Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 690 | 2nd July 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: Join our Board of Trustees

Clinks is seeking up to four committed people to join our Board of Trustees – three Trustees and one Board Fellow. We especially encourage applications from groups of people that are under-represented on trustee boards, including: those with lived experience of prison or who hold a criminal record; first-time trustees including young people; and racially minoritised people. We will provide induction and training and are happy to speak to applicants informally before commencing the application process. Alternatively to becoming a trustee, if you are under 30 and would like the opportunity to see whether being a trustee is something you would like to do, we are offering a unique opportunity to join our Board Fellow programme on an 18 month appointment. Find out more about these opportunities and apply by 16th July here

CLINKS NEWS: probation reform

The reformed probation service went live on 26th June, meaning that management of people on probation will now be delivered solely by the Probation Service (formerly called the National Probation Service) across 12 probation areas, each led by a Regional Probation Director (RPD). To mark reunification, the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group special interest group on probation reform published its final report, following its work in advising the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service in preparation for the transition to the new model. The paper says commissioning guidance issued to RPDs should clearly set out why and how grant funding is beneficial to voluntary organisations and encourages RPDs to establish voluntary sector forums to better learn how voluntary sector services beyond their supply chains can help them reach their ambitions. Read the report here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: prison mental healthcare

The Centre for Mental Health has published a review of the future of prison mental healthcare in England. 45% of adults in prison have anxiety or depression, 8% have a diagnosis of psychosis, and 60% have experienced a traumatic brain injury. The report shares examples of the good and innovative practice happening in prison mental health services. It also finds marked variation in provision from prison to prison, and a lack of psychological therapy offers in some areas and for some categories of prisoners. Clinks submitted written evidence to the Centre for Mental Health’s review and gave oral evidence to talk about the importance of the voluntary sector in restoration and recovery and how innovative and flexible voluntary organisations have been during the pandemic. Read the report here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: giving people on probation a voice

With the reunification of the probation service going live last weekend, User Voice has taken the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved in partnership with people on probation and probation staff over the past few years, publishing a report: The impact of giving people on probation a voice. Since 2015, User Voice worked in 16 out of 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies and three out of seven National Probation Service Regions. User Voice was contracted by each of these to ensure that people on probation played an instrumental role in the design and delivery of their services by establishing Service User Councils. The positive impact has been transformational for probation services, service users and the system. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: new patron

The Margaret Carey Foundation is delighted to announce that Margaret Carey has officially joined the charity, which is named in recognition of her work in the criminal justice system, as its Patron. Margaret has supported the charity since it was formed in 2010 and was delighted to take on her official role. In the first in her series of blogs for the charity she talks about why she supports the Margaret Carey Foundation and her motivation for supporting individuals in the criminal justice system. Read it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: social business awards

Restorative Justice for All (RJ4All) International Institute has been selected as one of the top five organisations in the ‘growth’ category of the NatWest SE100 Social Business Awards. The NatWest SE100 celebrates the success of socially-driven ventures across the UK – by naming the most impressive 100 social enterprises of the year, and giving six Social Business Awards for the most outstanding achievers. The growth category ranks social ventures that have expanded in a financially sustainable way over the past year. Dr Theo Gavrielides, founder and director of RJ4All said: “We are honoured to be selected as a finalist… 2020 has been one of the toughest years for our communities. I am proud of the RJ4All team and what we have collectively managed to achieve”. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: podcast

3Pillars Project Intern Athena has started a podcast series highlighting the organisation’s work and interviewing key people. In the latest episode she interviews 3Pillars Project Trustee Derrick. They discuss his motivation to pursue a legal career and help people in contact with the criminal justice system. 3Pillars Project uses sports-based mentoring programmes to support young adults and children in custody, equipping them through mentoring, training, employment and education. Listen here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: engaging people on probation

HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is preparing to run a Probation Services Dynamic Framework Call Off Competition, in August, for a national provider of an Engaging People on Probation (formerly Service User Involvement) service. It is hosting a market warming session [6th July, online, free]. The aim of the session is to provide as much information as possible about HMPPS’s current thinking and receive comments and input from potential providers. If you would like further information regarding this opportunity, register for the market warming session here

FUNDING: criminal justice and penal reform

Grants up to £20,000 are available from A B Charitable Trust (ABCT) for small to medium-sized charities registered and working in the UK that defend human rights and promote respect for vulnerable individuals. To be eligible, projects should address at least one of the following categories: migrants, refugees and asylum seekers; criminal justice and penal reform; or human rights, particularly access to justice. There is particular interest in charities that seek to address the needs of the most marginalised and neglected groups in society. The funding can be used for core costs. Find out more and apply by 31st July here

FUNDING: young people

Grants up to £2,500 are available from the 7stars Foundation to support young people challenged by abuse and addiction, those who are young carers, and those who are homeless or without a safe place to call home. Organisations must be registered charities with a turnover of under £1.5 million and be supporting young people aged 16 years and under. Find out more and apply by July 31st here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: four decades

Clean Break is celebrating four decades of creating ground-breaking theatre on women’s experience of the criminal justice system with its retrospective exhibition ‘I am a theatre’: 40 years of Clean Break Theatre Company. The live exhibition takes place at Swiss Cottage Gallery [24th June-31st July, London, free] and features previously unseen archival material, original scripts, photography and artwork, hand-written letters and correspondence from the founders, original tv and documentary film and footage from the 40th anniversary video interview. Register to attend here

PODCAST: parental imprisonment

Dr Shona Minson has spoken on BBC Radio 4’s Four Thought programme about her research on children with a parent in prison. She describes some of the changes she believes are needed and how she works with judges and other criminal justice professionals to achieve them. Since March 2020 Dr Shona Minson has been researching the impact of Covid-19 prison lockdowns on children who have a parent in prison and has recently published a research report. Listen to the programme here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Associate Director of Research with Centre for Mental Health [home based], Housing Support Worker with Changing Lives [Ashington], Link Worker with Mental Health Concern [South Tyneside], Engagement Team Member with User Voice [Glasgow/Edinburgh], Peer Mentor with Wallich-Clifford Community [Swansea], Housing Management Worker with Nacro [Colchester], Project Support Officer with Black Training and Enterprise Group [London], Service User Involvement Worker with Together for Mental Wellbeing [London], Head of Operations with NEPACS [Durham], Development Officer with Inspire North [Leeds], Accommodation Adviser with St Giles Trust [West Yorkshire], Women’s Centre Coordinator with ADVANCE [London]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare’s Globe. From £6. Details
  • Command adhesive picture hanging strips. 84% off. Details
  • Square garden firepit. Save 63%. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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