Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 563 | 30th November 2018

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS VACANCY: Development Officer – Health and Justice

We have an exciting opportunity to join our highly respected policy team as a Development Officer – Health and Justice [£31,401, London or consultancy, full time fixed term]. The role co-ordinates Clinks’ work on health and justice policy, and manages Clinks’ involvement in the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance. Key aspects of the role include: developing relationships with key stakeholders in health and justice; identifying strategic opportunities for the voluntary sector in health and care; and assessing the needs of the voluntary sector, and developing ways to meet these. We are particularly interested in applicants with experience or knowledge of health in the justice system, prison, probation and people protected under the Equalities Act (2010) in the criminal justice system. The deadline for applications is 16th December. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: barriers to resettlement

Research from Nacro has identified a lack of valid ID as a critical barrier to resettlement and moving away from crime among people leaving prison. A lack of valid ID – such as a driver’s licence or passport – in the weeks leading up to, during and after release from prison, is seen by Nacro staff as one of the biggest obstacles people face which has an impact on their chances of moving away from crime. Without valid ID, people leaving prison can face difficulties getting a job, receiving benefit payments as a vital source of initial income to survive, or securing a safe place to stay to avoid homelessness. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: faith, family and crime

The University of Central Lancashire and Arooj have published the results of research in a report entitled Faith, Family and Crime. The project set out to investigate the extent to which a family member’s involvement with the criminal justice system (CJS) affects Muslim families and their social and health needs. The findings and recommendations from the research indicate that Muslim families are neither well-informed nor supported throughout the CJS process - from arrest to the post-sentencing report stage. This research explores the factors that are closely associated with the families’ negative experiences around: faith, culture, mental health, family relationships and emotional well-being, together with the absence of specialist support services available to Muslim families. Find out more here (PDF)

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: voices of young adult defendants

The Centre for Justice Innovation has published a new briefing entitled The voices of young adult defendants. Based on interviews with 21 young people between the ages of 18 and 24 with recent experience of attending magistrates’ court, the aim was to learn about how they experienced court: their feelings and understanding of the process, as well as how they could be involved in reimagining it where necessary. It found that almost all the interviewees, including ones who had been to court before, were not sure what to expect before they turned up, were not able to follow proceedings as they happened, and some left the court still unsure what had happened and why. Read the report here (PDF)

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: knife crime

The Centre for Crime and Justice Studies has published a briefing entitled Young people, violence and knives, which finds that attempts to punish and prosecute as a solution to knife violence are doomed to failure, and highlights a public health approach as a viable alternative where there is will and funding. The report states that police-led interventions and tougher sentencing have, at best, been ineffective and at worst, been counterproductive. By contrast, the report argues, public health approaches that prevent violence and support victims have had much more promising results but currently lack consistent funding or genuine policy support. It finds little evidence that criminal justice measures can have a meaningful impact on levels of knife crime. There is also no evidence to suggest that increasing stop and search will reduce knife possession or violent offences. Read the report here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: probation quarterly

The Probation Institute has published the tenth issue of Probation Quarterly. This issue reviews the future of probation and shares the institute's response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on proposed changes to probation services. It looks at new figures that show missed opportunities to rehabilitate people involved in the criminal justice system, and looks at ways in which homelessness can be prevented. Read the issue here (PDF)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation reform event

The Ministry of Justice will be holding a market engagement event webinar [1pm, 10th December, online, free] to discuss the role of the voluntary sector in the next generation of probation services. Please note that this is a webinar only; attendees will be required to have downloaded Skype for Business to participate. You can register for the webinar here using password: Probation2018

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: votes for prisoners

The National Assembly for Wales’ Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee is undertaking an inquiry into voting rights for prisoners in Welsh elections. The Committee will consider a number of areas, including the arguments for and against giving some or all prisoners the right to vote in Welsh elections, the practical issues such as electoral registration and voting method, whether special considerations apply to young offenders in custody if the franchise is extended to 16 and 17 year olds, and cross-border issues arising from prisoners from Wales being imprisoned in England and vice versa. An online discussion board has been created to gather people’s views on the inquiry. Share your views here

FUNDING: digital skills

The government has launched a new £1 million fund to expand existing training programmes in England for charities to improve their digital skills. The new funding comes as part of the government’s commitment in its recently published Civil Society Strategy which outlined plans to help charities build their digital capabilities to benefit service-users and wider society. Grants of between £10,000 and £170,000 are available and will be awarded for the financial year 2018/19. The funding is for the expansion, improvement or re-working of an existing digital leadership training programme which will result in greater value added to civil society leaders with regard to their digital leadership capability. The deadline for applications is 7th December. Find out more here

FUNDING: youth voices

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is seeking proposals from organisations who have the capacity, expertise and capability to deliver a national youth voice programme with young people in England until end March 2020. The total funding available for this programme is £170,000. The grant will involve three elements: setting up and running the Civil Society Youth Steering Group in 2018-20; setting up and running the national Young Inspectors and Commissioners Group in 2018-20; and undertaking youth-led research into options for digital solutions to engage young people in national policy making and presenting recommendations to government. The deadline for applications is 13th December. Find out more here

FUNDING: Justice and Equality Fund

The Justice and Equality Fund from the Now's the Time programme will award up to £1 million through a Challenge Fund which asks: “What would you do toward ending sexual harassment?” Large grants of between £25,000 and £100,000 for over one to three years are being made available to women's organisations applying in partnership with at least one other organisation. Partnerships across sectors are encouraged. The outcomes being worked towards through the Now’s the Time programme include: increased opportunities to understand what works in changing the culture around sexual harassment and abuse; increased opportunities to share learning between specialist organisations and colleagues in a wide range of other organisations; and identifying approaches that can be scaled up or replicated. The deadline for applications is 17th December. Find out more here

FUNDING: Welsh rural communities

Round Two of the Big Lottery Fund Wales’ Rural Programme is now open. A total of £4 million is available to fund partnerships led by voluntary organisations working on projects that will create a positive change for those living in rural poverty in Wales. Projects should focus on helping people in communities with populations of less than 10,000. Grants of up to £500,000 are available, which can be used for capital or revenue costs. Partnerships should be able to demonstrate that they understand the connection between the causes and effects of poverty and be able to propose solutions and services that use a joined-up approach to tackle the problem at its core. Big Lottery Fund is particularly interested in proposals that will test new approaches or combine a range of ideas to achieve the greatest impact. The deadline for applications is 1st October 2019. Find out more here

PUBLICATION: women in the criminal justice system

The British Journal of Community Justice is publishing a special issue on women involved in the criminal justice system. It will discuss the Ministry of Justice’s female offenders’ strategy and aims to provide useful policy and practice insights into topics such as mental health and support for women involved in sex working. Find out more here

AWARDS: working in prisons

There is only one week left to nominate your organisation or another for the Robin Corbett Award. The Award is for outstanding work that prepares people in prison for, and helps them overcome, the challenge of re-integrating in society after their release. It is open to charities or community groups working in partnership with prisons. The Award champions work that fosters personal responsibility and encourages people in prison, and ex-offenders, to help themselves and others. Nominations for this award are invited from staff and agencies working in any prison in the UK and must be endorsed by prison governors/directors or senior management in prisons. First prize is £5,000, with £3,000 and £1,000 awarded to the two runners up. The closing date is 7th December. Find out more here

AWARDS: youth justice

Pearson and The Communication Trust has launched the 2019 Shine a Light Awards. There are 12 award categories including Youth Justice of the Year. The Shine a Light Awards recognise the contributions of teams, schools, young people and individuals across the UK that champion innovative work and excellent practice in supporting children and young people’s speech, language and communication. The team are keen to encourage Youth Justice teams and settings to showcase their achievements and enter the awards. The deadline for submissions is 20th December. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Administrative Support Volunteer with The Forward Trust [London], Chair of Trustees with POPS [Manchester], Part time Recovery Coordinator with Humankind [County Durham], Female Finance and Business Service Administrator with Advance [London], Interim Maintenance & Facilities Assistant with Changing Lives [Gateshead], Homelessness Outreach Worker with Manchester Action on Street Health [Manchester], Homelessness Outreach Worker, 2 x Volunteer Coordinators with Sova [Great Yarmouth and Thetford], Senior Communications Consultant with Spark Inside [London], and a Youth Project Coordinator (young people affected by imprisonment) with Nepacs [Durham]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: £1 off vegan Magnum ice creams. Details
  • Tip of the week II: £5 Christmas tree at Ikea. Details
  • Tip of the week III: One to three nights for two in Devon from £39. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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