Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 659 | 6th November 2020

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: Survey on pregnancy and early motherhood

Clinks and Birth Companions are seeking survey responses for vital research about the health needs of pregnant women, new mothers and babies affected by the criminal justice system. The survey is open until the end of the year, and we are particularly looking for responses from volunteers and staff at voluntary organisations supporting women in the community. The intelligence gathered will inform advocacy for the delivery of much needed statutory and voluntary sector services for women and their children. Take the survey here

CLINKS NEWS: future sentencing policy – entrenching inequality

In this blog Lauren Nickolls, Policy Officer, highlights that the government’s recent proposals for sentencing reform uphold and reinforce a criminal justice system that disproportionately targets, criminalises, and mistreats black and Muslim people and that implementation of them will further entrench the inequalities in the system. Black people are already more likely to be sentenced to prison and to receive longer custodial sentences. Policies aimed at increasing the amount of time spent in prison will exacerbate this. Muslim people in prison are often seen through a lens of risk, radicalisation and terrorism which leads them to be treated with greater suspicion. With these stereotypes going unchallenged, the proposals to introduce powers that prevent release of people suspected (not convicted) of terrorism, risk being targeted at Muslims. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: virtual walk for people in prison

With Public Health England recommending prisoners be encouraged to increase their walking in order to help regain health and wellbeing during the restrictions placed on them by Covid-19, Recoop has developed a Land’s End to John O’Groats Virtual Walk for people in prison. ‘On Track’ maps 27 stages along the 872.7 mile journey giving walkers a realistic target to reach as they make their way up the country. Anyone interested in distributing ‘On Track’ packs can order them from Recoop. Each walker will be given the ‘On Track’ booklet and wallchart, together with a stepometer to enable and encourage them to complete their journey. The cost is £10 per person, but discounts can be offered for orders of 50 and over. For further information, email info@recoop.org.uk

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation services and new lockdown measures

Jo Farrar, CEO of HMPPS has given an update on probation services following the additional Covid-19 restrictions commencing on 5th November. “In the probation service, our aim is to continue to deliver our core probation services under our established exceptional delivery framework, as we have been doing over recent months, prioritising public protection and risk management. We will follow the principles of our Roadmap to Recovery, while protecting the health and well-being of our staff and service users by following public health advice. Our Regional Probation Directors and CRC CEOs will continue to make decisions on how to best deliver probation services in regions based on local circumstances and staffing levels and adjusting their exceptional delivery plans as needed.  We will continue to deliver Accredited Programmes and Unpaid Work wherever possible, consistent with government and public health guidance. Our Approved Premises will also remain open, with amendments to how they operate where necessary.” Voluntary organisations with questions or concerns can email covid19@clinks.org

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prisons and new lockdown measures

Jo Farrar, CEO of HMPPS has given an update on prisons following the additional Covid-19 restrictions commencing on 5th November. “In the prison service, our Covid-19 National Framework commits us to keep reviewing the balance of risks we face …During the period of the national restrictions we will need to temporarily pause social visits to adults at all sites in England. There will be exemptions for compassionate reasons which can be approved by a Governor locally. We will continue to prioritise supporting video calls for prisoners and their loved ones to encourage continued contact during the restrictions period. Official visits – such as access to legal advice – will continue although remote access through telephone or video conferencing should be used as a priority. Support to Offender Management and Parole Board activity remotely and face to face should continue where safe to do so. Our other priorities that we will continue to deliver are: access to exercise and education areas; continued delivery of workshops where these have been reopened since March; structured wing activities and one to one sessions between prisoners and their key workers; particularly for those who are vulnerable or high risk. Other activities such as corporate worship, library attendance or access to barbering/hairdressing will be suspended in line with community restrictions, as in Welsh prisons during the Wales firebreak. However, exceptions can be made if removing an activity would cause significant harm to the wellbeing of an individual and these will be agreed on a case by case basis. We will continue to offset the impact of regime restrictions by offering free PIN credit, supplementary food packs, and payments for those not able to access work.” Voluntary organisations with questions or concerns can email covid19@clinks.org

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: youth custody and new lockdown measures

Jo Farrar, CEO of HMPPS has given an update on youth custody following the additional Covid-19 restrictions commencing on 5th November. “Social visits to children in the youth estate will continue where sites remain safe to offer them. We will continue to work with our co-commissioners to operate as full a regime as possible for the children in our care across Young Offender Institutions (YOIs), Secure Training Centres (STCs) and Secure Children’s Homes (SCHs). As in the community, we will aim to continue to provide education, including physical education to children across the youth estate. We will also ensure access to advocacy services and Custody Support Planning (CuSP). Access to all aspects of health care for young people will remain paramount. It often helps our young people to access other areas within our secure estate, particularly education.” Voluntary organisations with questions or concerns can email covid19@clinks.org

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: race equality - criminal justice system in Wales

The government’s Criminal Justice in Wales Board has agreed that race equality is a priority and is keen to hear from staff and service users, particularly members of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities about their experiences of the criminal justice system in Wales. The Board has developed an online survey, with the aim of helping it to focus on the areas that will really make a difference to communities in Wales. The survey must be completed before 13th November and shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes. Take the survey in Welsh here and in English here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: face mask strategy

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has produced a HMPPS Staff Face Mask (FRSM) Strategy, introduced on 12th October 2020. It presents the background for the decision to widen the use of Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks (FRSMs), rather than face coverings, for prison staff and when they must be worn. Alongside this, the HMPPS prisoner face covering strategy outlines the new face covering strategy for prisoners. This document outlines the model which has been developed in collaboration with key stakeholders and is based on Public Health England and health and safety guidance. Voluntary organisations working alongside the prison service can request digital copies of both documents, please email covid19@clinks.org

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: cyber essentials discount

The IASME Consortium is offering both the government-backed Cyber Essentials and the IASME Governance certifications at a discounted price to charities for a limited time. This may be of interest to organisations bidding through the probation Dynamic Framework, where certain information assurance and cyber security standards are required. All applications must be received before 5pm on Friday 6th November. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: needs in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has launched a call for evidence to gain a better understanding of the needs of people in contact with the criminal justice system in Greater Manchester. GMCA is keen to hear from individuals and organisations who work with people in contact with the criminal justice system, as well as those who work with individuals and/or their families who are at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. GMCA would particularly like to discover examples of success, innovation and growth, and enablers to success, as well as lessons learnt, and the barriers and pitfalls to avoid. See more and submit evidence by 23rd November here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: volunteering during new England lockdown

Voluntary and charitable activities are exempt from a number of the new Covid-19 restrictions brought in on 5th November 2020 in England. This means that, where volunteers are able to volunteer outside their home, they can meet in groups of any size indoors or outdoors while volunteering, and travel to volunteer or while volunteering. As always, it should be a volunteer’s personal choice whether they wish to volunteer, including outside their home, and they should not be compelled to do so by their organisation or group. Volunteer-involving organisations must ensure their workplaces meet coronavirus safety standards. See further guidance here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: a job scheme fit for purpose

Clinks CEO Anne Fox has co-signed a letter, alongside a coalition of civil society leaders, to the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP to urge him to develop a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme fit for purpose for social change organisations. Led by Charity Finance Group and backed by 31 other organisations, the letter calls on the Chancellor to work closely with them to ensure that vital work to serve communities can continue unhindered and millions of citizens who depend on the sector are not abandoned during their time of greatest need. Find out more here

FUNDING: social ventures

Supported by Comic Relief and match-funded by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the £4.75 million Inclusive Recovery Fund from UnLtd offers grants of £10,000-£500,000 to social ventures across England who are creating deep and lasting impact for the most vulnerable. UnLtd specifically encourages applications from social entrepreneurs who identify as black, Asian, and other minoritised ethnicities, or disabled people in light of the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on these communities. UnLtd has set a 50% target for the funding to reach these communities. In particular, the funding seeks to support those with direct experience of the social challenges they’re addressing, using their lived experience to create social change. Apply by 13th of November here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: children and young people

This IARS International Institute multidisciplinary learning seminar is for professionals who work with children and young people [13th November, online, free]. The seminar will introduce new research from European Union funded projects. It will be a space for professional and interested stakeholders to come together, discuss best practices in child protection, map existing strategies related to gender-based violence and discrimination in schools. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: prison chronicles

The Forgiveness Project is excited to present the ‘Prison Chronicles’, a new series of live conversations exploring the stories we tell – how we shape them and ultimately how they shape us [18th November, online, £6]. For over ten years The Forgiveness Project has taken storytellers into prison with RESTORE, its award winning prison programme that supports prisoners to explore their conflicted and fragmented lives and imagine the possibility of a different future. In conversation with storytellers, former prisoners and prison officers, this series reveals an unexpected world where the line between victim and perpetrator becomes blurred and where telling your story can save you from it. See more and get tickets here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: harmful sexual behaviour

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation's training course ‘Promoting positive pathways for young people who have exhibited harmful sexual behaviour (HSB)' [1st and 2nd December, online, £170 + VAT] focuses on young people’s sexual development and behaviour. It is ideal for social workers, youth workers, counsellors, school staff, NHS staff and others who work with young people. Learning outcomes of this training event include: understanding of the scale and nature of HSB amongst young people; recognising where this behaviour fits in with developmental processes during adolescence; learning common contributing factors and how to recognise when behaviour is problematic; and identifying best practice approaches and resources for working with young people who have displayed HSB. Find out more here

RESOURCE: closing your voluntary organisation

For voluntary organisations having to make the difficult decision to close during this challenging time, NCVO has compiled useful guidance which includes all the things you will need to consider and steps that you will need to take. This includes deciding to close, helping your team through closure and planning for closure. Read it here

FEATURED VACANCY: Custody Advice, Support and Guidance Worker

Shelter is looking for a Custody Advice, Support and Guidance Worker [£23,472, full-time, HMP Lancaster]. You will play a critical role as part of a team working to rehabilitate prisoners and break the cycle of reoffending. This will see you identifying suitable accommodation and helping people in contact with the criminal justice system to secure it, advising on mortgage/rent arrears, addressing debt issues and helping clients to access any benefits they may be entitled to. Co-ordinating referrals to other agencies to deliver additional pathways is also a key part of the role. Building on its established through the gate offering, Shelter is working to provide a holistic approach that delivers positive outcomes for people leaving custody. Find out more and apply by 19th November here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Research and Policy Officer - state violence and structural racism specialist with INQUEST [London (currently home based)], Serious Violence Project Worker with Developing Health and Independence [Bath and North East Somerset], Green Start Tutor with Groundwork Greater Manchester [HMP Forest Bank], Development and Partnerships Manager (maternity cover) with Unlocked Graduates [currently remote], Project Officer with Restorative Justice for All International Institute [London], Family Support Worker with Nepacs [HMPYOI Low Newton], Play Specialist with Pact [HMP Pentonville], Policy and Research Officer with Women in Prison [London (currently home based)]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

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EXTRA INFORMATION

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