The latest news from the South West
Welcome to a Clinks newsflash for the South West of England, an occasional round up of the latest news, events and opportunities for Light Lunch readers working in the South West. If you’d prefer not to receive South West-specific newsflashes from Clinks, please do let us know. If you have other colleagues who are based in the region who might like to receive these newsflashes, please email Clinks’ South West Development Officer Isabel.livingstone@clinks.org
CLINKS BLOG: what's hot and what's not?
Clinks’ Development Officer Isabel Livingstone has written a blog which shares the latest developments in the voluntary sector and the Criminal Justice System in the South West of England. It looks at Community Rehabilitation Company secondments, commissioning for multiple and complex needs, the impact of staff shortages and partnership working. Read the blog here
CLINKS BRIEFING: what’s going on in probation
Clinks has recently published a briefing which gives an overview of how probation services are managed and delivered in Wales and South West England following the Transforming Rehabilitation reforms which took place in 2015. It includes information on through the gate services, community hubs, rehabilitation activity requirements, and key contacts in Community Rehabilitation Companies and the National Probation Service. Read the briefing here
CLINKS EVENT: service user involvement
Are you responsible for service user involvement or want to develop it? Clinks runs a network for people who manage service user involvement in their organisations, the next meeting is in the South West [24th February, Plymouth, free for Clinks members]. Come and hear from voluntary sector organisations on how they are involving their service users, and from experts by experience who are now helping to shape services. Share your expertise, ideas and challenges with other Clinks members. Shekinah will speak about how they involve service users who move into staff roles within the organisation; and Gary Wallace, Public Health Specialist at Plymouth City Council will speak about service user involvement in commissioning. To check if you’re a member, and join Clinks, click here. Book your place here
CLINKS EVENT: South West policy forum
Clinks’ Policy Forums enable local organisations to keep up to speed with the latest developments in criminal justice, and inform Clinks’ national policy work. Speakers at the next forum [7th March, Bristol, £15 for Clinks members and £30 for non-members] include John Wiseman, Probation Director for the South West Community Rehabilitation Companies and Graham England from Addiction Recovery Agency. Book your place here
CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: through the gate mentoring
Pact delivers the Pact Futures Through The Gate Mentoring service contracted by Working Links in the South West. They would like to hear from organisations providing community-based services that could support people after they come out of prison. Lauren Benham, Service Manager, says “We provide a service from any resettlement prison in the South West and typically start our work around two weeks prior to a person’s release from custody. We meet around 90% of our service users at the gate on the day of release. One-to-one mentoring is provided for around 2-4 weeks post-release. We would really like to build upon our partnership working with community mentoring providers, assisting our service users to access the right longer-term support for them. Please get in touch if you would like to work with us.” Contact Lauren here
CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: women’s resettlement services
Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre has published research into women’s experiences of resettlement services in Devon and Cornwall, commissioned by Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum (VSF) and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The research was initiated by Cornwall VSF as part of the Cornwall Promoting Change project, funded by The Lankelly Chase Foundation. The project aimed to identify hidden aspects of the experience of people facing severe and multiple disadvantage. Read the report here
CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: partnership with youth homelessness charity
1625 Independent People has been chosen as the South West region’s Society Partner by staff at Deloitte’s Bristol office, as part of Deloitte UK’s Society Partnerships programme. The three-year partnership will see Deloitte staff play a proactive role in helping the charity deal with key organisational challenges, not just raising funds but also providing time and expertise through volunteering and pro bono support, particularly around improving young people’s access to employment, training and education. Find out more here
FUNDING: Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner grants
The Avon & Somerset Police Community Trust's Commissioner’s Community Action Fund is open for applications. Grants will be awarded up to £3000 that meet the priorities of the police and crime plan, the next deadline for applications is 1st March. Read more and apply here
NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS
- 'Restorative justice commissioning engagement event', Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner | 31st January, Buckfast Abbey, free | Details
- 'Voluntary Sector in Health and Social Care: What’s New' | 6th February, Bristol, free| Details
- 'Adult Safeguarding - Creating and Reviewing Your Policy' | 2nd March, Bristol, free | Details
- 'Dorset Criminal Justice Forum' | 21st March, Bournemouth, free | Details
- 'Gloucestershire Stronger', Safer Communities Forum | Date/location TBC, free | Details
OPPORTUNITY: community hub
Footprints, Recoop, LiveWell Dorset and EDAS have opened offices in a new Community Hub run by Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Community Rehabilitation Company (DDC CRC). The Hub, based at Citygate Church, Lansdowne, Bournemouth, is currently open to low-risk offenders to help them re-join their local communities. The plan is for the hub to be open to all. DDC CRC are looking for groups that might want to attend on a regular basis to talk about their organisations and/or offer advice. There is room in the Hub for many more organisations, including those not working in the Criminal Justice System. Groups can attend weekly, fortnightly, monthly and quarterly but this can be flexible. If you are interested in becoming part of the Hub please contact Julie Anne Jones at DDC CRC via julieanne.jones@ddc.probation.gsi.gov.uk
CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES IN THE SOUTH WEST
Vacancies include a Circle Volunteer with Circles South West [across the South West] and an Impact Project Officer with Community Chaplaincy Association [home based]. To browse all members' vacancies click here
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