Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 685 | 28th May 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS BLOG: talking about racism: what language will we use?

In our work towards realising our ambition to be an antiracist organisation, we're making some changes to the language and messaging we use. In the future we will ensure we explicitly make the links between structural racism and specific racist policies and outcomes. In doing so we’ll make clear our stance that it’s no accident that people are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and structural inequality is not immoveable. We’ll also stop using the BAME acronym. Find out more here

CLINKS BLOG: first 100 days

In this blog, Director of Support and Development Chris Stacey reflects on his first few months at Clinks and looks towards some of the challenges and opportunities ahead. He discusses the challenges that voluntary organisations working in criminal justice are facing, particularly following Covid-19 and the forthcoming changes to probation services. He highlights Clinks’ work to provide voluntary organisations with information, advocate on their behalf, provide practical support and resources, bring organisations together and to help make partnerships. In his new role, Chris is excited to build on this work so that Clinks can best support voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system to thrive. Read more here

CLINKS BLOG: pre-sentence report pilot

Senior Policy Officer Will Downs provides a summary of a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) pilot to increase the delivery of quality pre-sentence reports across 15 magistrates’ courts in England and Wales. Pre-sentence reports are conducted by the National Probation Service (NPS) to provide judges and magistrates with an assessment of an individual’s risk profile and the factors that may have contributed to them coming into contact with the criminal justice system. There was a significant decrease in the number of pre-sentence reports recorded from 2010 to 2018. To address this decline, the MoJ has developed an alternative delivery model in collaboration with the NPS and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service. Find out more here

CLINKS EVENT: race and justice network meeting

We are holding informal meet and greets to mark the start of our Race and justice network [3rd and 7th June, online, free]. This is a networking opportunity for organisations to meet each other and find out more about each other’s work. Please note that Race and justice network meetings are only open to voluntary sector organisations who provide a specific service or project for racially minoritised people in contact with the criminal justice system. All levels of experience are welcome, from volunteers to CEOs and everything in between. See more and book your place here

CLINKS NEWS: Jane Hatfield

Clinks is saddened to hear that former Clinks trustee Jane Hatfield has died. Jane was a Trustee in our early years, serving on the board from 2000 to 2009. Our condolences go out to her family and friends. Fellow Trustee Lucy Gampell remembers her for Light Lunch: "I am very sad to hear of Jane's death from cancer. Jane and I were on the board of Clinks together for several years in the key stages of Clinks' early development. She was the perfect trustee - wise, insightful, reflective and supportive of fellow trustees and the then, very small, staff team. Jane was softly spoken but was not afraid to challenge ideas, yet always did so constructively and sensitively. She will I know be sorely missed by all who knew her, personally and professionally."

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Darren Coyne

Clinks is saddened to hear that Care Leavers’ Association Project Manager Darren Coyne has died. Darren was extremely passionate about young people with care and criminal justice experience and was instrumental in getting their voices heard in policy discussions, including the Farmer Review. Read a tribute from his colleague and friend Andi Brierley here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: crime and domestic abuse

This blog from Working Chance focuses on the Domestic Abuse Bill and explores the connection between domestic abuse and crime. Domestic abuse and criminal offending are closely interlinked. Almost two in three women in prison are survivors of domestic abuse. Some women are coerced into committing a crime under the pressure of, or in response to, their abusive partners. There is currently no specific legal protection for women whose offences are linked to being a victim of domestic violence. Working Chance believes the Domestic Abuse Bill must include a statutory defence for those who can prove their crimes are attributed to being a victim of abuse. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: racial inequality in the criminal justice system

A coalition of criminal justice and race equality organisations have published a briefing which explores how the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill could deepen racial inequality in the criminal justice system. It analyses the equality impact assessments behind the Bill, and calls for the government to withdraw the discriminatory measures and launch a proper public consultation. The coalition includes: EQUAL, Criminal Justice Alliance, Clinks, Alliance for Youth Justice, Agenda, Transition to Adulthood Alliance, Prison Reform Trust, Zahid Mubarek Trust, Maslaha, Do It Justice Ltd, Revolving Doors Agency, Leaders Unlocked, Switchback and Women in Prison. The coalition has also launched a petition which can be signed here. Read the briefing here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: prison education

The Prisoner Learning Alliance (PLA) has collaborated with University and College Union (UCU) to create a survey to be completed by prison teachers and others providing education in prison. The information collected will be anonymised and used to inform the policy and advocacy work of both the PLA and UCU. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Find more information about the survey and complete it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: probation quarterly

Issue 20 of the Probation Quarterly from the Probation Institute has been published. In this edition Jake Phillips and Anne Worrall discuss the upcoming probation unification, David Breakspear from the Lived Experience Team at Revolving Doors gives a personal view of licence and recall and Kevin Ball from HM Inspectorate of Probation talks about caseload, workload and staffing in probation services. Mike McClelland reflects on workload management and measurement, Stacey Musimbe-Rix discusses domestic abuse in racially minoritised communities and the implications for probation practice and Madeline Petrillo talks about her research involving experiences of a trauma-informed intervention in prison. Download and read here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Greater Manchester probation services

Greater Manchester Combined Authority is holding market engagement events for the procurement of an Accommodation Pathways Support service [11:30 am 28th May, online, free], a Women’s Support service [10:00am 8th June, online, free] and Family Support service [12:00am 16th June, online, free] as part of the co-commissioning of rehabilitation and resettlement services with the Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) probation reform programme. 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. Find out more and register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: May election results

On 6th May 2021, elections were held across the country to elect members of the Welsh Senedd, mayors in 13 areas in England, a member of parliament in the Hartlepool by-election, and councillors in local council elections, as well as Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in 35 regions. Welsh Labour won half of the seats in the Senedd, which saw Mark Drakeford return as First Minister of Wales, Welsh Conservatives won 16 seats, Plaid Cymru won 13 seats, and Welsh Liberal Democrats won 1 seat. Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham were re-elected as Labour mayors of London and Greater Manchester respectively. The Conservatives gained in Police and Crime Commissioner elections, with 30 PCCs elected, and Labour saw 5 PCCs elected. See more on the Senedd results here. See the full list of elected PCCs here

FUNDING: reducing reoffending in Kent

One-off and multi-year grants of between £7,500 and £75,000 are available from the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust to charitable organisations working to support the rehabilitation of people in contact with the criminal justice system with the overall aim of reducing reoffending and making the communities of Kent safer. There is no application deadline and applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: fathers in prison

Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) is hosting an event to launch its new Fathers in Prison Guide [10th June, online, free]. PAS has produced this guide in response to the number of queries it routinely receives from male prisoners who are unable to access assistance in understanding their options when they want to have contact with their children and/or remain involved in their children’s lives. The launch event will include a panel discussion with author of the guide, Rose Harvey-Sullivan, Barrister at 7BR; BAFTA nominated film-maker and writer, Chris Atkins; Director of prison relationship charity, Safe Ground, Charlie Weinberg; and Amanda Emerson, family engagement manager at a male open prison. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: voices of experience

Inside Out Support Wales is running a week of 'Voices of Experience' webinars to support people with convictions [7th-11th June, online, free]. Subjects include: Applying to University with a Conviction; Housing; Transition Skills; Self-employment; Entrepreneurship; Employing Ex-offenders; Social Media; Effective Disclosure and more. All the webinars draw on real life experiences and use this as a basis to support others. Sign up here

FEATURED VACANCY: Circles Coordinator

Circles South West is looking for a Circles Coordinator [part time, Dorset, £30,000 FTE] to establish and coordinate Circles of Support and Accountability, train and support local volunteers, and work with public protection agencies to facilitate the safe integration of people who have sexually offended. Each Circle of Support and Accountability consists of specially recruited and trained volunteers who meet regularly with an individual convicted of sexual offences. Your risk management expertise will be informed by substantial experience in working with people who present a significant risk of sexual harm. Circles work towards there being ‘No More Victims’ by reducing emotional loneliness; modelling appropriate adult relationships; monitoring core member behaviour and holding the core member to account. Find out more and apply by 8th June here

FEATURED VACANCY: Surrey Services Manager and Women’s Centre Link Workers

Women in Prison is looking for a Surrey Services Manager [full time, Woking, £31,000] to provide strategic oversight and operational management for its services in Surrey, ensuring quality standards are consistently met, staff are effectively managed, partnerships are established and maintained, and budgets are appropriately managed. Applications close on 11th June. Women in Prison is also looking for two Women’s Centre Link Workers [full time, Manchester/London, £21,786] to provide advocacy, support, and advice services to women who are leaving prison and returning to Greater Manchester and Greater London. The roles focuses on making women in prison more aware of and engaged with local women’s centres, offering support to women in prison and building a network of Women’s Centre Champions. Applications close on 7th June. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Trainer Assessor with St Giles Trust [East of England], Housing Management Worker with Changing Lives [Middlesbrough], Criminal Justice Team Leader with Change, grow, live [London], Communications Lead with User Voice [London], Women’s Specialist Criminal Justice Practitioner with Together Women Projects [Sheffield], Trainee Money Adviser with Anglia Care Trust [Ipswich], Registered Mental Health Nurse with Mental Health Concern [Gateshead], Social Media Research Volunteer with Humankind [home based], Chef/Trainer with Apex Charitable Trust [St Helens], Trauma Informed Interventions Practitioner with Recovery Connections [Stockton], HR and Compliance Coordinator with Hibiscus Initiatives [London], Communications Internship with Why me? [London]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Entry to Aqua Bounce UK in Essex. £16. Details
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EXTRA INFORMATION

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