Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 649 | 28th August 2020

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: free membership for voluntary organisations

In recognition of the massive impact the pandemic has had on your financial sustainability, we are pleased to announce we are now offering voluntary organisations free Clinks membership - lasting until the end of March 2021. Both new and existing members can enjoy free membership during this time. We have been in touch with existing members to arrange refunds. If your organisation isn't already a Clinks member, join today to make the most of this offer. Voluntary organisations with annual income less than £100,000 can receive free membership until the end of March 2023. We are able to make this offer thanks to funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation. Find out more about membership and how to join Clinks here

CLINKS EVENT: London criminal justice network meeting

We’re hosting our first criminal justice network meeting for organisations that are based in and/or deliver services predominantly in London [10th September, online, free]. This forum will provide an opportunity for organisations to come together to discuss the impact on and responses of services working within the criminal justice system in London during these challenging times. This will also provide a space to network, share information and updates, and to meet Clinks’ new London Development Officer, Tiegan Mercer. This online forum is for voluntary organisations that deliver most of their services to people in London. If this doesn’t apply to you, you may book onto one of our other upcoming criminal justice network meetings for organisations based in England or Wales. Find out more and book here

CLINKS BLOG: your key concerns about probation reforms

This blog describes what voluntary organisations have told us are their key concerns about the probation reforms and explains the support we’re providing. Organisations are spending considerable time and are becoming frustrated trying to navigate the changes to the probation system. You’ve told us in particular that gaining access to the online system for the Dynamic Framework is cumbersome, and the information found there is confusing. For specialist women’s organisations, the timing clashes with other opportunities, and there’s confusion over qualification requirements. Furthermore, it’s not clear how Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service intends to meet the needs of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. We are listening to your concerns and are regularly feeding them back to the probation review team. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: probation quarterly

Issue 17 of Probation Quarterly from the Probation Institute has been published. This issue includes contributions from Andy Keen-Downs on Pact’s work and a ‘family first’ approach to rehabilitation;  Naima Sakande on her research for the Griffins Society on access to the court of appeal for women in prison; and Juliet Lyon on effective community sentences and the role of treatment requirements. Probation Quarterly publishes short articles of 500 - 1500 words which are of interest to practitioners and researchers in the public, private or voluntary sector working with people in contact with the criminal justice system. Find out more about submitting an article in the latest issue. Read it here 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: therapy service for young people post-release

Belong is offering a new one-to-one therapy service called Me Time, to support the mental health and well-being of young people between the ages of 15-25 as they transition back into the community. Belong runs restorative justice, mentoring and psychotherapy interventions across six UK prisons and youth offending establishments. It is currently expanding its work into the community to work with young people post-release. The team is now accepting referrals and self-referrals for the Me Time service. Support can be delivered remotely, or face-to-face and is UK wide. Find out more and request a referral form here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: choir radio

Liberty Choir Radio will soon be launched on National Prison Radio to take the programme into every prison in England and Wales. Two weeks after lockdown was imposed, Liberty Choir sprang into action to adapt its support for prisoners during the pandemic. The team knew they had to replace physical engagement with virtual support – so they launched a weekly Liberty Choir Radio show, a one-hour show of musical history, chat and songs, with breathing and vocal exercises and messages of hope and solidarity from Liberty Choir volunteers. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: the power of shared reading

Rachel Parker from The Reader has written a blog for the Baring Foundation explaining how The Reader uses shared reading to help improve mental health and resilience in prisons, secure mental health units and the community. She explains how shared reading creates space for us to explore ordinary human lives and relate them to our own experiences and those of others. She describes it as a powerful tool which, research has shown, can reduce and prevent isolation, improve psychological wellbeing and build resilience. As one Reader group member put it, “It has the power to change the way you see the world and, indeed, how you see yourself.” Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation moves to step 3

Probation services have been given ministerial authorisation to move from Step 2 of the Probation Roadmap to Recovery to Step 3. This document sets out how the government will continue to deliver probation services as Covid-19 restrictions are relaxed. Authorisation being granted allows operational teams to consider at what pace progress can be made, given their own individual set of challenges around buildings, infrastructure, maintenance and staff resources. As such, rates of progression will vary depending on location. Due to local restrictions, teams may step backwards to Step 2 or even Step 1 when required. Read more about the Probation Roadmap to Recovery here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: successful bidders for the probation ETE category

Successful bidders for the probation Dynamic Framework Education, Training and Employment need category should look out for acceptance letters from the Ministry of Justice today (28th August), in readiness for the call-off stage - where organisations will compete to deliver probation services - commencing on 7th September. Bidders must send the email address of the individual signing the framework agreement by 1st September; they'll receive an email request to sign the agreement on 2nd September, to be e-signed by 4th September. Failure to meet these timelines will result in bidders not being invited to the call-off stage. Login to Jaggaer for more information

FUNDING: Covid-19 digital response

Funding and support from £5,000 to £60,000 is available from the Catalyst and The National Lottery Community Fund Covid-19 Digital Response programme. This fund is aimed at organisations whose work has been affected by Covid-19 and who need emergency funding to continue to deliver essential services. It will support them to develop the digital, data and design capabilities that allow them to address urgent issues and serve the most vulnerable. There are two funding programmes available: The Discovery Programme is for support for digital projects in the very early stages; and The Development Programme is for developing digital projects that are further along. The deadline for the Discovery Programme is 7th September and the Development Programme is 20th September. Find out more here

FUNDING: homelessness

Grants of up to £5,000 are available from Help the Homeless for capital projects in the UK to assist homeless people to rebuild their lives and return to the community. Organisations must be registered UK charities with an annual turnover of under £1m. Applications must relate to projects that assist individuals in their return to the community, rather than simply offering shelter or other forms of sustenance. Find out more and apply before 16th September here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: prison education

The Prisoner Learning Alliance is holding a half-day online conference exploring the future of prison education through recovery and beyond. [8th September, online, free]. The conference will feature keynote speaker Sarah Fitzgerald, Head of Education Quality, HMPPS; a panel discussion on next steps for prison education; and a series of interactive workshops from Safe Ground, WayOut TV and more. Register here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Trustee with Switchback [London], LLRC Facilitator with Weston College [HMP Guys Marsh], Sessional Support Worker with Nacro [Lincolnshire], Family Worker with Humankind [Salford], Housing Management Worker (Nights) with Changing Lives [York], Children and Families Service Manager with St. Giles Trust [London], Senior Caseworker with Key4Life [London], Female Peer Mentor – Complex Needs with Shelter [Birmingham]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip I: Extra thick hooded snuggle blanket. 72% off. Details
  • Tip II: Harrods: champagne afternoon tea for two. 36% off. Details
  • Tip III: Disney Warner Bros reversible duvet set. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

About Clinks Light Lunch

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