Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 609 | 8th November 2019

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: Crime and Consequence

Clinks and National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) have edited a new book, Crime & Consequence - what should happen to people who commit criminal offences? The book is a collection of essays and creative reflections on one of the most important questions in our society. The wide range of insights from academics, artists, criminal justice professionals, charity leaders and prisoners themselves explore how our society can respond to crime to tackle the causes and consequences. This is the third in a series of books curated by the Monument Fellowship. The book can be purchased for £10 from Koestler Arts or read online for free from our website here

CLINKS BLOG: editing Crime and Consequence

In this blog, CEO Anne Fox writes about her experience of editing Crime and Consequence with Alison Frater, Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance. She explains that the book is intended to be accessible and relatable, so that the widest range of people possible can engage with the question posed, to help generate the political will for progressive reforms that address the root causes of people’s contact with the criminal justice system. She thanks the contributors for offering their rich range of perspectives, and invites us all to continue the process and engage with the question ourselves. Read the blog here

CLINKS EVENT: what impact has this year had on the voluntary sector?

We’ve concluded this year’s State of the sector research and will be launching our report on the same day as our AGM [21st November, York, free]. Join us to hear the key findings from the research and what they mean for you and your organisation. On the day there will be an opportunity to network and discuss the findings. We’ll also be consulting on how we can update and improve the survey questions for next year to make sure we are capturing the right information. Register here

CLINKS EVENT: Regional criminal justice forums

Limited places are still available for our upcoming regional criminal justice forums [26th November, Carmarthen | 28th November, Leeds | 3rd December, Bolton | free for members, £50 for non-members]. The forums give organisations the opportunity to hear the latest national developments in criminal justice, and the chance to inform Clinks’ national policy work. They are an opportunity to step back from day-to-day frontline work to see the bigger picture and context in which organisations are working. There will also be an opportunity to showcase voluntary sector work. If you would like to showcase a project at the event, please contact your local Area Development Officer or email events@clinks.org. Book your place here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: recommendations for the next 10 years

Clinks and the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) have published a joint response to Arts Council England's (ACE) final consultation on its upcoming 10-year strategy. To inform this response we spoke to members of the NCJAA network and steering group alongside key officials from the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, in recognition of their support for arts in the criminal justice system and the partnership opportunities this represents for ACE to build on its work in criminal justice. The strategy will take effect from April 2020 and ACE will share its findings ahead of publishing the final strategy. Read our response here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: theatre in prisons

National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) director, Jessica Plant, spoke to The Stage about why arts in prisons is vital to individuals and society as a whole, the potential impact of recent changes to prison education commissioning, and the NCJAA’s upcoming research project. ‘Inside story: Theatre in prisons and the fight for rehabilitation’ also features NCJAA steering group members Geese Theatre Company, Clean Break and Synergy Theatre Project and NCJAA research network member Professor Laura Caulfield, alongside the Young Vic’s The Jumper Factory project and endorsements from Arts Council England and HMPYOI Isis. Read the article here (login required)

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: homelessness frontline worker survey

St Martin in the Fields Frontline Network is conducting its Frontline Worker Survey 2019 and is looking for frontline workers who work with people experiencing homelessness to have their say. This survey offers an opportunity for frontline workers to say what is and isn’t working when supporting people experiencing homelessness. The results will create a vital resource for decision-makers when developing strategies to reduce homelessness. Complete the survey or share it with your network of frontline workers before 26th November. Take the survey here

CLINKS MEMBERS NEWS: boost to improve approaches to prisoner rehabilitation

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has been awarded £2.6 million in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to develop new approaches to long-term imprisonment. The grant will support the Building Futures Programme, which aims to shape a prison environment that is safe, humane and encourages accountability and responsibility, ultimately creating the conditions for rehabilitation and reintegration. The project will inform both policy and practice across the UK, particularly around reducing reoffending and promoting community cohesion. It will draw on the insight of PRT’s Prisoner Policy Network - a group of prisoners, former prisoners, their families and supporting organisations set up to give agency and voice to people with lived experience of the justice system to contribute to policies and practices. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS NEWS: ageing prison population

Age UK has published its response to the Justice Committee’s ageing prison population inquiry. Key recommendations include: older prisoners should have the same level of basic health and social care provision as non-prisoners; local authorities should work with HM Prison and Probation Service to make sure the social care needs of prisoners are met; prisons should ensure that officers and health care staff deliver high-quality end of life care for prisoners; and guidance should be developed on practical matters such as pension advice, housing and accessing health and social care ahead of release. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBERS NEWS: sexual abuse prevention

The Stop It Now! helpline (0808 1000 900, stopitnow.org.uk) from The Lucy Faithful Foundation provides support to anyone concerned with any aspect of child sexual abuse prevention, online or offline. The helpline can support adults worried about their own thoughts, feelings or behaviour, adults concerned about another adult or young person, and professionals who work with those groups. There are a range of public and professional resources available which are free to download and display. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: the right to family life

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has responded to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) report on children whose mothers are in prison. The JCHR’s report shows that sending women to prison was causing irreparable harm to tens of thousands of children, and made a number of recommendations regarding data, sentencing and pregnancy and maternity. In the response, the MoJ commits to: publishing data on the numbers of pregnant women in prison and those with primary caring responsibilities; the national roll-out of a pre-sentence report checklist tool to support National Probation Service staff to make robust proposals for community sentences; and a fundamental review of the current policy on Mother and Baby Units (including a new policy framework and accompanying guidance). Read the response here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: significant improvements at HMP Cardiff

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has published its report following an inspection of HMP Cardiff in July 2019, finding significant improvements over the last three years. HMIP found that outcomes for prisoners have improved in the areas of safety and respect, and that resettlement work has remained positive. They awarded the prison with the highest possible rating for purposeful activity, highlighting how “education, skills and work provision was good in many aspects and excellent in well-being, behaviour and attitudes to learning”. Inspectors also found HMP Cardiff to be safer than three years ago, having had fewer violent incidents in the six months before the inspection compared with the same period in 2016. Read the report here

FUNDING: community initiatives in Essex

Grants of up to £5,000 are available from the High Sheriffs’ Fund from the Essex Community Foundation, which was established to recognise and support community initiatives that address crime and anti-social behaviour in Essex. Voluntary and community organisations, local charities and Community Interest Companies can apply for a grant to support their work making their communities safer and better places in which to live. Find out more and apply before 2nd December here

FUNDING: making Suffolk safer

Grants of up to £20,000 are available from the Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner’s Fund. The fund supports the work of voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and parish councils that are delivering services that help make Suffolk a safer place to live, work, travel and invest in. No grant will normally exceed 10% of an organisation’s total income. Find out more and apply before 11th December here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: online harm

The Social Switch Project Frontline Training is a one-day interactive course [Several dates from November 2019 to July 2020, London, free] aimed at professionals working with young people in London. It is supported by Google.org and delivered by Redthread and Catch22. The course aims to support professionals in dealing with both harmful online behaviour and the real-life violence which can escalate as a result. It aims to help professionals switch on to the language young people use, understand how to approach harmful online activity, and learn how to encourage positive online behaviour. Sign up here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: acting course

Synergy Theatre Project is offering an accredited Introduction to Acting course [29th January - 27th March 2020, Stockwell, free] in partnership with Morley College for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Participants will learn techniques used by professional actors and explore them in fun, practical sessions leading towards a short performance to an invited audience. Participants don’t need experience in acting but a willingness to get involved and the ability to commit to learning acting techniques with the view to perform at the final showcase. There will be group auditions in order to assess each person’s ability level. Apply before 8th January by emailing Karl at studio@synergytheatreproject.co.uk.

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS AND TRAINING

  • The Social Value of Women and Girls Projects | 21st November | London | free | Details

FEATURED VACANCY: Restorative Justice Service Manager

Belong is looking for a Restorative Justice Service Manager [£35,700, full time, HMP Wormwood Scrubs] to lead on a new project delivering an innovative restorative justice service at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. The service will build on a model developed in other UK prisons, offering restorative justice interventions in response to violent incidents and antisocial behaviour. This position provides an opportunity for a reliable, organised, energetic person to join Belong's team. The successful applicant will have strong leadership skills along with solid experience of managing projects within the criminal justice system and preferably the prison service. They will be able to demonstrate a track record of securing stakeholder engagement and of communicating effectively with individuals from a range of backgrounds. Apply before 20th November here

FEATURED VACANCY: Service Manager – Victims’ Services

Thames Valley Partnership is seeking a Service Manager [£32,000 pro rata (£40,000 FTE), part time, Buckinghamshire] to lead on a new support service for adult victims. The new service will be tailored to meet victims’ individual needs, and could include trauma-informed interventions, advocacy support, restorative justice conferencing, and practical and emotional support to navigate the criminal justice system. The Service Manager will report directly to the Partnership CEO and will have lead responsibility for delivering the service, managing key relationships and the contract with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. You will oversee all aspects including developing a strategy for recruitment, training, retention and supervision of staff and volunteers and the development of peer support and buddy systems. Apply before 29th November here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: International Women’s Day Event Co-ordinator with Brighton Women’s Centre [Brighton], Peer Mentor – Complex Needs with Shelter (England) [Birmingham], Peer Mentor – Cyfle Cymru with Kaleidoscope Project [Newtown/Welshpool], Arts Team Volunteer with Koestler Arts [East Acton], Asset Coach with Changing Lives [York], Gangs Groupwork Facilitator and Mentor with St Giles Trust [East & West Kent], Women’s Recovery Coordinator with The Nelson Trust [Gloucester], Social Care and Criminal Justice IDVAs with ADVANCE [West London], Policy and Research Officer with Welsh Women’s Aid [Cardiff], Family Support Worker – Transforming Rehabilitation with Ormiston Families [Colchester], Lead Floating Support Worker with Single Homeless Project [London], Chief Executive with The Lucy Faithfull Foundation [Bromsgrove/Epsom]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip I: Tasting meal and stargazing for two in Northumberland. 57% off. Details
  • Tip II: Whisky tasting experience with barbecue platter for one or two. Up to 51% off. Details
  • Tip III: Live Escape Game for up to eight people at City Mazes. From £49. Details 

EXTRA INFORMATION

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