Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 634 | 15th May 2020

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In this week's edition...

    CLINKS NEWS: Covid-19 response grants programme

    Clinks is pleased to be distributing £275,000 on behalf of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice in recognition of the continued challenges presented to voluntary organisations at this time. Small to medium-sized voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system will be able to apply for grant funding to support their vital work during the Covid-19 pandemic from 18th May. Full details including eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply will be published on our website and announced via newsflash on Monday 18th May.

    CLINKS SURVEY: impact of Covid-19

    What's the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the people you support? How are your staff coping? Have you been able to access any emergency funding? Take just 10 minutes to complete our fourth survey so we can continue to track the evolving impact of Covid-19 on voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system. The data gathered is provided to senior officials at the Ministry of Justice as well as funders and government select committees. We use it to advocate on your behalf during this challenging time. Thank you to the 119 organisations who completed our previous survey, read more about the results here. What challenges persist, and how are things changing? Tell us by midnight Friday 15th May. Complete the survey here

    CLINKS BLOG: details of the early prison release scheme

    We’ve published two blogs with details of the government's End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 in prisons, and official guidance on Through the Gate (TTG) services for this cohort of prisoners. Although the number of prisoners released under the ECTR scheme is relatively modest so far, HMPPS remains committed to the initiative and has invested a great amount of time and resources in planning for its successful implementation. Prisoners released under ECTR are still serving a prison sentence and, consequently, are not subject to probation supervision. However, they are still eligible for TTG support. Read more on the ECTR here and TTG services here

    CLINKS BLOG: new HMPPS and Ministry of Justice Third sector taskforce

    Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have set up a Third sector taskforce, commissioned by the Prisons and Probation Minister Lucy Frazer QC, to make sure that the voluntary sector’s work is co-ordinated and integrated into the government’s broader response to Covid-19. In this blog, Diane Caddle and Phil Douglas, Joint Chairs of the Third sector taskforce, give an update on how HMPPS and the MoJ are working with Clinks and the voluntary sector more broadly during this challenging time. Read it here

    CLINKS VACANCY: Stronger Voice Project Co-ordinator

    We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Stronger Voice Project Co-ordinator [£32,029 (FTE), part time, London] to lead a new three year project, funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation. Clinks’ Stronger Voice project aims to strengthen the voice and influence of the voluntary sector in order to affect positive change in the criminal justice system. Through a programme of information, collaboration, training and capacity building, the project will support the criminal justice voluntary sector to be confident, informed, coordinated and evidence-based in its messaging. Find out more and apply before 1st June here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: impact of Covid-19 on people facing multiple disadvantage

    The Making Every Adult Matter Coalition (MEAM) has published a working document with a framework to support local areas and the government’s new homelessness taskforce with transition planning, to mitigate the disproportionate impact Covid-19 is having on people facing multiple disadvantage. The document will be updated with new information as it emerges on issues such as working with local areas on a continued reduction in prison numbers, improvements in transitions from prisons and hospitals to accommodation, flexible responses to support people’s mental health, and flexibility around substance misuse support. Clinks is a founding member of MEAM, alongside Homeless Link and Mind. Read the document here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: online support for families with a parent in prison

    In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, Children Heard and Seen - a charity that supports families with a parent in prison - is offering online support for families during lockdown, helping them to stay connected. This has included cooking classes, family fitness sessions, and online discussions with other families affected by parental imprisonment. One-to-one support is also available. The assistance is designed to help both children and parents, supporting the exploration of feelings and offering practical support where possible. Children Heard and Seen is encouraging parents to get in touch and take advantage of their services at this difficult time. Find more information here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: young people’s voices on youth courts

    The Centre for Justice Innovation has published a briefing paper highlighting the experiences of young people in their own words, as a prelude to its report with the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research – Time to get it right: Enhancing problem-solving practice in the Youth Court. The briefing draws on conversations with young people about their perceptions of youth courts and their recent experience as defendants, which were conducted as part of a multi-year research project into current youth court practice. Read it here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: how will lifting lockdown impact you?

    With an easing of lockdown restrictions on the horizon, NCVO is partnering with the Institute of Fundraising, Charity Finance Group and ACEVO to help the government understand what this means for charities and volunteering. They have launched a survey asking voluntary organisations what practical issues lifting lockdown might raise. Complete the survey here

    CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: support with gambling problems

    GamCare offers all criminal justice organisations free resources, training, screening, referral and support options for those affected by gambling problems. The National Gambling Helpline, which operates 24 hours a day, every day, on Freephone number 0808 80 20 133 can be added to the global call list in any prison. Gambling problems are more likely to affect those in the criminal justice system than people in the wider population, and issues can often be hidden. In response to Covid-19, GamCare has developed an In-Cell Activity Pack on gambling awareness and wellbeing. This is being sent to all prisons as a printable pdf, and is available along with more information here

    CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: young offender institutions holding children

    HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has published a report on short scrutiny visits to young offender institutions (YOIs) holding children. The report takes place following short scrutiny visits - due to Covid-19 - to three establishments at a time, in this case: Cookham Wood, Parc, and Wetherby. The report is generally positive, finding that swift actions had been taken at all sites to ensure children were held safely, which included significant regime restrictions due to Covid-19. However, there were concerns regarding variations between the establishments, on video visit facilities, the amount of phone credit received, and the ability to social distance. There were also concerns around mental health service provision for a critical few children, and a scaling back of secondary mental health services. Read the report here

    CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: inspections of youth offending and probation services

    HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) has posted a new update on inspections of youth offending and probation services during and after lockdown. In line with government guidance, HM Inspectorate of Probation suspended all face-to-face inspection activity on 23rd March. The Inspectorate will conduct a number of thematic inspections over the remainder of 2020. These will examine how probation services and youth offending services have coped during this period; how well they implement their recovery plans as services start to return to normal; and how well-prepared probation services are to transition to a new, unified offender management model in 2021. Until HMIP judges that it is safe to undertake face-to-face interviews, it expects to conduct the fieldwork remotely using video conferencing technology. Read more here

    FUNDING: individuals and communities working towards racial justice

    Organisations can apply for grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 from The Resourcing Racial Justice Fund. The fund aims to provide financial support to UK organisations, community and grassroots groups that are working to redress the impact of Covid-19 and beyond on those who identify as People of Colour (which includes other terms such as BAME, racialised people and black, indigenous, people of colour). Find out more and apply before 15th June here

    FUNDING: employment

    Groundwork is working in Coventry and Warwickshire and West Yorkshire to deliver ‘ESF Community Grants’ – a programme offering funding pots of between £5,000 to £20,000 to small and voluntary organisations to help unemployed people advance towards employment, education and training. Find out more and apply before 30th June here

    RESEARCH: investigating emotion in penal activism and voluntary sector practice

    Do you volunteer/ work as a prisons activist or for a prisoners’ voluntary organisation? If so, researchers Dr Philippa Tomczak, Dr Gillian Buck, Kaitlyn Quinn from The International Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector Research Network would like to invite you to participate in their study, which will examine the emotional work of activists and practitioners. They are running three online focus groups using Microsoft Teams. Each group will involve three researchers and up to eight participants. Focus groups include: prison volunteers in England [10am-12pm, 11th June]; frontline volunteers and workers in Scotland [10am-12pm, 17th June]; and prison activists in England and Scotland [10am-12pm, 29th June]. If you are unsure which group is for you, have any questions or to express interest, please email gbuck@chester.ac.uk. See more here

    FEATURED VACANCY: Policy and Impact Lead

    Are you looking for a new role at the heart of independent oversight of prison, immigration detention and court custody? An opportunity has arisen to join the Independent Monitoring Board and Lay Observer Secretariat as a Policy and Impact Lead [£30,845-£38,373, full time, London, flexible working]. The Secretariat team supports two National Chairs, 130 monitoring boards and 1300+ voluntary ministerial appointees to make a real difference to national policy and practice. The postholder will be motivated and enthusiastic, with great research and writing skills, and committed to using evidence and analysis to develop a powerful case for changes in policy and practice. See more and apply before 22nd May here

    CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

    Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Stronger Voice Project Co-ordinator with Clinks [London], Substance Misuse Community Nurse (Part time) with Kaleidoscope Project [Wales], High Intensity Therapist with The Forward Trust [Various], Female Mental Health Recovery Practitioners with Imagine Independence [Salford], Lecturer in Functional Skills English - 50% with Weston College [HMP Elmley], Female Enhanced Engagement and Relational Support Worker x 2 posts with Women In Prison [London], Team Leader - Wiltshire Services with Julian House [Wiltshire], Chair of Trustees with Odd Arts [Manchester]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

    TIPS OF THE WEEK

    • Simply Cook trial box. Cook four meals from scratch. £1. Details
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    • BBC Gardeners' World Magazine subscription. 5 Issues for £5. Details

    EXTRA INFORMATION

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