Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 620 | 7th February 2020

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS EVENT: working together in Essex

This joint event, hosted by the Essex Women’s Action Team and Clinks [24th March, Chelmsford, free] will explore how organisations and businesses in Essex can effectively work together to prevent women entering the criminal justice system and improve outcomes for them and the people of Essex when they do. It will include: speakers who will explain what the research tells us and why organisations should work with women differently; the opportunity to hear from women with experience of the criminal justice system; and Clean Break’s latest production Not Pretty Like the Rainbow. Book your place here

CLINKS BLOG: lessons and reflections

The end of the road – lessons and reflections from a charity preventing sexual harm is a guest blog from Tammy Banks, former CEO of re:shape. Tammy talks openly about the recently closed charity and what led to its demise. She discusses the rising need for the charity’s services – preventing sexual harm – the commitment of its workforce, and the challenges of the funding environment. Read the blog here

CLINKS PODCAST: speech and language needs

Kim Turner's episode of the Crime and Consequence podcast: 'Don't worry Miss, it's not serious' is available to listen and download. Kim Turner is a highly experienced speech and language therapist who has worked in the criminal justice system for over 10 years. In the episode, she reads her essay from our recently published Crime and Consequence book, explaining why a significant number of people in contact with the criminal justice system are not receiving equitable access to justice, due to speech, language and communication needs. She tells the stories of individuals she has worked with over the years who have struggled to understand complex court proceedings, and have therefore been seen as uncooperative, rude or ignorant rather than people in need of support. Listen and read along here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE BLOG: the choir

Director of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA), Jessica Plant, reflects on the impact of choirmaster Gareth Malone’s work at HMYOI Aylesbury, featured in a recent BBC documentary, and pays tribute to the hard work of pioneering arts organisations that have quietly driven change behind the scenes for over 30 years. Read her blog here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: survey on future work

Unlock is developing plans for its work in the next few years, and has launched a short survey for people with criminal records to feed into the process. As a small charity rooted in the experiences of people with a criminal record, Unlock wants its work to be shaped by the needs of the people that it exists to help. As a way of saying thank you, Unlock is offering a £25 Love2Shop voucher to one randomly selected person who provides an email address when completing the survey before Friday 28th February 2020. Complete the survey here 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: young people’s views on knife crime

Nacro has launched its Lives Not Knives report in response to growing concerns about the impact that knife crime continues to have upon people and local areas. The report gives young people a chance to have their say. The young people Nacro spoke to aged 15-19 believe: knife-carrying is driven by fear; young people are not protected by the police, and harsher penalties will not deter people who carry knives; young people have very little to do in their spare time and few positive role models; knife crime is linked to poverty and lack of opportunity. In response, Nacro is calling for urgent focus upon prevention and early intervention and a fundamental shift away from prison being used as the answer. Read the report here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: people with lived experience influence policy

In this blog, Changing Lives highlights how policymaking can become more inclusive of people with lived experience, and why this matters. Changing Lives supports people who are experiencing hardships that many would struggle to imagine: homelessness, sexual exploitation, life-threatening addictions, mental and physical health problems, long-term unemployment and poverty, and more. The people who access their services and others like it have valuable insights to share with policy makers which can challenge existing thinking. One person, who accesses Changing Lives services, recently gave powerful and compelling evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee’s inquiry into Universal Credit and Survival Sex. Their insights have helped to shape recommendations, with the potential to make a difference to thousands of lives. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: non-custodial sentences

This blog from Russell Webster examines a recent briefing from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology on the policy considerations of non-custodial sentences. The briefing explains the range of non-custodial sentences including discharges, fines and community orders, before looking at sentencing trends with a differentiation of the sentences passed on adults and young people as well as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people and women. It gives a detailed review of the effectiveness of non-custodial sentences, looking at the five key purposes of sentencing set out in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It then examines other policy considerations including the prison population size, public opinion, and cost and resources. It is a useful resource for explaining the effectiveness of community sentences as opposed to short prison sentences. Read it here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: ethnicity data

The Ministry of Justice has published the latest figures on ethnicity in the prison officer workforce. People from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups continue to be underrepresented. On 31st March 2019, 93.1% of prison officers in England and Wales were white, and 6.9% were from a BAME group compared to 14% of the general population. From 2015 to 2019, the percentage of black prison officers rose slightly from 2.3% to 3.1%. The Lammy Review shone a spotlight on the importance of improving the diversity of prison staff, especially considering the overrepresentation and treatment of BAME people in prison. It is important that Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service continues to prioritise the implementation of the Lammy Review recommendations and improves the recruitment of, and leadership opportunities for, BAME staff. Read more here

FUNDING: young people

UK Youth will be distributing more than £1 million in funding to organisations in England who are in the UK Youth Movement. With funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, it will be offering grants of between £3,000 and £20,000 to deliver extra sessions in youth clubs and settings to enhance and expand existing sessions. The UK Youth Fund will provide this funding to successful applicants within two weeks of the close of applications. The light touch approach is intended to make the application process as simple and straight forward as possible. If demand exceeds expectations applications may close early, so you are advised to apply as soon as possible. Apply before at 5pm on Tuesday 11th February here

FUNDING: capital projects for young people

The Warwickshire and West Midlands-based Norton Foundation is seeking proposals from local organisations in Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire, who are planning capital projects to help young people under the age of 25 years.  Successful organisations will be given up to £250,000 contribution for their prospective project.  Bids must be primarily focussed on training, education, personal development or rehabilitation. There are no application forms. Submissions, limited to one side of A4 paper, should include: an overview of the organisation, details of the proposed project and its benefits, an estimation of the total cost, and how the name of The Norton Foundation will be commemorated. Bids must be received by post. Find out more and apply by 14th February here

FUNDING: people in contact with the criminal justice system

The Weavers' Company Benevolent Fund has grants available of up to £15,000 for organisations working with: young offenders; prisoners and ex-prisoners; and young disadvantaged people, especially those at risk of criminal involvement. The Fund is especially interested in helping smaller organisations which offer direct services. Organisations must normally be registered charities or in the process of applying for registration. To make sure grants of this size have an impact, it will not normally fund large organisations. Applicants must show that they have investigated other sources of funding and made plans for the future, which should include replacement funding if appropriate. Find out more and apply before 31st March here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: short play

Clean Break's Young Artist Development programme will be performing Inside This Box, a new 20 minute play written by Yasmin Joseph and directed by Stef O'Driscoll [26th-29th February, London, from £8]. The play follows a young woman who has been asked to take a mysterious box to a secret location. She’s been trusted to do it, a real responsibility that will bring in real money for her and her sister. All she has to do is take a train to a meeting point. But now the location has changed, she doesn’t know who she’s meeting, and every step is filling her with more doubt. Book here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS AND TRAINING

  • Arts in Prisons. 27th February | Leicester | free | Details 

RESOURCE: venues run by good causes

This useful new Good Venues website lists event, meeting or eating spaces run by good causes. You can browse venues in your area (although it is currently just London-wide) or submit a great venue you know or own via the online form. See more here

FEATURED VACANCY: Violence Reduction Strategic Lead (Senior)

Bolton CVS is recruiting a Violence Reduction Strategic Lead (Senior) [£39,782, full time, 12 months fixed-term, Bolton] on behalf of 10GM - a collaboration of organisations that supports the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in Greater Manchester. The purpose of this new role is to work with Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit to support community-led approaches to tackling violent crime across five identified areas in Greater Manchester. You will be supporting community networks, voluntary organisations and volunteers to collaborate on new approaches, innovative ideas and helping turn plans into reality. The candidate will have a background in supporting community groups and organisations tackling social issues, be confident in challenging ideas and will understand the violence reduction agenda. Find out more and apply before 26th February here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Tenancy Support Officer with Nacro [Harlow], HR Advisor with Humankind [Leeds], Assistant Curriculum Manager with Weston College [HMP Lewes], Services Manager (Contracts and Partnerships) with Back on Track [Manchester], Criminal Justice Recovery Navigator with EDP Drug & Alcohol Services [Exeter], Engager Worker with Imagine Independence [Liverpool], Policy and Research Intern with Why me? [London], Family Support Group Volunteer with Prisoners Abroad [Birmingham], Support Worker with Changing Lives [North East], Regional Manager with User Voice [North East]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip I: Wales getaway with tasting-menu dinner and bubbly. 52% off. Details
  • Tip II: Modern patchwork armchairs from £39. Details
  • Tip III: Sweet letter box hampers. £3. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

About Clinks Light Lunch

This edition of Light Lunch has been sent to the inbox of 13,215 people working (or with an interest) in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.

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