Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 610 | 15th November 2019

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In this week's edition...

    CLINKS NEWS: crime and consequence podcast

    We've launched an exciting new podcast featuring a selection of views from our recently released Crime and Consequence book, answering the question: what should happen to people who commit criminal offences? Each episode focuses on a particular area of the criminal justice system, drawing on the author's lived or professional experience. Episodes include: ‘What should happen to people who commit murder?’; ‘Transgender in the 21st century prison system’; ‘How politicians and the public think about crime’; ‘Prison - the UK's largest provider of residential elderly care’. Subscribe to Crime and Consequence wherever you get your podcasts, or listen via the link below. Listen to the podcast here

    CLINKS NEWS: new RR3 members

    Eight senior voluntary sector leaders will join the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3), following an open recruitment process. Chris Stacey, Unlock; Peter Dawson, Prison Reform Trust; and Rod Clark, Prisoners Education Trust have been re-appointed to their seats. Five people have been appointed for the first time: Peter Atherton, Community Led Initiatives; Dez Brown, Spark2Life; Helen Dyson, Nacro; Christina Marriot, Revolving Doors Agency; and Tina Parker, Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact). The RR3 is a group of senior voluntary sector experts which meets quarterly to advise the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service. Clinks provides the chair and secretariat to the RR3. Each member is appointed for their expertise in a specialist area. See the full list of members here. Find out more about how the RR3 works here

    CLINKS BLOG: the future of justice in Wales

    A blog by Clinks' Development Officer for Wales Bryn Thomas summarises the recommendations in Justice in Wales for the people of Wales, the final report from the commission on justice, chaired by Lord Thomas of Cwmgeidd. The report makes some far reaching and important recommendations that could influence the future direction of not just criminal justice but the whole devolution settlement in Wales. Read the blog here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: active citizenship in prisons

    Prisoners’ Education Trust has launched a toolkit as part of the PAC (Prisoners’ Active Citizenship) Erasmus + EU project to help people working and living in prisons to build active citizenship. It is designed to be used by prisoners, prison management, prison staff, education staff, organisations and people working in the voluntary sector. Active citizenship is the action of engaging with issues, ideas, people and communities. Engagement during a sentence can help people prepare to re-enter society, to be able to contribute, participate and belong. The goal of the PAC project was to test various active citizenship participation models in different European prisons and to develop a participation toolkit based on these experiences. Download the toolkit here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: corporate fundraising policy

    Pact would be grateful to hear from any organisation who has developed a corporate fundraising/sponsorship policy and who is willing to share the policy and any insights into how it was developed. Please contact andy.kd@prisonadvice.org.uk

    CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: women in the justice system

    The Telegraph reports that "Half of jailed women committed crimes to support another person's drug habit". The data – based on Ministry of Justice surveys, and highlighted at the Howard League for Penal Reform's ‘Policing the community conference’ – also shows women are more likely to be serving a sentence for theft than violence. Jessica Mullen, Head of Policy and Communications at Clinks, said “A significant number of women in the criminal justice system have a history of trauma and abuse in their lives. Coercive relationships drive some of this.” The Prison Reform Trust said “Women can become trapped in a vicious cycle of victimisation and criminal activity. Their situation is often made worse by poverty, substance dependency or poor mental health.” Read the article here (behind a paywall)

    CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prisoner risk algorithm

    The New Statesman reports that “The Ministry of Justice’s prisoner risk algorithm could program in racism”. The algorithmic tool draws on data, including from the prison service, police and the National Crime Agency, to assess what type of prison a person should be put in and how strictly they should be controlled. This could result in black, Asian and ethnic minority prisoners being unfairly placed in higher security condition, exacerbating long-standing problems of discrimination. The findings “show the importance of all new and future Ministry of Justice policies being properly equality impact assessed to ensure they do not further exacerbate the alarming levels of disparity in the criminal justice system,” said Jess Mullen, Clinks’ Head of Policy and Communications. Read the article here

    CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: stakeholder survey

    The 2019 HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ stakeholder survey is now live. The Inspectorate is interested in receiving feedback from voluntary sector stakeholders. If you have had contact with the Inspectorate this year, or have views about its inspections, reports or generally how it operates, take a few minutes to give your feedback. Take the survey here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: carol concert

    Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET) is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a ‘Christmas Carol Concert’ [28th November, London, free]. There will be an array of Christmas carols, sung by the London Choir, Fever Pitch, and presentations from former prisoner learners and PET President, His Honour John Samuels QC. Booking is required. Find out more here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Christmas concert

    New Bridge Foundation is holding its annual Christmas concert [12th December, London, £15] featuring Sandra Rigby-Barrett and The Adventus Domini Choir, and Newbold School Children’s Choir. They will give an evening of music and seasonal song. This event often sells out, so book early to avoid disappointment. Book here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: group facilitation

    This 15 session accredited course from Inspirit Training [14th January- 4th April 2020, London, £928] is aimed at workers in any sector that support others in group settings. It is for people who want to develop their confidence to manage challenging groups and to increase their ability to have a useful therapeutic impact. The main aim is to enable participants to become robust and competent facilitators through learning and application of some of the theories that help to describe group development and process, including some ideas about what is happening for participants when they join a group. Applications must be made by 16th December. Email l.bush@inspirit-training.org.uk to request an application form and some further details.

    AWARDS: outstanding governance

    Charity boards demonstrating outstanding governance and trusteeship in areas including diversity, digital and harnessing risk are invited to share their success stories by entering the Charity Governance Awards 2020. Free online entry is now open to national and local charities, large and small. By entering one of the seven categories which recognise excellence in governance, charities from all sectors could win a £5,000 prize as an unrestricted grant. Categories cover digital innovation, board diversity and inclusivity, managing turnaround, embracing opportunity, and improving impact. Find out more and enter before 22nd January here

    CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

    Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Apprentice Health & Wellbeing Practitioner with Forward Trust [HMP Brixton], HOPE Recovery Co-ordinator with Humankind [South Tyneside], Trainee Caseworker with St. Giles Trust [London], Housing Management Worker Nights with Changing Lives [County Durham], Senior Practitioner - Family Service with Phoenix Futures [HMP Wymott], Service Manager – Victims’ Services with Thames Valley partnership [Buckinghamshire], Prison based Restorative Justice Service Manager with Belong [HMP Wormwood Scrubs], Housing Assistant – Merseyside with Nacro [Merseyside], Helpline Support Worker with Welsh Women’s Aid [Cardiff], Bank / Casual Housing Advice Worker - Pan London Offender Service 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: Odeon tickets – two for £10 or five for £20. Details
    • Tip II: Christmas lights London bus tour. 40% off. Details
    • Tip III: Brewdog beer tasting and cheese. 50% off. Details

    EXTRA INFORMATION

    About Clinks Light Lunch

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