LIGHT LUNCH NOTICE: Light Lunch is having a two week break
Please note that next week Issue 293 (15th March) will be the last Light Lunch of March. After a fortnights break, Issue 294 will be on Friday 5th April. To submit content for next week's edition, please ensure it arrives no later than 5pm on Wednesday 13th March.
CLINKS TRAINING: evaluate and measure the impact of your volunteers
Clinks are holding a number of free introductory sessions to offer information and guidance to organisations who want to evaluate and measure the impact of their work with volunteers. There will be morning and afternoon sessions on 4th April, London | 1st May, Birmingham | 8th May, Bristol (morning only) | 16th May, Manchester | 22nd May, London. To apply for a place and to give us an idea of what you would like to get out of the session please answer a few questions here
CLINKS CONSULTATION: what's your view on police and crime commissioners?
In November 2011 we conducted a survey of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector about the police reforms, in particular about the introduction of police and crime commissioners. Now that the police and crime commissioners have been elected we would like to find out how you consider your relationship with them and what opportunities you feel might arise from the new commissioning environment. The survey shouldn't take more than five minutes to complete, and you won't need any specialist information or knowledge. The information you give will be included in feedback to the police and crime commissioners at a conference in June, organised by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. Have your say here
CLINKS VACANCY: Business Development Manager
Clinks are recruiting a Business Development Manager responsible for developing a range of sustainable networks and business opportunities to support the organisation in a rapidly changing policy, delivery and funding environment. An exciting full time opportunity, initially for one year. The deadline for applications is 20th March, and interviews will be held in central London on 27th March. For full details, job description and to apply, visit: Clinks
CLINKS EVENT: building sustainable social enterprises to help offenders into training and employment
Are you interested in how to build sustainable social enterprises that provide young and adult offenders with employment and training opportunities? Are you willing to share your knowledge and experience with others? Clinks and Social Firms UK will be hosting an open space event [20th March, London, free] to explore this and devise a set of priorities to inform Home Office thinking on how best to support this work. Help will be available towards VCSE travel costs. Book your place at Clinks
CLINKS TRAINING: training your volunteers to work in prison
Our popular 'Volunteering in Prison' training course [18th March, Cardiff, from £110] is aimed at those responsible for training staff or volunteers in prison, and includes an introduction to volunteering, how prisons work, attitudes to crime and justice, handling difficult situations and some resources for supporting offenders. Recommended for prison resettlement staff and volunteer managers. Book your place now at: Clinks Training
CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new Chief Executive
The National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) is delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Bath as Chief Executive as of 4th March 2013. Chris, former Executive Director of Unlock, said: "I'm hugely excited to be joining the charity, particularly at such an exciting time in its development. NAAN and its members are testament to how passionate people can have a transformative social impact. I'm looking forward to playing my part in a network that protects some of the most vulnerable people in our communities." Find out more about NAAN on their website
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Justice Minister on the probation review
Chris Grayling, the Justice Secretary, told MPs he does not want to commission probation contracts that are so large "no one in the voluntary sector can bid for anything". Speaking to the House of Commons justice committee last week, Grayling said he was keen to increase "commercial expertise" in the voluntary sector to ensure that charities did not sign up to deals that were bad for them. Grayling said he hoped to set up an accreditation framework for voluntary sector bodies. A subcontractor who was accepted under this framework, he said, might not have to go through screening procedures with individual primes. The full video (1hr 40mins) can be viewed here
CONSULTATION: events on youth custody transformations
MoJ has released the consultation document 'Transforming Youth Custody: Putting education at the heart of detention', which outlines plans to place high-quality education at the centre of youth custody. The deadline for responses is 30th April 2013. Consultation events will also be held in London, 11th March and Cardiff, 19th March. Separate events will be held for current and potential youth custody providers and for wider interested parties. Further details and the consultation document may be found here. If you would like to feed into Clinks' own response to the consultation, please email Clinks Policy Officer, Katie O'Donoghue.
COMMISSIONING: prison family engagement worker
NOMS are looking to appoint an organisation, or organisations, to deliver a Family Engagement Worker service which will provide Family Support services in a number of prison establishments. The closing date for expressions of interest has been extended by one week to 18th March 2013. Download the full specification at: ContractsFinder
EVENT: preventing youth violence
Join Clinks Member Act for Change for cheese and wine at the launch of their new base at the 3Space Blackfriars Hub [6.30pm, 21st March, Blackfriars, London, donations]. Join them to explore how they engage young people in programmes that develop their empathy and resilience. Bookings and details at:Act for Change
EVENT: Clean Break performance
'Hours til Midnight' is a Clean Break play [9th March, Southbank Centre, London, £12] that explores addiction, resilience and women's relationship to crime and punishment. "Two half-sisters share an upbringing, an inseparable bond, and a history of addiction. When Gizzy chooses to start afresh, Meg has to decide whether to join her, or risk staying in a place riddled with bad associations. Hours til Midnight gives a unique view from the edge, exploring addiction, resilience and women?s relationship to crime and punishment." The play includes a post-show discussion. Details and bookings at: Southbank Centre
EVENT: celebrating International Women's Day
'Believe in you' is a week long Gibran UK event [18th - 22nd March, Llanover Abergavenny and Cardiff] to celebrate International Women's Day. The week is for women who have overcome significant barriers in their lives or women who are addressing barriers to turn their lives around, and includes daily workshops themed around nurturing, learning, creating, reflecting and celebrating. The events will raise awareness of International Women's Day, raise confidence and self-esteem, learn from each others experiences and feel part of a larger international network of women. For more information contact Gail or Jo on 01873 880976
EVENT: non-Member events
'Research Lecture: Payment by Results: Hopes, Fears and Evidence' | University of Leicester | 14th March, Leicester, free | link
'BORDERS, inside/outside: artistic creation in Europe with offenders and prisoners' | Lieux Fictifs | 25th - 27th June, Marseille, France, full bursaries available | event info | bursary application
'Policing & Justice' | GovKnow | 27th November, London, from £195 + vat | link
TRAINING: prison play-worker development day
Pact's Kids VIP team are running a prison play-worker development day [17th April, London, £50]. There will be a morning session on: The Role and Qualities of a Prison-based Play Worker, and the new Prison Play Worker National Occupation Standards. This will be followed by a fun interactive session in the afternoon, on activities that can be done with family groups at family visits. For more information, email: Pact
RESOURCE: presentations from BAME employment event
BTEG have published the speeches and presentations from their recent event 'How do we increase ethnic minority employment?'. There are loads of presentations around a number of areas including good practice, local perspectives, employer behaviour, and the role of apprenticeships. Find out more at: BTEG
RESOURCE: developing a social firm
Social Firms InfoMine is an online tool designed to identify and supply information needs on the social firm sector and developing a social firm. It guides the user through a carefully established set of questions, and - based on responses - will generate a report containing information tailored to their specific requirements. This report provides access to relevant resources - such as guides, links to websites, fact sheets, case studies and various services - all in one place. It also signposts to invaluable information the user may not even have realised they needed. In this way it increases user knowledge about the areas of support. Find out more at: Social Firms
VACANCIES IN THE CJS
Vacancies posted recently include a Job Deal Caseworker at St Giles Trust [HMP Rochester, Isle of Sheppey prison cluster, Maidstone], an Assistant Link Worker at Providence Row Housing Association [East and North London], and Trustees at Circles UK [Reading]. View these and loads more CJS vacancies at: Clinks Members' vacancies
TIPS OF THE WEEK...
TIP OF THE WEEK I: Debenhams and John Lewis have 25% off everything this weekend online and in-store.
TIP OF THE WEEK II: As it's Mothering Sunday this weekend, here's some Light Lunch deals: Mums go free at Bristol Zoo and Longleat this weekend; whilst Mums can get a free main course at Chiquitos, free bottle of wine at Frankie & Bennys, and a free pudding at Crown Carveries. Wind down afterwards with a Mother & Daughter spa day with treatments at your local Bannantynes for £69 (details).
TIP OF THE WEEK III: Deluxe coach travel to Paris (£19) and Lyon (£29) from London. Details