will provide up to 20 minutes for four organisations to present their work, four to have stands with information, two to provide some music before and after the presentations, and one to provide some refreshments. We will be looking for creative and impactful ideas which will contribute to an informative, impactful and engaging evening. The deadline for applications is 25th May. Find out more here

CLINKS EVENT: save the date - we're 20 this year

On 7th November 2018 Clinks will celebrate our 20th birthday and host our Annual General Meeting. We'll be welcoming voluntary organisations and friends of Clinks over the years. Please save this date in your diary. We will be revealing our future strategy, and formally appointing our new Chair. The event will provide a chance to thank our current chair Dame Anne Owers who has served us well and is stepping down at the end of her term. Please look out for details in future editions of Light Lunch.

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: voluntary sector almanac

NCVO has launched its UK Civil Society Almanac 2018. The Almanac brings together data from charities’ accounts, administrative data and surveys to provide a comprehensive overview of the structure and economy of the UK voluntary sector. It gives an overview of the voluntary sector’s scope and characteristics, including its finances, workforce, and volunteering. You can access digital versions of all the charts and graphs in the Almanac which can be downloaded and used to strengthen funding bids, presentations, plans and strategies. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: release on temporary license

'More carrot, less stick' is a Prison Reform Trust briefing which analyses the current use of Release on Temporary License and suggests ways in which a transformation might be brought about. It recommends that prison governors should be encouraged to empty prison wings during the day and get far more prisoners out on temporary release to engage in work, training and education in the community. Download the briefing here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: placements in publishing and media

StarUp CIC, founded by ex-prisoner Stephen Jackley, has partnered with the Arkbound Foundation and other organisations to offer mentorship, work placements and workshops to help get disadvantaged people into publishing and media. The initiative launches on 1st June. They welcome collaborations and partnerships with other organisations that want to get involved. They are also offering discounted consultancy services to fellow social enterprises and charities that seek to effectively engage with prisoners and ex-offenders - including those with disabilities and with multiple needs. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS NEWS: call for papers

IARS International Institute has issued an open call for abstracts to present at workshops at their International Annual Conference on the 12th and 13th July in London. They are interested in topics covering European voices on equality matters with a particular interest in gender violence and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender discrimination. The conference aims to push the barriers of current policy making and practice by debating evidence-based, community-led solutions to inequality and abuse. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: employment support award

Clean Sheet has been shortlisted as a finalist for the ERSA Employability Awards 2018 in the Innovation category. The Awards celebrate best practice across the employment support sector and seek to demonstrate the day-to-day hard work and dedication of those working to improve the lives of jobseekers, communities and the wider workforce. Jane Gould, CEO of Clean Sheet, said "We support individuals who are former prisoners into sustainable employment by building their confidence while we help them find the right job. To be part of ERSA’s work within this challenging sector is a great privilege." Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: female offenders strategy

Peter Dawson, director of the Prison Reform Trust is quoted in a Guardian article reporting that the Ministry of Justice has postponed the publication of its long awaited strategy for women offenders, according to a Whitehall source. He says, "Support in the community offers better public protection at a fraction of the cost of prisons. Because women are disproportionately sent to prison for short periods as a result of non-violent offences, the dividend of a new approach could be realised quickly." Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspection of YOI

HM Inspectorate of Prisons latest inspection of HM Young Offender Institution (YOI) Feltham A in west London – home to 140 boys aged mostly 16 and 17 – has found the YOI has become significantly safer in the last year. An inspection in early 2017 found safety and the provision of meaningful activity for boys – two key ‘healthy prison’ tests – to be ‘poor’. When inspectors returned in January 2018, according to Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, it was “pleasing to be able to report that both these areas had improved … Safety had improved quite dramatically, so that on this occasion it was found to be ‘reasonably good’. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: north east aims and priorities

Local people across County Durham and Darlington are invited to give their views on the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner's Police, Crime and Victims Plan 2018-2021. The document sets out the commissioner's aims and priorities to reduce crime and improve the safety of local communities. Submit your comments on the plan by 28th May. Find out more here

FUNDING: amelioration and social exclusion

Grants of between £100 and £5,000 are available from the Woodward Charitable Trust for activity focussed on amelioration and raising awareness of social exclusion. One of the areas the Trust is interested in is prisoners and ex-offenders; projects that help the rehabilitation and resettlement of prisoners and/or ex-offenders are supported as well as requests to help prisoners’ families. The grants are for one-off projects but they are also willing to consider funding running costs, including core cost and salaries. The deadline for applications is 31st July for consideration in October 2018. Find out more and apply here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS

PUBLICATION: gangs matrix

Amnesty International has published 'Trapped in the Matrix', a report looking at The Metropolitan Police Service’s ‘Gangs Matrix’. The report raises serious concerns about how individuals come to be placed on the database, how the information is shared with other agencies such as housing associations and schools, and the adverse effect being listed on the Matrix can have for the young black males who are disproportionately impacted. Download the report here

PUBLICATION: review of the Mental Health Act

The Department of Health and Social Care has published the interim report of the Independent review of the Mental Health Act. The review was set up to look at how the legislation in the Mental Health Act 1983 is used and how practice can improve. The interim report gives an update on the review’s findings and the areas it will look at next. The review will examine the issues as set out in the report before making its final recommendations. Download the report here

HEALTH AND JUSTICE: prison healthcare inquiry

The Health and Social Care Committee has launched a healthcare inquiry to explore the effectiveness of prisons and prison healthcare services in meeting the physical and mental health, and social care, needs of prisoners. The government’s stated intention is that prisoners should experience the same level of healthcare as the general population. However, reports by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, the National Audit Office, the Public Accounts Committee and the Justice Committee raise concerns about the mental and physical health of the prison population; the social care needs of older prisoners; health risks arising from the prison environment; prisoners' access to healthcare; and the recruitment and training of the healthcare workforce in prisons. The closing date for written submissions is 21st May. Find out more here

FEATURED VACANCY: Operations Director

The Upper Room is looking for an Operations Director [£46,000 pro rata, London, 4 days a week] to oversee its work with homeless people, economic migrants and ex-offenders. They provide meals five days a week, specialist employment support services and a driving school for ex-offenders. The Operations Director will work with the Board to chart the charity’s strategic direction and provide day to day operational leadership. They are undergoing a building project which will require overseeing. They are looking for someone with experience of the voluntary sector, working with vulnerable people, running a business and managing a small team of staff.  The deadline for applications is 31st May. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Women’s Hub co-ordinator with Women in Prison [London], Business Development Manager with Changing Lives, [Gateshead], Service Delivery Manager with Spark Inside [London], Regional Manager with Code 4000 [North England], Community Chaplin with South West Community Chaplaincy Limited [South West], Recruitment Officer with Unlocked Graduates [London], Administrator with DISC Developing Initiatives for Support in the Community LTD [Durham], Lecturer in Maths HMP Bristol with Weston College [Bristol], and a Team manager – Trauma Recovery Service with Barnardo’s [Essex]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here.

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Get 40% off mains at Café Rogue Details
  • Tip of the week II: Free walking tours in London Details
  • Tip of the week III: Be inspired at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art – Free admission Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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