Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 679 | 16th April 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition... 

CLINKS BLOG: government funding for substance misuse

Our latest blog breaks down exactly what the £148 million government funding into substance misuse services and reducing reoffending is going towards, and how it relates to the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system. The funding was announced on 20th January by the Home Office, the Department for Health and Social Care and the Prime Minister’s Office and is said to take a “system-wide approach”. Clinks welcomes the fact that some of the funding is going towards key services that are delivered by or involve the voluntary sector, and we hope that initiatives arising from this investment will work to engage the voluntary sector in their development and delivery and benefit people in contact with the criminal justice system. Read more here

CLINKS NEWS: Covid-19 recovery

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Special Interest Group on Covid-19 (SIG) held a meeting on Wednesday 24th March 2021, where they were joined by officials from Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). At the meeting, HMPPS provided an update on how they plan to recover services and regimes in prison over the coming weeks and months, and how recovery from Covid-19 will be followed by a three-year programme of prison regime reform. The RR3 is a formal voluntary sector advisory group to the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS that Clinks chairs and coordinates. Read the full notes here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: reject the report

Clinks and many of our members have signed the Runneymede Trust’s open letter to the government, which rejects the findings of the final report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, and instead calls on the government to fully implement the recommendations of previous reports such as the Lammy Review. The letter has received a large number of signatures and remains open, so it’s not too late to add your name and show your support. Read and sign the open letter here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: prison conditions during Covid-19

CEO of Women in Prison, Dr Kate Paradine, has written in iNews about the situation for women in prison during coronavirus and how “strict regimes have exposed prisons for what they are – a dead end, unnecessarily tearing families and communities apart.” She adds the devastating impact on women’s mental health over the past year makes the government’s plans to build 500 new prison places for women even more baffling and gives details of Women in Prison’s #StopThe500 campaign. Read the article here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Ramadan in prison

Maslaha’s Lauren Nickolls has written a guest blog for Russell Webster on the reality of Ramadan for Muslim people in prison. She details both the emotional challenges of spending this time in prison and under lockdown, as well as the practical difficulties of observing Ramadan in prison. This is the second Ramadan for Muslims in prison spent under lockdown conditions. Ramadan is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam - though usually it should be a joyous time for Muslim people around the world, for those in prison it can be a particularly difficult and isolating period. Read the blog here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: housing projects to tackle social injustice

Commonweal Housing has opened a ‘Call For New Ideas’ to invite organisations working with marginalised people to share ideas on housing-based projects that tackle social injustice. It is looking particularly for ideas around criminal justice, violence against women and girls and systemic injustices that occur at points of transition in people’s lives. It encourages submissions by organisations that are led by people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. There is scope for some organisations to receive support to develop their ideas into pilot projects in 2022. See more information on how to submit ideas here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: everybody hurts

Run For Your Life CIC founder Andy Mouncey has written the latest blog in a series looking at his experience of returning to work in prisons. Clinks awarded Run For Your Life a Covid-19 Winter Support Grant, on behalf of MoJ/HMPPS, to work with young people at HMP/YOI Brinsford. The project aims to develop innovative ways for men and staff to use physical activity and collaboration to improve mental, emotional and physical health. Andy describes the difficulties of bringing new young people into the programme and keeping them engaged, and his process to keep everyone on board. Read the latest blog here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: how do we treat our peer mentors?

Earlier this year, Russell Webster in partnership with Revolving Doors Agency conducted a major survey of the experiences of peer mentors, recovery navigators and experts by experience. The survey was completed by 253 people and the results have now been published. A common theme that emerged was that service user volunteers flourished when they were treated with respect and valued not just by volunteer co-ordinators but the rest of staff teams. The experiences shared via the survey will provide the basis for a best practice guide which will be co-produced later this year. The guide will provide practical advice, based on the lived experience of service user volunteers, for delivering an effective and supportive volunteering programme. Find out more including how to get involved here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Frances Crook

Frances Crook, CEO of the Howard League for Penal Reform will be stepping down later this year after leading the organisation for more than three decades. She has written a blog about her experience and the Howard League’s track record of success over the years, saying “The Howard League is a special organisation; it has always held a central place in the political and justice landscape of the country.” The Howard League is now recruiting for a Chief Executive Officer. Frances concludes, “I am proud of what I have achieved and thankful to the many people who I have worked with. It has been an honour and a joy.” Read the full blog here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: peer support services in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is hosting a market engagement event for procuring a peer support service as part of the co-commissioning of rehabilitation and resettlement services with the Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) probation reform programme [20th April, online, free]. Greater Manchester is commissioning rehabilitative and resettlement services differently to meet local needs as part of its justice devolution agreement with the Ministry of Justice. If you are interested in delivering peer support services in Greater Manchester, register here

FUNDING: skills to assist employment

Grants up to £5,000 are available from the Thomas Wall Trust for specific projects or core activities that support literacy, numeracy, digital and additional skills for learning that are likely to assist employment prospects. To be eligible, your organisation must be a UK charity registered with the Charity Commission for at least three years and your annual turnover must not exceed £500,000. The trust will prioritise charities that can provide compelling evidence of impact and those working with collaborative networks. The deadline for submitting an expression of interest form is Friday 30th April. Find out more here

FUNDING: people in contact with the criminal justice system

Grants up to £15,000 are available from the Weavers’ Company Benevolent Fund for smaller UK based charities working with young people in the criminal justice system, prisoners and ex-prisoners, and young disadvantaged people, especially those at risk of criminal involvement within the UK. Priority will be given to smaller organisations which offer direct services. The Committee’s preference is for applicants that are local organisations, such as those working in a village, estate or small town, to have an income of less than £100,000; and for those working across the UK to have an income of no more than £250,000. Find out more and apply by 30th April here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Stephen Lawrence Day

The Prince's Trust is running a series of talks and webinars for Stephen Lawrence Day 2021 [19th-23rd April, online, free]. Events include: ‘Why Diversity Matters in Policing’, ‘Starting and Supporting Black-led Businesses’, ‘Live Your Best Life Panel’, ‘An Interview with Kit Malthouse’ and ‘An Hour with Stuart Lawrence’. Stephen Lawrence Day celebrates the life and legacy of Stephen Lawrence, who was tragically killed in a racist attack when he was 18 years old. Find out more about each of the events and register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: employment and training services

Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) is running a series of webinars for organisations that have an interest in employment and training services as part of its newly established network [21st April – 28th April, online, free]. This network is being run as a partnership with Birmingham City Council and will have the opportunity to inform an emerging programme of economic recovery locally. Council representatives will attend, listen to the discussions, and present information on local developments including local arrangements to support organisations interested in the Kickstart programme. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: problem gambling

In this In Conversation event, Frances Crook, CEO of the Howard League for Penal Reform will be talking with Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive Officer of GamCare [27th April, online, free]. They will discuss the work of the Howard League Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling and GamCare's national work in this area, including its Hertfordshire Problem Gambling Project and the launch of a new criminal justice system gambling programme. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: trauma-informed working

This year’s annual ‘One Small Thing Live’ event will be centred around the core values of trauma-informed working: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment [20th May, online, from free - £90]. The event will be streamed from the One Small Thing studio in Manchester and available to attendees in their homes and offices online. Keynote speakers include Sarah Hughes, CEO of the Centre for Mental Health and Dr Bob Johnson, consultant psychiatrist. Dr Stephanie Covington will deliver the closing address and live Q&A. There will also be a further panel of speakers who will share their trauma-informed expertise in break-out sessions. Read the full agenda and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: welfare benefits training

Society Matters runs training for people and organisations that provide social welfare support and want to boost their impact. Several training courses are available around understanding welfare benefits including Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance for children [23rd April – 6th July, online, from free]. Society Matters’ training is interactive and includes case studies, exercises, quizzes and insights from its welfare benefits experts. Find out more and book your place here

PUBLICATION: funding to organisations led by black people

A new report commissioned by The Baobab Foundation, Digging Deeper: Insights on tailored funding to organisations led by Black people and communities experiencing racial injustice in 2020 revealed that while there has been a huge surge in focus on funding related to the crisis response and recovery around the Covid-19 pandemic, the racial inequalities that the pandemic exposed weren’t given the attention they deserved. The report speaks to 26 respondents across 19 organisations focusing on funder insights and experiences of implementing tailored funding programmes for black people and communities experiencing racial injustice in the UK. It includes a number of key recommendations for funders. Read it here

FEATURED VACANCY: Peer Mentor Advisors

Offploy is seeking to employ Peer Mentor Advisors [£20,000-£22,500, home-based, full or part-time] as part of a new contract across the country. To be successful in this role you will need to have lived experience of the criminal justice system, coupled with proven experience and expertise in supporting some of society’s most socially excluded individuals. You will be responsible for managing a caseload of service users with complex needs, liaising directly with referral partners, building strong and enduring relationships. You will be solutions focused with a high level of empathy, offering support and guidance to service users to improve their social inclusion and wellbeing. The deadline for applications is 23rd April. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Chief Executive at The Howard League for Penal Reform [London], Navigator at Concern Group [Newcastle Upon Tyne], Navigation and Group Support Worker at Basis Yorkshire [Leeds], Service Manager at Changing Lives [Cleveland], GROW Traineeship at Shelter [London], Senior Service Manager at ADVANCE [Home based], Deputy Services Manager with Support When It Matters Enterprise [London], Senior Support Worker with Imagine Independence [Lancashire], Administrator with Women in Prison [London], Senior Support Worker with Nacro [Greater Manchester], Health and Safety Officer with Humankind [Multiple sites], Employability Support Officer with Working Chance [London]. 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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