Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 626 | 20th March 2020

Light Lunch Header

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: your questions on Covid-19

Clinks has set up a new mailbox for voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system who have concerns or questions regarding how Covid-19 will affect their operations or the information they should provide to service users. In the first instance, organisations should direct these queries to their local contact or contract managers but if you struggle to get them answered we have a dedicated line of communication with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to discuss issues being raised and aim to set up a new web page with answers to frequently asked questions and other sector-specific information. We have set up a Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group special interest group on Covid-19 to formally channel policy discussions and suggestions into The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS and will share weekly highlights from meetings. This a developing process but we’ll answer as many enquiries as we can and provide an initial response within 48 hours. Email covid19@clinks.org

CLINKS VACANCIES: join our team – deadlines approaching

Following the restructure to our senior team, we are recruiting for four new and exciting roles: Director of Support and Development [£58,545, full time, London]; Head of Business Development [£51,324, full time, London]; London Development Officer [£32,029, full time, London]; and A Stronger Voice Project Coordinator [£32,029 FTE, part time, London] to strengthen the voice and influence of the voluntary sector to affect positive change in the criminal justice system. The next deadline for applications is 23rd March. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS BLOG: health and justice this year

Zahra Wynne, Clinks’ Health and Justice Policy and Development Officer has written a blog entitled What’s on the horizon this year for health and justice? which explores the health inequalities that people in contact with the criminal justice system face and how we'll work with our members to support health and justice initiatives. Zahra is leading Clinks’ work to support, promote and represent the voluntary sector’s work to improve the health of people in contact with the criminal justice system and ensure the sector is involved and engaged in the development of health and justice policy and interventions. Find out more here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE: annual survey

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) must hear from as many of its network as possible before its 2020 annual survey closes on 30th March. If you support the delivery of arts and creative activities in criminal justice settings and you have not already taken the survey, please do. The NCJAA wants to know about the important work you do and how it can best support it over the next few years. The responses you give will be used to shape the NCJAA's work in the future. As a thank you for taking part, we are offering you the chance to win £50 high street vouchers. Take the survey here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE: latest podcast episode online

Listen to Dawn Harrison’s episode of the Crime and Consequence podcast: ‘Releasing your mind from prison’. In this episode, Dawn reads her essay from Crime and Consequence: what should happen to people who commit criminal offences?, a book curated by the Monument Fellowship and edited by Clinks and The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance. She describes the incredible journey she took with a group of women on probation orders in South Tyneside while working as Senior Interventions Coordinator for the charity Changing Lives. Dawn’s creative thinking in the fields of arts, culture and heritage underpins her work in the field of criminal justice. Listen to the episode and read the essay here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: prisoners’ families and Covid-19

The Prisoners Families Helpline is a dedicated free HMPPS-funded national helpline for prisoners’ families managed by Pact. Pact and the HMPPS Families Team are working closely together to provide the most up to date advice and guidance around Covid-19 and visiting. It provides a confidential freephone service and is open Monday – Friday 9.00am – 8.00pm and Saturdays and Sundays between 10.00am and 3.00pm. It also offers callbacks to anyone who can’t get through. It can be reached on 0808 808 2003, and can also be emailed at info@prisonersfamilies.org.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: healthy foundations

Healthy Foundations is a three-year project from Women in Prison, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, offering health-related through-the-gate and one-to-one community support to women in, or returning to, London. The project also runs workshops across London and provides information on topics relating to health and wellbeing. Healthy Foundations is open to women affected by the criminal justice system who need any support and advocacy around their health. For information and referrals click here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: housing solutions to tackle injustice

Commonweal Housing is looking for partners with innovative ideas to tackle social injustice through housing. In 2020 one of its primary goals is to identify and commence a new property-based action learning project. It wants to support organisations to carry out a short term study to establish the feasibility of their proposed solutions, with the eventual aim of supporting them through a pilot phase, starting in 2021. Priority areas are the criminal justice system, violence against women and girls, and systemic injustices that occur at points of transition in people’s lives. The deadline for submitting applications is midday on 1st May. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: restorative justice outcomes

Why me? has published its fifth Valuing Victims report which looks at government funding for restorative justice, how it is spent in different areas, and what outcomes have been achieved. Trevor Watson, author of the report comments, “Our Valuing Victims Campaign champions victims’ entitlement to be told about restorative justice. The Victims’ Code entitles them to this, but only 5% of them recall receiving this information in reality. More people could benefit from restorative justice, and understanding best practice is an important step towards making this happen." Find out more here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: funders sign statement on Covid-19

An alliance of funders from across sectors has come together to sign a joint statement, coordinated by London Funders, pledging to offer support to voluntary organisations affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. The signatories recognise that the Covid-19 outbreak is an exceptional event that will have an impact on voluntary organisations and want to offer reassurance that they stand with the sector during this time. They are committed to: adapting activities; discussing dates; financial flexibility; listening to you. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: visiting prisons during the outbreak

The Ministry of Justice has guidance for visitors and the families and friends of those in prison in England and Wales during the Covid-19 pandemic. It lists confirmed cases, information on the latest situation, on visiting prisons, and other ways to keep in touch. This information will be regularly updated as and when new advice becomes available. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Budget 2020

On Twitter last week we summarised the criminal justice commitments in the Budget 2020. These include funding for the creation of a Centre of Excellence for Tackling Youth Violence; funding towards community sentences; prison maintenance; and to launch a Royal Commission on the Criminal Justice process in England and Wales. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insights20 festival postponed

Due to the developing situation with Covid-19 and the government’s introduction of new measures in response, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has decided to postpone the Insights20 festival to October. Your tickets are still valid and you can continue to register. The event has had 8000 ticket registrations in less than two weeks. Over the next few months, HMPPS will be liaising with individual hosts to rearrange events. Find further updates, as they are available, here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: child-first youth justice

'Child First Youth Justice: Rhetoric or Reality?' is a National Association for Youth Justice seminar [12th May, London, from free]. It will discuss what 'child first' youth justice should mean and whether the experiences of children meet the policy intention. Confirmed speakers include Kathy Evans, Chief Executive of Children England, and Dr Gilly Sharpe, Sheffield University. More information and tickets are available here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS

  • ‘Language Barriers in the Criminal Justice System’ | 19th May, London, free | Details

PUBLICATION: racial disparities in mental health

The Race Equality Foundation has published a report on the persistent racial disparities in mental health. The work draws on the most recent published research from the last five years together with insights from two events and conversations across the voluntary sector. The report covers: prevalence, access, assessment, treatment and recovery. It also sets out recommendations to health agencies, professionals and the voluntary sector. Find out more here

FUNDING: supporting people into work

The Department for Work and Pensions’ Universal Credit Transition Fund will award grants to voluntary sector organisations to help people who most need extra support to move closer to or into work – including supporting them to claim Universal Credit (UC) where they are not already in receipt – particularly when moving between other arms of state provision and the welfare system. The fund is targeted at groups such as care leavers, prison leavers, refugees, homeless people and those with substance dependencies. It is available during the 2020/2021 financial year. The deadline for applications is 31st March. Find out more here

FUNDING: supporting unemployed people

Paddington Development Trust is holding a briefing webinar on 31st March to give information on the application process to potential applicants to its EQUIP Community Grants scheme for organisations in West and Central London. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are available to equip small voluntary organisations who support unemployed people, who in turn can equip local residents with skills and jobs advice. The fund is particularly targeting older people, carers, parents, some black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, homeless people, refugees, young people and ex-offenders. Applications are open between 1st and 30th April for projects to start in July or later. Find out more here

FUNDING: reduce crime in Hertfordshire

Grants are available from the Policy and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire’s Action Fund for projects that are helping to reduce crime and make Hertfordshire a safer place to live. It aims to empower local groups to find solutions to community safety problems. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for innovative local schemes. The deadline for applications is 21st April. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Development Officer, Stronger Voice Project Co-ordinator, Head of Business Development, Director of Support and Development with Clinks [London], HOPE worker with Humankind [Harrogate], Volunteer Co-ordinator with NEPACS [Durham], Peer Mentor – Complex Needs with Shelter [Birmingham], Trainor Assessor with St. Giles Trust [Cardiff], Team Manager with Career Connect [Liverpool], Learning Facilitator with Weston College (Offender Learning) [HMP Elmley]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip I: 35% off Mother’s Day flowers | Details
  • Tip II: Covid-19 financial help and rights | Details
  • Tip III: Free digital tools and services during the pandemic | Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

About Clinks Light Lunch

This edition of Light Lunch has been sent to the inbox of 13,259 people working (or with an interest) in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.

Click here to manage your subscriptions. For assistance, email info@clinks.org

Clinks logo

Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Terms and conditions

Contact us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 7383 0966

© Clinks, 2020