Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 577 | 22nd March 2019

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS BLOG: through the gate services

In this guest blog Joanne Oliver, Senior Contract Manager for the Community Interventions Business Delivery Unit at Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), outlines the changes to the ‘through the gate’ (TTG) service specification which will be in place from 1st April 2019, and what providers must deliver. This is also the proposed model for TTG in the first few years of the new probation contracts. Read the blog here

CLINKS BLOG: our sector's staff and volunteers

Policy Manager, Nicola Drinkwater, has written the third in a blog series focussing on some of the key trends and issues uncovered by our latest State of the sector research. It looks at staff and volunteer recruitment in voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system, and the diversity in the workforce. Our research finds volunteers are essential, but difficult to recruit and retain, and that organisations recognise the importance of a diverse workforce, but challenges remain in achieving it. Read the blog here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: research on charities in prisons

Clinks is advising NPC’s criminal justice programme which has published research on charities delivering services to people in prison. The report acknowledges that it is increasingly difficult for charities to access people in prison, but that those charities are vital. It sets out some of the barriers and how to overcome them, identifying recommendations for charities, governors and funders. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: older prisoners

RECOOP has published ‘A Different Sense of Time’, a report which outlines its range of age-appropriate (50+) services to aid prisons to find suitable regime adaptations for their growing older population. Many older prisoners have complex needs including sensory impairments, multiple healthcare needs, disabilities and poor mobility and are more likely to be retired and need meaningful activity and social connections. In many cases, older prisoners, who may be serving life sentences, or those who are brought to justice later in life, face the stark reality of the probability of dying in prison.  Recoop's services are tailored to meet this very different sense of time. If you would like to receive a copy, please email info@recoop.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: coding in prisons

CODE 4000, a voluntary organisation that teachers prisoners coding, has been given new funding by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to expand its scheme to HMP Holme House and reach more than a thousand more people. The £100,000 award will also fund a new employment hub in Sheffield, providing support, mentoring and training for graduates once they have left prison, as the organisation looks to achieve its aim of developing a network of coding workshops in UK prisons. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: music in prisons

Irene Taylor Trust has published an evaluation of its Sounding Out programme carried out by University of Wolverhampton. Sounding Out is a music traineeship which provides former prisoners with longer-term opportunities upon their release, to bridge the gap between inside and outside prison. The programme demonstrates many benefits, including in the development of personal and social skills, identifying focus and direction towards employment, building practical skills, improved musical ability, patience to work with others and empathy through team working. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: tackling homelessness

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking views on how the government could improve local accountability for the delivery of homelessness services. They are looking at the effectiveness of existing accountability structures, whether they should establish local Homelessness Reduction Boards, and other ways to support effective partnership working. The deadline for responses is 16th May. Find out more here. Clinks will be holding a consultation event (date TBC) and submitting our own response. For any queries or to feed in your views, please contact Nicola Drinkwater, Policy Manager at Nicola.drinkwater@clinks.org

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation inspection consultation

HM Inspectorate of Probation has launched a consultation on some specific aspects of its standards, methodology and timeframes. The consultation closes on 14th April. Find out more here

FUNDING: learning and skills

Grants from a minimum of £875,000 are available from the European Social Fund to run projects to support individuals by providing in-work skills development and support in the Leeds City Region LEP Area. Projects should deliver mentoring, support and advice; signposting to funded support or training; skills training; literacy support; and link people with employers. The applications deadline is 27th May. Find out more here

FUNDING: high level education and training

Grants from a minimum of £750,000 are available from the European Social Fund to run projects supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access and participate in high level education and training in Leeds City Region LEP area. Projects should be aligned with evidenced skills shortages and improve employability. The application deadline is 27th May. Find out more here

FUNDING: travel to work and training

Approximately £1.5 million of funding is available from the European Social Fund to run projects covering the South East LEP area to support unemployed or inactive residents find a way of travelling to/from employment or training opportunities. They do not intend to allocate less than £375,000 to any single project. Match funding is needed. The application deadline is 30th May. Find out more here

FUNDING: access to employement

Grants are available from the European Social Fund to run projects to support more people to access work in the highest social exclusion areas across parts of Coventry and Warwickshire. Preference will be given to applications for over £900,000. The criteria includes supporting ex-offenders, disabled people and ethnic minority groups. The application deadline is 3rd June. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: race and mental health

As part of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance project on Mental Health and Racial Disparities, Race Equality Foundation, together with partners, will be holding a seminar on racial disparities in mental health [25th March, London, free]. Participants will hear from experts in field, service users and carers, and practitioners doing specific work with black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: youth justice in context

The National Association for Youth Justice is holidng its annual general meeting and seminar entitled 'Youth Justice in Context' [14th May, London, free for members, £60 for non-members]. Confirmed speakers for the seminar are Nicky Hill, Street Doctors, Dr. Jenny Lloyd, University of Bedfordshire and Dez Holmes, Research in Practice. Find out more here

PUBLICATION: troubled families

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has published a collection of reports which outline the findings from an evaluation of the Troubled Families Programme 2015 to 2020. For crime, the results show that the programme reduced the proportion of adults receiving custodial sentences, juveniles receiving custodial sentences, and juvenile convictions. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of adult cautions or convictions and juvenile cautions. Find out more here

PUBLICATION: children of prisoners

Crest’s Children of Prisoners report demonstrates that children of prisoners are at risk of significantly worse outcomes than children not affected by parental imprisonment, including an increased risk of mental health issues and of being involved in the criminal justice system themselves in later life. Gaps in the system mean that chances to support the needs of the children of prisoners are continually missed. The report takes a whole-systems view and makes recommendations for change. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: CASSPLUS/Harbour Volunteer Co-ordinator with CASS+ [Plymouth, Devon],  Volunteer Admin Support with St Giles Trust [London], Gender-specific Criminal Justice Worker with Humankind [Yorkshire + Humber North Yorkshire], Senior Support Worker (fixed term 12 months) with Changing Lives [Covering South Tyneside & Sunderland], Criminal Justice Case Manager with Kaleidoscope Project  [Wrexham/Wrecsam], Gangs Groupwork Facilitator and Mentor (Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2020) with St Giles Trust [Inner London +Outer London], Lecturer in Plastering & Drylining with Weston College (Offender Learning) [HMP Rochester],  P/time Volunteer Peer Supporter with Together for Mental Wellbeing [Inner/Outer London Boroughs], Library Learning Resource Centre Facilitator with Weston College (Offender Learning) [HMP Guys Marsh, Dorset]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Free card when you buy mothers day flowers. Use Code TELLMUM at checkout. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Open air cinema experience with popcorn, prosecco and deckchairs for two. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Free coach-led tennis sessions and access to tennis courts in local parks around the UK. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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