Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 675 | 12th March 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS BLOG: vaccination in prisons

This blog from Policy Officer Will Downs provides updates on the government's approach to vaccinations in prisons, current progress of the vaccination programme and ways of responding to vaccine hesitancy among people in the criminal justice system. As of 15th February, 3,007 people in prison had received the vaccine. Many in the voluntary sector have been advocating for a whole prison approach to vaccinations, but as yet there has been no formal response to such requests. Government policy remains the same - people in prison will continue to be vaccinated along the same timescale as people in the community. Find out more here

CLINKS VACANCY: Policy Officer

We are seeking someone with experience of national policy work in the voluntary sector to join our team as Policy Officer [£27,539, London (currently home based), full time]. You will be responsible for keeping track of policy developments and summarising these to ensure internal and external audiences are kept up to date through Clinks’ policy briefing ebulletin, blogs and social media. You will undertake desk-based research and engage with organisations to draft and develop evidence-based consultation responses, reports and policy recommendations. Great analytical skills and an ability to articulate complex issues and nuanced policy positions succinctly are essential for this role. Find out more and apply by 28th March here

CLINKS EVENT: England criminal justice network

A year after the pandemic started, this event will focus on how the voluntary sector has adjusted in order to continue delivering services to those in the criminal justice system [16th March, online, free]. You will hear an update on the work Clinks has been doing to support the voluntary sector and have the opportunity to share how you have overcome challenges during this time. The event will also provide a space to network with colleagues from the voluntary sector. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: leadership expectations

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) is currently consulting on a change to its expectations in relation to leadership. This change involves adding a set of expectations on leadership, which will inform a new section on leadership in HMI Prisons’ inspection reports. The revised approach to inspecting leadership will be applied across the adult male and female prison estate and in Young Offender Institutions. Judgements about leadership will not result in a score. HMI Prisons welcomes comments on any aspect of the draft leadership expectations. All feedback should be sent to Rebecca.Stanbury@hmiprisons.gov.uk by midday on Monday 29th March 2021. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Hertfordshire gambling support

GamCare has published a report sharing learning from a two-year pilot project designed to explore and offer specialist gambling support for people in contact with the criminal justice system across Hertfordshire. Despite being impacted by Covid-19, the project has delivered training to 500+ workers across the criminal justice system in Hertfordshire, helping them to identify gambling harms and refer to specialist support provided by GamCare. Screening for gambling harms has been introduced at several key points across the system, and a treatment practitioner for those in contact with the criminal justice system is now available in this area. This project has been a significant springboard to wider work that GamCare is now undertaking with the criminal justice system nationally. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: children in care

Forgotten Families, a report based on research from the STAGE project, has found that the lack of clarity and consistency around the visitation of children in care during the pandemic has caused significant harm to mothers and their children. The STAGE project is a partnership of six women’s specialist charities - A Way Out, Basis, Changing Lives, GROW, Together Women and WomenCentre - which supports women across the North East and Yorkshire who have been groomed for sexual exploitation. Many of the women supported by the project have children currently in care and have been unable to see their children throughout lockdown, with contact limited to virtual-only. The report highlights the actions that STAGE is calling on all local authorities to take. Read it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: family support

The West Yorkshire Community Chaplaincy Project (WYCCP), in partnership with Jigsaw Visitors Centre, has been awarded a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund for its Family Support project to provide practical support as well as free access to counselling for men leaving prison and their families. WYCCP will use the funding to support the families of men in HMP Leeds throughout their loved one’s sentence and through the gate to men approaching and following release. As part of the project, WYCCP will be developing a weekly drop in and an expanded seven day a week counselling service. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Covid-19 vaccine and homelessness

The Welsh Government has announced that people with recent experience of homelessness will be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine as part of priority group 6 'Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group'. This follows extensive work by Cymorth Cymru and other voluntary organisations to evidence the increased risks facing people with experience of homelessness. Guidance has been published on the Welsh Government website which highlights the rationale behind the decision and encourages vaccination teams to be flexible, trauma informed and to take the vaccine to people in homelessness accommodation settings rather than requiring people to attend mass vaccination centres. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: impact of Covid-19

NCVO is conducting the largest UK study exploring the impact of Covid-19 on the voluntary sector. The latest round of the survey is now open until 22nd March. The more organisations that complete this, the more impact it has. It is quick, easy and only takes a few minutes to complete. Each round of the survey has a set of general questions, with some focussing on a theme - for example, this month is looking at the ways organisations may interact with local authorities. As a small thank you to everyone who takes part, each month after the survey closes there is a chance for participants to win £200, and a £2000 prize draw at the end of the project. Take the survey here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: police, crime, sentencing and courts bill

The government has introduced the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to parliament which seeks to bring into legislation the proposals included in the Ministry of Justice Sentencing White Paper, A Smarter Approach to Sentencing published in September 2020. It sets out a number of reforms which will have a major impact on people in the criminal justice system. Read more about the bill here. Read our analysis on how these changes are likely to affect people in the criminal justice system, including the impact on sentence inflation, race inequality and alternatives to custody here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: transitions to adulthood

The Mayor's Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC) is commissioning a mental health service and a mentoring service for the Transitions to Adulthood Hub pilot and is holding market warming events [17th and 18th March, online, free]. The Transitions to Adulthood Hub will be a holistic, trauma-informed service for 18-25 year olds on probation and 17 year olds transitioning from the Youth Offending Service to adult probation in Newham. The Hub will provide wrap-around support tailored to young adults' distinct needs and informed by maturity assessments. Find out more and book your place for the mentoring event here and mental health event here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: BAME women in the criminal justice system

The Female Offending Blueprint team at the Welsh Government is inviting black, Asian and ethnic minority women who have come into contact with either the police, the courts, the prison or probation services as a result of being accused or convicted in Wales to take part in a 15 minute survey. The aim of the project is to develop an understanding of black, Asian and ethnic minority women’s lived experiences within the criminal justice system in order to inform and develop recommendations for better supporting the needs of these groups of women. Please note, this project is inclusive of the experiences of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller women. Take the survey here

FUNDING: youth diversion

The Youth Endowment Fund has launched a new £20 million themed grant round: ‘Another chance - Diversion from the criminal justice system’. The Youth Endowment Fund exists to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. This round will support diversion programmes which offer support at key turning points. That might be at point of arrest, before court action is taken or when a child sustains a serious injury because they’ve been involved in a violent assault. Those interested in this funding can join an online workshop [17th March, 25th March and 12th April (Welsh organisations), online, free]. Applications will open on 19th April and close on 14th May. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: children and racism

The Howard League for Penal Reform is hosting a further two In Conversation events [16th and 24th March, online, free]. In the first event, CEO Frances Crook will be talking with Anne Longfield OBE, former Children’s Commissioner for England about her work to improve the life chances of children, particularly the most vulnerable. In the second event, Dr Laura Janes, Howard League’s Legal Director will be talking to Patrice Lawrence, Award-winning writer for children and young people. The focus of the event will be tackling racism in the criminal justice system through stories. Find out more and register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: e-commerce and social media

The Forward Trust is holding two masterclasses on e-commerce, digitalisation, and using social media to boost business [23rd and 30th March, online, free]. The first will focus on e-commerce, looking at digitalisation for enterprise success, including using websites and apps to promote and generate revenue for business. The second will focus on social media, including tips and tricks for making the most out of social media marketing tools with presentations from LJ Flanders, founder of Cell Workout and Lee Wakeham founder of HMPasties. Book your place on the e-commerce masterclass here and social media masterclass here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: families and friends of prisoners

Nepacs is inviting friends and families of prisoners in North East prisons to come along to a virtual event to have their say on how well local prisons support family ties, and to work with the charity and local prisons to make improvements for the future [8th April, online, free]. The Visitors' Voice annual event has been organised to give anyone currently with a loved one in prison in the North East of England a 'voice' about how support they receive can be improved. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: building a Thames Valley network

Join Thames Valley Partnership to discuss the creation of a strategic network of criminal justice charities within the Thames Valley [22nd April, online, free]. This event is aimed at those working in the voluntary sector to support people impacted by criminal justice system and will enable participants to shape the network and empower charities in the Thames Valley. Some potential objectives identified include enabling charities to collaborate for funding bids; raise their profiles; contribute to discussion on criminal justice policy; and strengthen organisational capacity and plug service gaps. Membership of the network will be free, with the stewardship costs being funded via by Lloyds Bank Foundation. Register your interest here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Befriender with the Nehemiah Project [London], Team Manager with Humankind [Uxbridge], Restorative Justice Facilitator with Calm Meditation [London], Housing Management Worker with Changing Lives [York], Family Engagement Manager with Pact [London], Group Lead with The Reader [Thetford], Membership and Impact Officer with Community Chaplaincy Association [home based], Mentor – prison release and reintegration with The Forward Trust [HMP Highpoint], Community Family Support Outreach Worker with Jigsaw Visitors’ Centre [Leeds], Young People’s Outreach and Inclusion CSE Practitioner with Doorway Women’s Service [Norwich], Communications Officer with Prison Fellowship England and Wales [home based], Youth Engagement Caseworker with PLIAS Resettlement [Brent]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Push-pop stress relief fidget toy. £2.99. Details
  • 50, 100 or 200 Freesia bulbs. 50% off. Details
  • Smoby chef playhouse. Save 10%. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

About Clinks Light Lunch

This edition of Light Lunch has been sent to the inbox of 13,541 people working (or with an interest) in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.

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