Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 660 | 13th November 2020

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS BLOG: accommodation funding available

In this blog Nicola Drinkwater, Policy Manager, looks at a relaunched government scheme to support people at risk of homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of this scheme the Ministry of Justice is seeking suppliers with access to immediately available accommodation stock to accommodate individuals released from prison and at risk of being homeless. We have arranged for HMPPS to attend our event, ‘Criminal justice network meeting – England’ [17th November, 14:00-15:30, online, free], to give more details about the scheme and what opportunities there are for voluntary sector organisations. Book your place here. Read the blog here

CLINKS RESPONSE: life beyond Covid-19

Clinks submitted written evidence to the House of Lords Covid-19 Committee inquiry on Life beyond Covid-19. Our response focuses on how to build a post-pandemic future with a fairer and more effective criminal justice system. We highlight a range of systemic challenges that need to be addressed. These include poor communication with, and commissioning of, the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system and rising needs of people in contact with the criminal justice system driven by austerity measures, welfare reforms, and a severe housing crisis. We make a series of recommendations including a full and equal partnership between the sector and the government, greater use of low bureaucracy grants, and increased income for people on release from prison to meet their basic needs. Read our full response here

CLINKS NEWS: Emily Giles

Emily Giles has joined Clinks’ Area Development Team after freelancing with Clinks to administer the Covid-19 Response Grants. Her role aims to tie together the regional work of colleagues in the team, providing a national focus to developments in prison and probation. She previously headed the policy and communications team at Adfam UK, advocating on behalf of families affected by substance use, and worked as the Voluntary Sector Coordinator at HMP Wandsworth. She is keen to gather updates from voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system about their ongoing experiences during the pandemic, particularly those in Yorkshire and the Humber, the East and West Midlands, the East of England, and the South East. Please do get in touch to say hello. Meet the team here

CLINKS EVENT: probation commissioning – women’s contract lot

Clinks is hosting a special meeting for women’s network members who have applied to qualify for the probation dynamic framework and intend to participate in the call-off competition to provide services for women [19th October, online, free]. The meeting will include an update from Jim Barton, Senior Responsible Officer, Probation Reform team at the Ministry of Justice and will provide an opportunity to discuss the funding arrangements for future services for women under probation supervision and to ask questions regarding the forthcoming competition. The meeting is for women-specific organisations. Book your place here

CLINKS EVENT: Criminal justice network meetings

Don’t miss our upcoming criminal justice network meetings [All Wales, 10-11:30am | England, 2-3:30pm, 17th November, online, free]. These meetings are an opportunity for anyone working in the criminal justice system to come together to discuss the impact of Covid-19 and related restrictions and share updates, successes and concerns. You will also hear a policy update from Clinks. Please note that the All Wales criminal justice network meeting will have specific information tailored towards organisations who are delivering services in Wales. Book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: new Hardman Directory

The 2021 edition of The Hardman Directory from The Hardman Trust is available on request. The Hardman Directory is a practical guide to give prisoners and those recently released free access to accurate information on supplementary funding and other forms of financial support that may be available to them. The directory will be distributed to prisons wings with the December edition of Inside Time and into prison libraries in January. Find out more and request a PDF or hard copy here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: wing it activity pack

Recoop has taken its experience of running Day Centres in prisons and developed Wing It, a complete portable toolkit that can be delivered on the wing within prisoner Activity Bubbles, led by prisoners themselves with no need for direct staff involvement. With guidance on Covid-19 safety measures, the toolkit is packed with all the resources needed to run sessions including group activities, exercises, quizzes and board games to encourage social interaction. Session plans are also included as a guide for delivery. All games and activities are designed to stretch the mind, be informative, educational and interactive, whilst maintaining social distances. For further details see here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: podcast on forgiveness

The F Word is a new podcast from The Forgiveness Project, looking at how we cope with the worst things that have ever happened to us, and the most terrible things we have ever done. Examining the complex, messy, gripping subject of forgiveness, Marina Cantacuzino, founder of The Forgiveness Project, talks to guests who, despite having experienced great pain or trauma in their life, have found a way through. Some have forgiven those who’ve harmed them, others are grappling with forgiving themselves. Not everyone is able to forgive. Not everyone has made complete peace with their past. But all those featured on the show display a strength that has grown out of vulnerability and they all bear witness to the human search for meaning. Listen here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: minority ethnic prisoners

The Irish Chaplaincy is delighted to have its work in prisons recognised in the recent thematic report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons on Minority ethnic prisoners’ experiences of rehabilitation and release planning. The recognition in the report is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Irish Chaplaincy and its projects: Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas, Traveller Resettlement Project and Traveller Equality Project. The Irish Chaplaincy is particularly proud to be included in the section on Recommendations and Positive Practice. Read the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: black people, racism and human rights

The Joint Committee on Human Rights has published the report from its inquiry, ‘Black people, racism and human rights’. It finds that the human rights of black people are not equally protected. Clinks submitted evidence to the inquiry which focused on the treatment of black people in the criminal justice system. The Committee’s report highlights our call for bolder action and leadership to address the systemic racism within the criminal justice system which leads to racial disparities. The report criticises the lack of progress in taking forward the Lammy review recommendations and calls for them be implemented as a matter of priority. We welcome the Committee’s recommendation for the Office of Civil Society to do more to support black-led voluntary sector organisations. Read the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: entry into the youth justice system

The Justice Committee has published a report on entry into the youth justice system from its inquiry into children and young people in custody. Clinks submitted written evidence to the inquiry with EQUAL and Barrow Cadbury Trust and gave oral evidence. We are pleased that the report has cited concerns we raised about children from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities being excluded from diversionary opportunities. We also highlighted concern that the ‘explain or reform’ principle for identifying and addressing areas of racial disproportionality in the criminal justice system (as recommended by the Lammy review) has not been sufficiently implemented. The report asks the Ministry of Justice to conduct detailed research into why BAME communities are so disproportionately represented throughout the justice system, what action is being taken and what resources have been allocated to address this. Read the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: substance use in prisons

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has published a paper exploring substance use in prisons, drawing on interviews with staff and residents across five male prisons. The report finds that people take drugs to escape from the monotony of prison life and a lack of hope over their future. It describes the sense of hopelessness amongst prison staff in managing the impact of drugs, especially psychoactive substances. The report is critical of approaches that focus on limiting supply of drugs and punishing people for substance use. It instead calls for a much greater emphasis on understanding why people take drugs and recommends that HMPPS provides leadership to develop a rehabilitative culture in prison, with greater provision of purposeful activity and access to psychosocial treatment. Read the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: deaths in custody and approved premises

The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) has published its annual report. The PPO investigated 311 deaths in custody and approved premises during 2019/20. Amongst these, there were a number of cases where people struggled to have access to appropriate primary or mental healthcare. The report also raises concerns over drug-related deaths in approved premises, highlighting insufficient focus by staff on the risk of relapse and overdose for people recently released from prison. The PPO also dealt with 4,686 complaints from people in the criminal justice system. They received their first complaint regarding the inappropriate use of PAVA incapacitant spray, finding in favour of the complainant and expressing concerns over the management of the wider roll-out of PAVA in prisons by HM Prison and Probation Service. Read the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: activity hubs

HMPPS Co-financing Organisation (CFO) has commissioned a programme of ‘Activity Hubs’, which will operate across 17 locations from March 2021. They have been designed as a safe and supportive space in which people in contact with the criminal justice system can access tailored support. Participation is voluntary and it is hoped that they will be particularly relevant for those who are considered disadvantaged, face multiple barriers to engaging with statutory provision or are simply not fully supported by existing programmes. The community hub locations will be Birmingham, Bristol, Croydon, Leeds, Leicester, Lewisham, Liverpool, Manchester, Medway, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington, Wolverhampton and York with a further specialist custodial Hub for ex-service personnel in HMP Holme House. For further information contact Bill Spiby, CFO Commissioning Lead: bill.spiby@justice.gov.uk

FUNDING: £2 million Covid-19 relief for youth organisations

Youth organisations with an income of under £250,000, that are based in, and deliver work in England are eligible to apply for up to £50,000 from UK Youth. UK Youth has launched the £2 million Covid Relief Fund and is asking all youth organisations across England to complete a short questionnaire about the impact of Covid-19 on their organisation and the young people they support. For those that are eligible, the responses to the questionnaire will be used as their application for funding. The grants are available to organisations that have lost funding, face the threat of closure, or had to reduce delivery or services. For applications which are successful, a grant offer will be made on 14th December 2020. Complete the questionnaire here

FUNDING: welfare of prisoners and ex-prisoners

Applications are now open for grants from the 1772 Charity. Grants up to £2,000 are available for registered charities working for the welfare of prisoners and ex-prisoners and their families, homeless people, sex workers and people involved in alcohol and drug abuse. The deadline for applications is 1st April 2021. Applications for consideration in May 2021 can be submitted here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: in conversation with Peter Clarke

The Howard League for Penal Reform is holding an ‘In conversation’ event with Peter Clarke CVO OBE QPM, former Chief Inspector of Prisons [17th November, online, free]. Frances Crook, CEO of the Howard League for Penal Reform will be talking to Peter Clarke at his first public appearance since stepping down from his role as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons at the end of October 2020. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Voices of experience webinars

Inside Out Support Wales is running a series of free webinars designed to support people in contact with the criminal justice system into work, self-employment and transition into life in the community, post release [24th-26th November, online, free]. Available webinars include: 'Transition Skills on Release', 'Going Self Employed' or 'Why Employ Ex-offenders?'. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: the future of the justice system

The Centre for Justice Innovation is running an online seminar, 'Where does the justice system go from here', after months of Covid-19 and the prospect of more to come [2nd December, online, free]. The event will be chaired by Phil Bowen, Director of the Centre for Justice Innovation, and consist of a panel discussion from four leading figures in criminal justice from across the UK, representing different parts of the system. The conversation promises to be wide ranging and informative, giving a valuable snapshot of the justice system at this unique moment, and an insight into the months ahead. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: leaders with lived experience

The New Leaf Network from The New Leaf Initiative CIC is holding its first annual ‘Conference and Awards ceremony’ for leaders with lived experience of the criminal justice system [15th December, online, free]. The New Leaf Network is a new network created by and for those with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Its aims are to bring together those with lived experience to enable them to support each other, provide information, advice and guidance and to influence policy around the criminal justice system. The event will include inspiring and informative keynote speakers with the opportunity to ask questions, and the announcements of award winners in nine categories. You may make nominations for the awards before 22nd November here. Register for the event here

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS AND TRAINING

  • Suicide awareness training | online | free | anytime. Details

PUBLICATION: Islamophobia

The British Journal of Community Justice (BJCJ) has published a paper by Sadie Chana on Working towards a better understanding of Islamaphobia which examines the experience and impact of anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia on Muslims and those who are ‘misidentified’ by perpetrators as being Muslim and the consequences that this experience can have upon victims and their wider community. This new paper is an extension to BJCJ’s special issue published in June this year - presenting contemporary reflections on the findings and recommendations of the MacPherson report into the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (1999). Read the paper here

RESOURCE: policies and procedures template

The Directory of Social Change (DSC) has a policies and procedures template package available to download with 32 templates for £99, covering everything from the big issues like bullying and disciplinary action down to the nitty gritty of fire procedures. Also, every type of leave is covered in separate documents, from TOIL to shared parental leave, so that staff can easily find out their entitlements. A sound policy and procedure framework helps take the stress out of running an organisation. They make for smoother and more transparent management, and when something does go wrong they help you get back on track in a way that everyone understands. Clinks members get a 20% discount with DSC, contact helen.carter@clinks.org for details. Find out more and buy your templates here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Domestic Abuse Support Worker – female with Bedford Women's Centre [Bedford], Floating Support Worker with Changing Lives [Newcastle-Upon-Tyne], Recovery Coordinator with Humankind [County Durham], Lecturer in Multi-Skills with Weston College [HMP Maidstone], Project Worker with Nacro [Carmarthen], Enso Mentor with Circles South East [Kent or Sussex], Finance and Operations Manager with StandOut [London], Women’s Outreach and Inclusion Practitioner with Doorway Women’s Service [Norwich]. 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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