Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 565 | 14th December 2018

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In this week’s edition...

CLINKS NEWS: advise government on employment support

Do you work or volunteer in a voluntary organisation with expertise in supporting people with convictions to gain meaningful employment, especially after a custodial sentence? Clinks, as secretariat of the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) is inviting expressions of interest from people who would like to join a special interest group on employment support. The group will provide advice on the implementation of the employment recommendations of the Ministry of Justice’s Education and Employment Strategy as well as the development of the New Futures Network. The RR3 will meet in February 2019. Places are limited and will be offered following consideration of expressions of interest sent to lauren.nickolls@clinks.org by midday Monday 14th January.

CLINKS NEWS: expert seminars

We are planning a series of expert seminars for next year. What would you like to see? Please email us a registration of interest with comments answering these questions: Are there particular topics you would like to at a seminar? Is there someone who is leading the field in a certain topic that would make a good speaker? Email events@clinks.org with your ideas and proposals.

CLINKS BLOG: equalities data

Policy Officer Lauren Nickolls has written a blog which reflects on the data provided in the latest Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service annual report on offender equalities. The report paints a concerning picture of prisons and probation supervision in the community, showing increasing levels of violence, self-harm and death. The data shines a spotlight on the unequal outcomes for people with protected characteristics in prison, in particular young people, black, Asian and minority ethnic people, and women. Read the blog here

CLINKS RESPONSE: incentives and earned privileges

Clinks has produced a response to the government’s draft Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) Policy Framework. Our response focuses on the contribution that voluntary sector partners can, and should, play in supporting people in prison to improve their lives. The response includes looking at the implications for black, Asian and ethnic minority prisoners and the implications of the proposed framework on family relationships. Find out more here

CLINKS NEWS: through the gate roundtable

In October, Clinks chaired a roundtable to explore the enhanced Through The Gate (TTG) specification. TTG services have not been working as intended. Whilst there is some very good practice, it is not replicated across all prisons. In the light of this, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has decided to enhance the current specification. This roundtable brought together government bodies and the current providers of TTG services. Find out more here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: employment in creative industries

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance is delighted that senior government ministers, along with Arts Council England and major arts and culture organisations, are set to lead the way in supporting people with criminal records to gain skills and find employment. The Secretary of State for Justice and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport met with leading experts to discuss the role of the arts and creative skills in criminal justice settings. Find out more here (PDF download)

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: the next 10 years

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) has published guidance on Arts Council England’s next 10-year strategy to help artists and arts organisations working in criminal justice settings to think about how they can respond to the current consultation. The NCJAA strongly encourages as many people as possible to respond and identify where criminal justice work might fit in to Arts Council England’s vision when they do so. The online consultation closes on 2nd January 2019. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: families of muslim indviduals

The Barrow Cadbury Trust – the project funders - has published an Arooj research project, Faith Family and Crime. The project set out to investigate the extent to which a family member’s involvement with the criminal justice system affects Muslim families and their social and health needs. Over recent years, there has been little or no research undertaken to assess the extent and nature of these aspects or, indeed, to address the specific needs of Muslim families and the impact of the criminal justice system on their health and social needs. Find out more here (PDF download)

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: psychoactive substances

Catch22 has published a practitioner guide to spice and psychoactive substances. It covers what psychoactive substances are, what spice is, the known effects of spice, the risks of using spice, why prisoners are using it, how to keep yourself safe, reporting processes, and best practice when working with prisoners. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: drug and alcohol treatment

As Deputy Drug Czar for the Blair government, Mike Trace – CEO of The Forward Trust – oversaw the expansion of today’s drug and alcohol treatment system. In the first of a new series of blogs for Drink and Drug News, he gives his personal view of the successes and failures of the past 20 years, and the challenges the sector now faces. Find out more here (page 11)

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: value of family contact

Pact extends a warm welcome to the opening of the first Family Tree Café [23rd January 2019, HMP Cardiff]. The café, at HMP Cardiff, is inspired by prisoners’ families, and developed by Pact thanks to social investment from the Esmée Fairbairn Charitable Trust. The event includes speakers, attendees will hear from families and the value of visiting family. Contact news@prisonadvice.org.uk to book your place by 9th January 2019.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: acting course auditions

Synergy Theatre Project is launching an Introduction to Acting course for people with experience of the criminal justice system [Project dates 30th January to 22nd March 2019, Wednesday afternoons, Stockwell]. Participants will learn techniques used by professional actors and explore them in fun, practical sessions leading towards a short performance to an invited audience. This course is accredited. Group auditions for this year’s course will be held in mid-January. The deadline for applications is 14th January 2019. Find out more contact studio@synergytheatreproject.co.uk

BLOG: building a less violent society

In this blog for Centre for Justice Innovation, Clinks CEO Anne Fox puts forward the case for allowing voluntary organisations, especially those that are community based and specialist in focus, to flourish within the criminal justice system. She looks at research in the USA that shows, in tracking crime rates over a 20-year period, a positive correlation between the development and presence of non-profit organisations in local communities and the reduction in their violent crime rates. Anne argues that the foundations of change can be found within communities and that black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in particular need funders to hand back power, supporting and resourcing them to define their own needs and solutions. Read the blog here

PUBLICATION: arts, health and wellbeing

Arts Council England (ACE) has published a report entitled Arts and culture in health and wellbeing and in the criminal justice system: A summary of evidence. Citing nearly 200 sources, it provides an overview of the existing evidence base and highlights areas for new work and ways to move towards a rounded evidence base. The report is the final piece of research conducted as part of ACE’s evidence review for its next 10-year strategy. Find out more here

PUBLICATION: families of IPP prisoners

The University of Southampton has published The pains of indeterminate imprisonment for families of IPP prisoners: assessing harms and finding solutions. The briefing reports on an exploration on the effects of indeterminate imprisonment on prisoners' families. It makes recommendations for practical ways in which the issues highlighted by the research findings can be addressed. Find out more here

PUBLICATION: building for the future

Homes England has produced its five year strategic plan, including commitments to intervening in the market to ensure more homes are built in areas of greatest housing need and improving affordability. They are also committing to create a more resilient and diverse housing market and to work in partnership with local organisations. Find out more here

FEATURED VACANCY: development officer

Why me? is seeking a Development Officer [£32,000, London, part time] to join its team. Why me? focuses on the rights of victims and survivors of crime to access restorative justice. The post holder will develop their work on restorative justice with communities affected by hate crime in Greater London. The goal is to set up restorative justice awareness sessions and community events with groups, which will be provided by a team of facilitators. The role is currently funded until the end of 2019, but with the intention to obtain future funding. Find out more here (PDF download)

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Research Officer with Prison Reform Trust [London], Restorative Justice Practitioner with Restorative Solutions CIC [Lincoln], Communications and Youth Engagement Assistant with Khulisa [London], Chief Executive Officer with YSS [Worcester], Engagement Team Member with User Voice [Various Locations], Team Manager with Humankind [Leeds], Café Manager with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [HMP High Down]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: 50% off Christmas film Tinsel & Flix at The Vaults theatre in London. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Get The No7 Collection set at Boots for £39 (normally £80). Details
  • Tip of the week III: This voucher gets you £5 off a £50 spend at Hamleys. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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