Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 628 | 3rd April 2020

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In this week's edition...

LIGHT LUNCH NOTICE: Easter bank holiday

As next Friday is a bank holiday, and so we can continue to get timely information to the voluntary sector during the pandemic, Light Lunch will be sent on Thursday 9th April next week.

CLINKS NEWS: Covid-19 updates

We’ve updated our Covid-19 web page with recent developments and further links to sources of support. Updates include: further guidance on the government’s job retention scheme; information from Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service for friends and families of prisoners on changes in prisons; Minister Lucy Frazer’s letter to Clinks about the voluntary sector working in criminal justice; information on recruiting volunteers during this time and changes to DBS checks; and further links to sources of support from Charity Bank, the Race Equality Foundation, Young Minds and others. We have also listed examples of our members’ activity to respond to the outbreak. Read more here

CLINKS BLOG: advising the Ministry of Justice on Covid-19

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) again brought together leading experts from across the voluntary sector this week as part of its Covid-19 special interest group (SIG), to discuss how voluntary organisations can mobilise our expertise and capacity to support Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to respond to this crisis. This blog highlights some of the key recommendations raised during the meeting, including how voluntary sector services can be supported to adapt their services to meet the needs of service users in new ways, and the support that voluntary sector helplines need to meet increased demand. The Covid-19 SIG meets once a week, and submits recommendations to senior officials. Read the blog here

CLINKS VACANCY: London Development Officer

We are looking for a Development Officer [£32,029, full time, London] to join our team and lead Clinks’ development work in London. We are seeking a dynamic individual with excellent relationship building skills to work with the criminal justice voluntary sector, identifying specific priorities and building voluntary sector voice to influence key decision makers at a local and national level. The role involves developing and supporting existing networks, and co-ordination between the voluntary sector and stakeholders working in criminal justice and community safety. You will provide a single point of contact for strategic engagement and communication. The successful candidate will be part of our respected Area Development Team currently based in the North East, North West and South West of England and in Wales. Apply before 27th April here

CLINKS NEWS: reduce the number of people in prison

Clinks and many of our members have joined a call from INQUEST and Women in Prison for the government to immediately reduce the number of people in prison, young offender institutions, secure training centres and immigration detention settings. Deaths of people in custody are already at a historic high. With more restrictive regimes, suspension of family visits, severe limits on external scrutiny, and additional pressures on physical and mental health care, the Covid-19 outbreak in prisons and detention threatens to escalate this problem on an unprecedented scale. Read more here

CLINKS NEWS: stop short sentences

Clinks and many of our members have joined a coalition, coordinated by Revolving Doors Agency, calling on the government to temporarily stop short prison sentences; limiting the rapid churn of people vulnerable to Covid-19 in and out of prison to keep prison staff and prisoners safe. Revolving Doors has written to the Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice and Chair of the Sentencing Council to ask that they make a clear statement that Magistrates and Crown Courts in England and Wales prioritise community and suspended sentences ahead of short custodial sentences of 6 months or less for all non-violent and non-sexual offences, and where community alternatives do not present a risk of harm to the public. Read more here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE BLOG: Covid-19

Jessica Plant, Director of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA), updates on how the current Covid-19 crisis is impacting arts in criminal justice in a new blog. She shares examples of how the NCJAA network is adapting to ensure they can continue to reach people in prisons and the community. She reflects on how arts organisations and artists working in criminal justice settings have been supported so far and why further help will be needed to ensure resilience in the unchartered waters ahead. Working closely with colleagues at Clinks, the NCJAA is doing a number of things to support its network. The blog outlines how the NCJAA aims to advocate and provide a community for those arts organisations and artists working in challenging environments over the coming weeks and beyond. Read the blog here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: free online play

The Open Clasp Theatre Company’s play ‘Key Change’ is available to view online for free. Key Change was devised with women in HMP Low Newton to tour male prisons. It is a raw, illuminating and funny portrayal of women in prison. Winner of The Carol Tambor ‘Best of Edinburgh’ Award 2015, Key Change premiered in New York in 2016 and was the prestigious New York Times Critics’ Pick. Watch it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: police powers and Covid-19

Last week, EQUAL released a statement following the government’s announcement that it would be increasing police powers to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. EQUAL has expressed concern about how these additional police powers may impact upon black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, with the potential to further increase disproportionality in policing. EQUAL recognises the need to use police powers to ensure compliance with social distancing policies but is calling for robust monitoring processes and further guidance on how these powers will work in practice. Read the statement here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: reduce the prison population

Howard League and Prison Reform Trust have called for the government to take further action to reduce the prison population to protect prisoners, staff and the wider public from coronavirus, in an open letter to the Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC MP. The letter welcomes the decision to release certain pregnant women and mothers in Mother and Baby Units, but urges the government to extend early release to prisoners who are either medically vulnerable or present a low risk of harm, warning that failure to act immediately could lead to loss of life on an unprecedented scale. You can read the letter here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: engaging the views of defendants

Revolving Doors Agency has been commissioned to carry out research with people that have had recent experience of the courts process as defendants. It is trying to understand and improve the engagement of defendants across the whole process, from point of arrest through the first trial. It is looking for people from across the country and with a wide range of courts experience, including first-time defendants, people with experience of video remand hearings, and people with experience either of representing themselves or who have had the support of a legal representative. If you work with people that could take part in a phone or video interview then please contact Phil Mullen: philip.mullen@revolving-doors.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: corporate support for the voluntary sector

Volunteering Matters is coordinating with a number of infrastructure bodies, including NCVO, ACEVO, WCVA, and NAVCA, to ask all corporates across the UK to find ways of contributing to voluntary organisations by identifying staff who might have time to help. Share this message with your corporate partners and contacts and ask them to register their business in supporting a community response to COVID-19 by completing this short survey here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: activity hub partners

PeoplePlus is currently seeking partners to bid for the HMPPS CFO Activity Hubs competition, which is due to be released on 14th April, with delivery commencing January 2021. This voluntary provision will consist of community locations that offer tailored support for people in contact with the criminal justice system, particularly those who are considered disadvantaged, face multiple barriers to employment and those that are not fully supported by existing programmes. It is seeking expressions of interest from a diverse range of local organisations to increase participant integration and support. It is also seeking community venues/facilities where co-location is possible for services aimed at people in contact with the criminal justice system. The closing date for submission of a completed Expression of Interest is 20th April. Find out more and complete the form here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: call for Expressions of Interest

Achieve North West intends to bid for HMPPS CFO Activity Hubs in the North West contract package. It is looking for Expressions of Interest from organisations of all sizes, who provide high quality services, to partner with. It is seeking provision that will help participants not to re-offend, increase their access to mainstream opportunities and move them closer to the labour market. It is seeking provision including: arts (crafts, drama, media, music and dance); sports; delivery of one off community projects; family support; relationship coaching; community development activity; literacy and numeracy; life skills; debt advice; work-related mentoring; or accommodation advice and support. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 20th April. See here for more information and to complete the form

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: deadline change

Maximus Ltd has extended its Expression of Interest deadline for partners to bid for the HMPPS Activity Hubs competition. The new deadline is 17th April. See more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: pregnant women to be released from custody

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that pregnant women in custody who do not pose a high risk of harm to the public will be temporarily released from prison within days to protect them and their unborn children from coronavirus. Women in Mother and Baby Units meeting the same risk assessment will also be released with their children. Prison governors will be able to grant their release on temporary licence once they pass a risk assessment and suitable accommodation has been identified. Clinks is working with the MoJ and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to ensure that women-centred voluntary organisations are able to provide support to these women on release. Read more here

FUNDING: hardship grants

The COSARAF Foundation provides small grants to individuals facing significant hardship and is encouraging organisations to apply for support for those struggling as a result of Covid-19. The foundation only accepts applications from recognised social organisations such as charities, housing associations, schools and social services acting on behalf of a family or individual in need. Grants of up to £2,000 are available, and most grants are between £500 and £1,000. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: emergency fund

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has launched a rapid response fund to help smaller charitable organisations affected by the impact of Covid-19. Grants of up to £10,000 will help organisations to continue to deliver much needed support to communities across the UK. CAF aims to make payments to selected organisations within 14 days of application. Organisations with £1 million or less annual income may apply. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: coronavirus response fund

The Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner has launched a £200,000 Coronavirus Response Fund to support small and large charities and community organisations who are struggling to retain their offer of support to victims and communities in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Local charities, social enterprises and community groups in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear can apply for grants of up to £5,000. The grants will go towards projects which: support victims; improve people’s lives to prevent crime – support access to services for those in need of safeguarding or reduce reoffending; and/or build community confidence. Applications close on 9th April. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: community response fund

London’s funders are working together to provide coordinated funding to support groups responding to the needs of communities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Organisations can now apply for the first wave of funding. This first wave focusses on urgent needs so that organisations can cover costs being incurred right now to support communities affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, with a focus on food and essentials. This funding is intended to enable organisations to cover essential and urgent costs so that they can carry on providing support to Londoners. You can apply now for a grant up to £5,000. There is a weekly rolling deadline until further notice e.g. applications submitted by Friday 3rd April will be assessed in the following week. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: individuals and independent cultural organisations

Arts Council England has published new guidance for its emergency funding to support individuals and independent cultural organisations. In the coming weeks, it will be launching a third fund, to support National Portfolio Organisations. For both funds, round one opens for applications on 9th April  and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 13th April in order to make an application for this round. Round two opens for applications on 16th April and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 27th April in order to make an application for this round. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S WEBINAR: homelessness services and Covid-19

Homeless Link is conducting free weekly webinars on Wednesday afternoons on homelessness services’ response to Covid-19. They are aimed at managers, commissioners and frontline workers in the homelessness sector. Recordings are made available after the webinars each week. Register here

OPPORTUNITY: celebrate your organisation

Entries for the Third Sector Awards are now open. In these uncertain times, Third Sector Awards believe now more than ever is a great time to recognise, celebrate and reward the amazing hard working people and organisations in the voluntary sector. The Third Sector Awards are an opportunity to celebrate how great your charity, organisation or team is. Early bird entry closes on 14th May. You can find a full list of award categories and all the information you need to successfully submit entries online here

PUBLICATION: the prevention of torture

The UK’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has published two reports marking ten years of operation. Monitoring places of detention is its annual report which outlines key findings and the policy context of detention settings in the UK, and Ten years of the UK National Preventive Mechanism gives an overview of the NPM’s achievements and hopes for the future. The annual report found that there were still too many unacceptable examples of poor treatment and day-to-day conditions for detainees, with overcrowding, levels of self-harm and use of force highlighted as areas of concern. Both reports highlight the hope to place the NPM on statutory footing to protect and strengthen its work in UK law. Read the reports here and here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Relief Worker with Imagine Independence [North West - Various], Homeless Response Worker with Changing Lives [Northumberland], Chair of The Board of Trustees with Clean Break [London], Musician-in-Residence at Vinney Green Secure Children's Home (1 day per week) with Changing Tunes [Bristol], Engagement Team Members with User Voice [Various across England], Fundraising Manager – Trusts and Foundations with Unlock [Maidstone], Switchback Mentor with Switchback [London], Bank Independent Prescriber with Humankind [Staffordshire]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

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EXTRA INFORMATION

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