Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 559 | 2nd November 2018

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: The Advisory Board for Female Offenders

The Advisory Board for Female Offenders (ABFO), now chaired by Justice Minister Edward Argar, refreshed its membership in September. We are pleased to announce that Kate Aldous, Head of Strategic Development at Clinks, has secured a place on the board to represent the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system. The ABFO is a group made up of representatives from government departments, criminal justice agencies and other key stakeholders. The board provides expert advice to the government and is responsible for the oversight of the delivery of the government’s Female Offender Strategy. If you would like an issue to be raised at the ABFO, please contact Kate at kate.aldous@clinks.org

CLINKS NEWS: last chance to submit evidence

This is your last opportunity to submit evidence to the follow-on Farmer Review. The review is investigating how supporting women in contact with the criminal justice system to engage with their families can lower recidivism, aid rehabilitation and assist in addressing intergenerational crime. Clinks sits on the expert panel and has launched the review’s call for evidence. The deadline for evidence submissions is 7th November. Find out more here

CLINKS RESPONSE: probation review

Clinks has responded to the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) consultation, ‘Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence’. Clinks welcomes the consultation on the future of probation services. Clinks recommended that the MoJ hold an open consultation into the purpose and structure of probation services after our research highlighted the damaging impact that previous probation reforms have had on the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. In our response we stress the need for ongoing engagement with the voluntary sector in the design of the new model and the need for providers to treat the voluntary sector as an equal partner. We make a series of recommendations to ensure that voluntary sector organisations are better protected and sufficiently funded, and to require providers to commission specialist services. Read the response here (PDF)

CLINKS BLOG: #Clinksat20

Our 20th birthday seems like an opportune moment to hold a mirror up to the organisation and take a look at how far we have come. We've asked our partners and supporters from across the sector to give us their view. So, with just one week to go until our AGM and birthday celebration, our two comperes on the evening - Marie-Claire O'Brien, Managing Director of New Leaf Initiatives CIC and Phil Bowen, Director of The Centre for Justice Innovation - share their thoughts on Clinks' role championing volunteer organisations working in criminal justice. Read the blogs here

CLINKS BLOG: one year after Lammy

In this blog, Clinks’ Head of Policy and Communications Jessica Mullen reflects on progress for race equality in the criminal justice system one year on from the publication of the Lammy Review. Following the Ministry of Justice’s publication of an update on the action they have taken, the blog asks: where are we? Did we seize the opportunity? And where has it got the sector - and more importantly, black, Asian and minority ethnic people in the criminal justice system? The blog provides further information on what Clinks has been doing and what Clinks plans to do to influence these issues further. Read the blog here

CLINKS PARTNER'S NEWS: curing violence

The Monument Fellowship, of which Clinks is part of, has published Curing violence: How we can become a less violent society, a collection of essays that seek to not only describe the problem of violence in our society but also to offer solutions. The contributors make the case that reducing violence is a responsibility for everyone in society: for those in power, in both the government and in the formal criminal justice system; but also for all of us in our schools and hospitals, in the arts and in our civic society, on our streets, and in our homes. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: supporting disadvantaged people into employment

Action West London has been shortlisted for the Natwest Skills and Opportunities Fund and would like you to vote for it. The charity and social enterprise helps young and adult people with convictions, and other disadvantaged individuals, change their lives through providing employment, education, training and enterprise opportunities. Their project will help people start up in self-employment and business - including becoming a market trader at the charity’s innovative Acton Street Market. The funding will enable Action West London to hire qualified, experienced staff to deliver free self-employment and financial capability training and business start-up support for socially disadvantaged people. The project is in the London region. Place your vote here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: prison project guides

The Anne Frank Trust is seeking previous Anne Frank Prison Project Exhibition Guides to help shape the future of its education programme. The Trust is holding a half-day consultation meeting [4th December, London, free] and inviting former Exhibition Guides to attend and give their insight into how the Prison Project can best be developed going forward. It has worked in all categories of prisons to deliver the Anne Frank Trust UK's Prison Project. Its focus is the exhibition 'Anne Frank – A History for Today', which prisoners are trained to present to their peers and external guests. Please send expressions of interest to Steve Gadd, Prison Project Manager at steve@annefrank.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: ban the box

Unlock has published research carried out for the Ban the box campaign. The report, A question of fairness, states in its headline figure that “almost three quarters of national companies continue to ask about criminal records at job application stage”. Unlock surveyed 80 large, national employers across eight sectors – supermarkets, retail, hotels, food and drink, construction, car manufacturing, utilities and communications. Read the report here (PDF)

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: living differently after prison

Switchback has published More Human, More Effective, which shares the charity’s insights for a better criminal justice system from 10 years of supporting young men to live life differently after prison. Launched at an event with Prisons Minister Rory Stewart, the report highlights that prisoners won’t keep jobs if they’re released homeless and facing other critical barriers. It shows that four in 10 Switchback Trainees were released facing homelessness and over half had a drug or alcohol issue. Switchback’s report calls for changes to ensure prison staff are well-trained, access for the voluntary sector is improved, and prison-leavers receive support to build stability across all areas of life. Switchback are inviting others to explore these ideas further. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prison health report           

The Health and Social Care Committee has released Prison health, a report which states that “the Government is failing in its duty of care towards people detained in England’s prisons”. It calls on the government to consider healthcare in prison as a public health issue and for people in prison to be provided with the care and services they need to achieve equivalent health outcomes to the population as a whole. Our written evidence is referred to in the report, as is the oral evidence given to the committee by Hazel Alcraft, former Development Officer at Clinks. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: women in the penal system

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Women in the Penal System has published a report following their inquiry into the sentencing of women. The report sets out the evidence against short prison sentences for women and the effectiveness of community alternatives and women’s centres. It identifies three key factors that drive the continued sentencing of women to prison. These include the problems facing probation since the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms, knowledge gaps about the circumstances of women’s lives and the likely impact of prison on them, and the provision of women-specific services in the community. The report calls for custodial sentences of less than 12 months to be abolished for women. Find out more here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: impact of the budget

Will the budget have much of an impact on the charity sector? Charity Finance Group has published a briefing for charities on the headline announcements and important economic information. Read the briefing here (PDF)

FUNDING: unpopular causes in London

Trust for London has grants up to £150,000 available for work that develops new and imaginative ways of addressing the root causes of London’s social problems, especially work which has the potential to influence and change policy, practice and public attitudes. The trust is willing to take risks by supporting unpopular causes and activities that the government is unlikely to fund. The trust will also respond to new issues and ideas and find creative ways of tackling deep-rooted problems relating to poverty and inequality. The deadline for applications to the next round is 5th February 2019. Find out more here

FUNDING: core funding

Greggs Foundation has opened applications to its North East Core Funding. Grants for core running costs are available to small charitable organisations in the North East of England for projects aimed at tackling social deprivation. Grants are available up to £15,000. Applications are ongoing but organisations may only apply once every 12 months. Find out more here

FUNDING: communities preventing crime

Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner's Prevention Fund is open for applications. Grants up to £25,000 are available to community based groups supporting victims, crime prevention, safer communities and reducing reoffending in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland. The deadline for applications is ongoing. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: young BAME people

The Academy for Social Justice Commissioning is holding 'Overcoming the barriers to change for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) young offenders' [14th November, Leeds, from free]. The seminar will ask: how do we ensure HM Prison and Probation Service commissioning is more responsive to the needs of black, Asian and minority ethnic young people in the criminal justice system? It will focus on practical solutions and overcoming the barriers to change. Jeremy Crook OBE, Race – External Liaison and Learning Lead at HM Prison and Probation Service will be speaking.
Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: rising from crime

Rising is a Forum Theatre play from Cardboard Citizens, written by Femi Keeling, touring London hostels and prisons. There will be a special showing at City Hall [27th November, London, by invite]. Rising is the story of a young man, Terrence, who has just been released after a short prison sentence. He’s full of hope, but faced with battles against the system – the Housing Office, Universal Credit - and demons from his past. He’s on the edge and facing homelessness. The play will be asking audiences for ideas about how to improve things for people like Terrence. Find out more here

Did you know...?

Our members get free entry to our quarterly criminal justice forums. Come and network with other criminal justice organisations and services providers around the country. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: 14 x Restorative Justice Practitioners with Remedi [Various locations], SOS Caseworkers with St Giles Trust [Islington], Family Engagement Manager with Pact [HMP Long Lartin], Community Keyworker with Advance [London], Hope Recovery Navigator with Humankind [Barnsley], Spotlight Caseworker with Adullam Homes Housing Association Ltd [Ashton upon Lyne], Support Worker with Changing Lives [Newcastle], Programme Intern with Unlocked Graduates [London], Prison Project Lead with Fair Shares [Gloucester], and a Head of Client Services (Female) with Brighton Oasis Project [Brighton]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Buy one Subway get one free. Details
  • Tip of the week II: One night at a spa with prosecco and cream tea from £115. Details
  • Tip of the week III: 40% off everything at Gap. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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