Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 689 | 25th June 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

 

CLINKS SURVEY: last chance to have your views heard

It's your last chance to contribute to our research on the voluntary sector’s experience of the new probation model. The deadline for responses is next Friday. We want to hear your views, including perspectives from organisations: that chose not to qualify onto the Dynamic Framework or bid for contracts; that chose to engage but were unsuccessful at some point in the process; and those that won contracts. Clinks is undertaking this research with three partner organisations: the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Wolverhampton and the Institute for Voluntary Action Research. The responses and additional case studies will be used to create an in-depth report which will reflect the voluntary sector's experiences and detail lessons learnt that can be used to inform the government on future commissioning processes. Take the survey by 2nd July here

CLINKS BLOG: women’s community sector grant funding

Following its grant funding programme in 2020, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is inviting voluntary organisations to apply for grant funding to strengthen community based provision for women in the criminal justice system. The funding is available to support organisations’ core costs. Clinks welcomes the funding and its aim to increase sustainability of the sector. In this blog, Women’s Network Coordinator Jackie Lowthian and Policy Manager Nicola Drinkwater take a closer look at this opportunity. The funding is available to support organisations’ core costs. We are pleased to see recognition by the MoJ that a network of viable women’s community sector organisations is essential to ensuring the commitments in the Female Offender Strategy are realised and for supporting the roll out of the new probation model. We know that the holistic, women-specific support these organisations provide is much needed for women in contact with the criminal justice system. Read more about the grant programme here

CLINKS EVENT: All Wales criminal justice forum

This forum will focus on probation commissioning beyond day one services and the Dynamic Framework [6th July, online, free]. It will include updates from Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Wales, the residential women’s centre team and Clinks’ policy team. Our All Wales criminal justice forums bring together partners working across Wales in the criminal justice system. They provide an opportunity to find out about the latest policy developments impacting organisations working in Wales. They are also an opportunity for Clinks members and partners to showcase their work, highlighting challenges faced and opportunities on the horizon. Book your place here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: guide to enabling creativity launch

Thanks to all who joined the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) on 17th June to launch our new guide for prison staff, Creativity in a restricted regime. We heard from expert guest speakers on the theatre, music and art projects they've carried out throughout the pandemic in criminal justice settings, and how what they've learnt continues to influence their work going forward. We also heard audience perspectives on the role of technology in arts and criminal justice and the importance of making connections between prison staff and arts providers. As one participant put it, "There are so many creative people here with the same vision - it's really uplifting." You can read the guide here. Read a Twitter thread of the event highlights here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: 10 year anniversary catch-up

Light Lunch helped launch Coaching Inside and Out in 2010 and it is now celebrating a Covid-delayed 10th anniversary. Coaching Inside and Out wants to thank the people its team of staff and volunteers have coached over its first decade and hear what they’re up to now. If you or anyone you know in the criminal justice system were coached by Coaching Inside Out or another organisation, the team would love to hear from you and offer clients a free catch-up session. Find out more here or email clare@coachinginsideandout.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: saying thank you

In addition to supporting prisoners during the pandemic while in-person choirs aren't possible, through letter-writing, radio programmes and delivering care packages, Liberty Choir also wanted to say thank you to the prison staff who have continued to work throughout the pandemic, even at its worst moments. Liberty Choir volunteers set up tables outside Wandsworth Prison, giving away coffee and home-baked treats to the staff as a small gesture of appreciation. Many staff commented on how they had missed the weekly choir sessions and the volunteers had their first in-person choral experience since March 2020. Watch a video of volunteers entertaining prison staff here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Covid-19 and prisons updates

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on restrictions in England on Monday 14th June, prisons in England will not be able to progress to Stage 1 of the National Framework before 19th July at the earliest. As of Tuesday 22nd June, eight adult prisons have progressed to Stage 2 of the National Framework, 109 are at Stage 3, and one is at Stage 4. Also, all Young Offender Institutions and Secure Training Centres in the youth custody estate remain at Stage 3, with work ongoing to progress safely to Stage 2, enabling children to experience a fuller regime. The stage of individual adult prisons is reviewed each week and updates are provided on the prison finder pages of the government website 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: North Yorkshire

Grants of up to £20,000 are available from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire’s Community Fund to local community groups, organisations and individuals for new and innovative community safety projects in North Yorkshire. The fund supports projects at a local level that help communities “feel safe and be safe” including those providing services that aim to prevent people from coming into contact with the criminal justice system or to reduce reoffending. Find out more and apply by 29th July here

FUNDING: people in contact with the criminal justice system

Grants of up to £3,000 are available from The Woodward Charitable Trust small grants programme for organisations working with children and young people, disadvantaged families or people in contact with the criminal justice system. The Trust only makes grants for core costs rather than specific projects as it recognises that smaller charities can find these hard to fund. The Trust hopes that this will have a more direct impact on the organisations that it chooses to fund. Find out more and apply by 30th July here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: preventing youth dating violence

The Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS) International Institute is hosting the final conference for its Children First project on preventing youth dating violence [29th June, online, free]. The conference will showcase the work of the Children First project across five European countries – addressing the challenge of preventing teen dating violence from the bottom-up, through the participation of young people. IARS will also be announcing the winners of its online creative contest for young people (12-18) and hearing from young people and educators who have been involved in the programme. Find out more and book your tickets here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: making Black lives matter in the criminal justice system

This event will launch the Howard League’s practical guide for antiracist lawyers, developed in association with Black Protest Legal Support and in consultation with an expert advisory group [30th June, online, free]. The guide is designed to support lawyers to be antiracist at each phase of a client’s journey through the system. It will be introduced by Laura Janes, the Howard League’s legal director, and Ife Thompson, the founder of Black Protest Legal Support. Four members of the advisory group will discuss how the guide can support lawyers to counter entrenched racism in the criminal justice system. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: housing emergency

This seminar from The Academy of Social Justice will focus on the fight to end the UK housing emergency [13th July, online, free]. Focussing on the scale of the housing emergency, its relationship with equalities and the impact of the pandemic, Alastair Harper, Head of Public Affairs, Shelter, will share how this emergency impacts other issues such as sexuality and race. Ruth Power, CEO, Shelter Cymru, will then discuss the impact of the pandemic in Wales, the lessons learnt in a crisis and how the housing system can contribute to – or undermine – the Welsh Government’s aspiration to Build Back Better and Fairer. You must be an Academy member to attend. If you are not yet a member you will be prompted to join when registering. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: hidden sentence awareness

This training course from Nepacs will give you an awareness of the impact of offending on the families of people in the criminal justice system, the support needs of these families and the benefits of maintaining family ties [30th June, 30th September and more, online, £20]. It will also look at the various support services available to the families and friends of people in the criminal justice system. Find out more and book your place here

FEATURED VACANCY: Surrey Services Manager

Women in Prison is looking for a Services Manager [£31,000, full time, Woking] to provide strategic oversight and operational management for Women in Prison services in Surrey, ensuring quality standards are consistently met, staff are effectively managed, partnerships are established and maintained, and budgets are appropriately managed. The role will focus on mobilising and running support services linked to the new National Probation Service, which involves providing holistic one-to-one support and advocacy to women serving community orders and involves close partnership working with the Surrey Women’s Support Centre which is run by Woking Borough Council. The role also involves management as part of the national Creating Community Connections partnerships which connects women leaving prison to local women’s centres. Find out more and apply by 5th July here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Criminal Justice Worker with Kaleidoscope Project [Welshpool], Adult Employment and Skills Team Manager with Groundwork [Birchcroft], Sexual Exploitation Caseworker with Changing Lives [Doncaster], Trusts and Foundations Manager with Shannon Trust [home based], Ara Resettlement Restart Opportunities Worker with Ara Recovery 4 All [Bristol], HR Change/Project Manager with The Advocacy Project [London], Substance Misuse Recovery Worker with Social Interest Group [London], Non-Executive Director with RJ4All [London], Support Worker with Langley House Trust [Cheltenham], Specialised Case Worker: Children with a Mother in Prison with Children Heard and Seen [Oxford], Development Officer with Belong – Making Justice Happen [remote]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Unlimited magazines and newspapers. Two months free. Details
  • Pet vest harness with lead. £3.55. Details
  • Four-player badminton set. £19.99. Details

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​EXTRA INFORMATION

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