Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 683 | 14th May 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition... 

CLINKS BLOG: racism in the criminal justice system

This blog from Health and Justice Policy and Development Officer Zahra Wynne focusses on the Sewell report’s findings on criminal justice. Zahra details why the findings do a disservice to the lived experience of racially minoritised people in the criminal justice system and the extensive body of evidence showing that structural racism is at the root of the overrepresentation. In March 2021, the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities published a report on race disparities in the UK – also known as the Sewell report. The report overlooks how structural inequality leads to contact with the criminal justice system, fails to interrogate why racially minoritised people are overrepresented in the criminal justice system and downplays the existence of institutional and structural racism. Read the blog here

CLINKS VACANCY: NCJAA Manager

We are looking for someone to join our team to manage the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) [£38,992 FTE, London, part time]. The manager of the NCJAA is responsible for overseeing all work and development. They will be responsible for a small staff team and will work with a range of different stakeholders to improve policy and practice in relation to arts-based work with people in prison, on probation and in the community. This includes maintaining and strengthening the NCJAA as the leading national network for arts organisations and individuals that work in the criminal justice system. Find out more and apply by 1st June here

CLINKS EVENT: health and justice network meeting

To kick off this year’s health and justice network, Clinks is holding a meeting [20th May, online, free] where we want to hear from you to understand what the most pertinent health needs of people in contact with the criminal justice system are, how the voluntary sector works to address these needs, and what the gaps are in service delivery and understanding service users’ needs. We will also be discussing key health programmes that are in motion for people in contact with the criminal justice system, with Clinks providing an overview of the current landscape. Register here

CLINKS NEWS: reducing reoffending third sector advisory group

Minutes from the most recent Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) quarterly meeting held in March 2021 have been published. At this meeting, the group was joined by officials from HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to discuss probation reform and issues relating to the Covid-19 response. The RR3 is a formal voluntary sector advisory group to the MoJ and HMPPS, consisting of senior voluntary sector leaders. The group is chaired and coordinated by Clinks. Read the notes here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: fair justice for children and young people

Diagrama Foundation is seeking contributions for the next book in the Monument Fellowship book series, which will look at the question: “What could fair justice mean for children and young people?”. Diagrama Foundation would like to hear from anyone with interest, experience or knowledge of the criminal justice system. Typically, the book will be made up of chapters of around 2,000-2,5000 words, but Diagrama Foundation also welcome shorter pieces, and art, poetry, or other material which expresses what fair justice could mean for children and young people. If you are interested, submit an abstract of no more than 200 words by 11th June. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: agency to seek service user views

HM Inspectorate of Probation will be conducting an inspection into the impact of electronic monitoring on people on probation. The Inspectorate is looking for an organisation to join the inspection team and seeks views from service users. The organisation must: be passionate about empowering the voice of service users who feel marginalised and over-looked; have lived experience of the criminal justice system in their staff team; be knowledgeable about how electronic monitoring is used as part of community sentences, home detention curfew and licence conditions; and have experience of coordinating and carrying out projects aimed at understanding the views and experiences of those supervised by probation services. Read the Expression of Interest and apply by 1st June here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: return to full inspections

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has announced it will return to full inspections. In response to Covid-19, HMIP adapted its model of inspections to deliver short scrutiny visits across the estate. These visits were necessarily smaller in scale to remain safe but still provided essential insight into the conditions and treatment of people in prison at an incredibly challenging time. Full inspections have resumed from 10th May, with a return of prisoner surveys and inspections taking place with a team of inspectors and researchers over two or three weeks. In addition to measuring prior performance against existing criteria and progress against key recommendations from previous inspections, HMIP will also note the progress in recovery from Covid-19. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: community awards

The Howard League for Penal Reform is inviting projects to come forward and celebrate their work through the Howard League Community Awards 2021. The annual awards celebrate the country’s most successful community projects encouraging desistance from crime by providing alternative, proportionate, effective and targeted interventions that help reduce the risk of re-offending. There are eight award categories and the deadline for nominations is 15th July. The winners of the Community Awards will be announced at an awards ceremony on 19th October. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prisons and Covid-19 update

Following the Prime Minister’s update on the progression of the community roadmap in England on 10th May, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is working with Public Health colleagues to assess any changes that can be made in prison settings from 17th May onwards. As of 11th May, 94 adult prisons were at Stage 3 of the National Framework, with social visits being provided at a substantial number of these establishments. Individual adult prisons continue to be reviewed each week and updates about specific prisons can be found here. The most up-to-date general information about Covid-19 and prisons can be found here. If you would like to receive regular updates on the status of adult prisons and which prisons have restarted social visits, please email covid19@clinks.org

FUNDING: poverty and inequality

Grants up to £150,000 are available from the Trust for London for work that develops new and imaginative ways of addressing the root causes of London’s poverty and inequality, especially work which has the potential to influence and change policy, practice and public attitudes. The grant may be spread over one, two or three years and in some cases over longer periods. Find out more and apply by 1st June here

FUNDING: homelessness

Grants up to £5,000 for capital projects are available from Help the Homeless to small and medium-sized charities registered in the UK working to assist homeless people to rebuild their lives and return to the community. Funding is targeted at projects to find practical ways to help disadvantaged individuals return to the community through training or residential facility provision, rather than only providing short term shelter. Find out more and apply by 15th June here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: restorative justice and parole

Why me? is hosting an event to discuss best practice for taking restorative justice into account for decisions about parole [8th June, online, £50]. Why me? has been working collaboratively with the Parole Board, restorative justice facilitators and those with lived experience of the process to create guidance for ways in which restorative justice can be taken into account when someone is up for parole. Speakers include Martin Jones, Parole Board CEO and Why me? Ambassador Paul Kohler who will speak about his own experience of restorative justice. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: training prison officers

Prisoner Learning Alliance is holding a webinar looking at Unlocked Graduates’ work training prison officers [9th June, online, free]. In conversation with CEO and Founder Natasha Porter, the webinar will provide an insight into Unlocked Graduates’ programme supporting university leavers to become frontline prison officers, through two years of practical and theoretical training. Unlocked Graduates was launched in 2016, and it is now available in London, the South East, West Midlands and North West of the UK. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: child sexual abuse and the internet

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s training course ‘Understanding child sexual abuse and the internet’ [6th and 7th July 2021, online, £180 + VAT] helps participants understand the drivers and motives of individuals using the internet to engage in child sexual exploitation - through accessing child sexual abuse material, or grooming children online. Drawing upon current research and the Foundation’s treatment work with people who have sexually abused a child online and their families, the course facilitators explore models to help understand sexually abusive behaviour, both in 'online' and 'offline' contexts; risk assessment and risk management issues; and context setting. Book your place here

FEATURED VACANCY: Community Keyworkers

ADVANCE is looking for female Community Keyworkers [various locations, full time and part time, £20,000 - £23,000] to work with its Minerva team on the delivery of a new service outside of London. Through the Minerva service, the goal is to divert women from the criminal justice system at the earliest opportunity and prevent families breaking down as a result. ADVANCE is in the process of expanding its service beyond London to Bedfordshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Kent, along with Thames Valley, providing one-to-one advocacy and specialist work including workshops and group activities delivered by ADVANCE in partnership with voluntary organisations. Find out more and apply by 16th May here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Health Link Worker with Mental Health Concern [Tees Valley], Detox Administrator with Humankind [Leeds], Community Based Support Worker with Imagine Independence [Sefton], Chair of Trustees with Why me? [UK wide], Women’s Centre Coordinator with ADVANCE [various], Care Team Leader with Langley House Trust [Somerset], Case Manager with Achieve North West Connect [various], High Intensity CBT Therapist with Insight IAPT and Insight Wellbeing at Work [remote], Day Engagement Worker with Social Interest Group [London], Contract Manager with Langley House Trust [Birmingham], Peer Supporter with Together for Mental Wellbeing [London], Prison Link Worker with Kaleidoscope Project [Flintshire], Complex Needs Community Keyworker with One Small Thing [Hampshire], Women’s Regional Manager with The Nelson Trust [South Wales]. 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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