Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 692 | 16th July 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS BLOG: update from the residential women’s centre team

In this blog Ministry of Justice's Hannah Smallshaw, on behalf of the residential women's centre team, gives an update on the development and implementation of the residential women’s centres (RWCs) over the last seven months. The team incorporates colleagues from the Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Wales Female Offending Blueprint team. The blog follows consultation events held with stakeholders including Clinks, women with lived experience of the criminal justice system, and the voluntary sector. It outlines how this feedback has helped shape the design of the RWC model. The aim of the RWC pilot, launched in 2018 as part of the Female Offender Strategy, is to gain a better understanding of how the outcomes of women who would otherwise enter and re-enter custody for short periods can be improved. Read more here

CLINKS NEWS: Join our Board of Trustees – deadline extended

The deadline to apply to join our Board of Trustees or our new Board Fellow programme has been extended to 23rd July. We’re looking for up to four committed people – three Trustees and one Board Fellow. We especially encourage applications from 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. If you are under 30 and would like the opportunity to see whether being a trustee is something for you, we are offering an opportunity to join our Board Fellow programme on an 18 month appointment. Find out more about these opportunities and apply by 23rd July here

CLINKS NEWS: working in partnership with Regional Probation Directors

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Special Interest Group on probation reform held a meeting on 13th June with Regional Probation Directors. The meeting was convened to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the voluntary sector to work in partnership with Regional Probation Directors ahead of the reunification of probation which took place on 26th June. The meetings notes are now published. Read them here

CLINKS NEWS: prison regime recovery

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) convened a meeting of its special interest group on Covid-19 on 23rd June with officials from Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). In the meeting they discussed prison regime recovery, the vaccination programme and the HMPPS pilot programme for testing prison visitors. The group were joined by David Liddemore, HMPPS; Martin Mukassa, HMPPS; and Ruth Boyd, HMPPS. Notes are available here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: prison facts

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has published its latest Bromley Briefing, a bulletin that gives a detailed statistical overview of the current state of prisons and how people in prison are faring. The Summer 2021 briefing shows that the prison population is projected to further rise by 20,000 to 98,700 by 2026. In 2020, 63% of people sentenced to prison had committed a non-violent offence and 44% were sentenced to serve six months or less. It also sets out the challenges people in prison face, including poor mental health and the isolation and confinement faced in the context of Covid-19 measures. Bromley Briefings are produced in memory of Keith Bromley, a valued friend of PRT and allied groups concerned with prisons and human rights. Read it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: neurodiversity in the criminal justice system

User Voice has published a report on the lived experience of neurodiverse people in the criminal justice system. A significant proportion of people in contact with the criminal justice system are neurodiverse. In far greater numbers than the general public, people inside the criminal justice system live with autism, ADHD, speech/communication disorders, intellectual disabilities, learning disorders, neurogenetic disorders like Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injuries and more. The report, commissioned by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation as part of a wider review into the topic, explores the lived experience of the neurodiverse as they negotiate their way through a system which is designed for users who are just like the people who run it. It is based on one-to-one interviews with over 100 neurodiverse people. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: self-employment on release

RIFT Social Enterprise has published a blog on the challenges facing people in prison who are interested in pursuing self-employment on release. Chief Executive Andy Gullick discusses the high levels of interest in self-employment among the prison population - the findings of one of their recent surveys in a London prison found 60% of its residents would consider self-employment upon release. Despite this, he describes how prisons are still not recognising self-employment as an alternative to the traditional sectors of construction and hospitality when developing their employment strategies. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: women in enterprise

Keeping Our Girls Safe has teamed up with the Jodie Ferrari Makeup Academy to offer an opportunity for young women in Greater Manchester who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) to get trained in hairdressing, makeup, nails and support them to start up their own business. As part of the course, participants get their own kit with all the tools they need to launch their new career. Business masterclasses including building followers on social media platforms as well as employability skills and how to attract funding are also covered. This is an opportunity that is ideal for those leaving the prison system who want a new start. Eligibility criteria applies. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: diversion and out of court disposals

According to Transform Justice, the majority of the public agrees that diversion and out of court disposals are sensible responses to crime. How can we tap into, and increase, this support when promoting ways to resolve crimes without going to court? Transform Justice’s new messaging guide outlines the best ways to communicate with the public about diversion, based on nationally representative research findings. Read it here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Local Leadership and Integration Fund

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced that seven partnerships were successful in applying for the first round of the Local Leadership and Integration Fund (LLIF) – including Clinks members. The LLIF grant funding scheme is aimed at empowering local leaders and agencies to improve the join-up of services and find innovative ways to work together towards improved outcomes for prison leavers. You can find out more details about the pilots here. The MoJ is also moving forwards with the second round of the LLIF, which should open for applications in early September 2021. There will be some changes to the application process for the second round, and there will be a webinar to introduce some of these changes [28th July 2021, online, free]. If you are unable to attend but would like to receive a recording of the webinar, please email LLIF@justice.gov.uk. Register here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: family and significant other service

Are you interested in delivering services to the families of people in the criminal justice system? The Ministry of Justice is seeking market information from organisations interested in the delivery of Family and Significant Other Services for HM Prison and Probation Service. It wants to better understand the current market capability and capacity; better understand costings for the different types of services; inform the specification development and options; identify any market concerns and potential barriers to entry; and opportunities for social value. Take the questionnaire by 30th July here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: prison restrictions update

Following announcements by the Prime Minister on 12th July and the First Minister of Wales on 14th July, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has confirmed that prisons will continue to make progress in lifting restrictions gradually and safely, with 21 prisons now at stage two of the National Framework and more getting ready to move to this stage. Progress in delivering vaccines to people in prisons continues at pace with many already fully vaccinated. 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

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Engaging People on Probation - resources

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) held a market warming event on 6th July for its Call-Off Competition for a national provider of an ‘Engaging People on Probation’ service. The slides from the event and answers to a Q&A are now available on Jaggaer (the MoJ sourcing portal). The opportunity to speak with the team directly in 1-2-1 sessions is still available. If you would like to arrange a session please email ProbationDynamicFramework@justice.gov.uk by the end of the day on 16th July. If you can’t make a 1-2-1, you can also send in comments using the feedback form on Jaggaer, which is uploaded to PQQ_205 > Call-Off Competition Information > Engaging People on Probation. Access Jaggaer here

FUNDING: disadvantaged young people

Grants of up to £10,000 are available from the Ironmongers' Company for projects in the UK that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people under the age of 25 years to fulfil their potential. The Company is looking for projects that deliver clearly defined educational benefits to a specific group of children or young people with clear aims and objectives to be met within a planned timescale. Find out more and apply by 31st July here

FUNDING: Covid-19 impact

Barclays is making 50 donations of £100,000 each to UK charities working to support vulnerable people and communities impacted by Covid-19, and to alleviate the associated social and economic hardship caused by the crisis, as part of its Covid-19 community aid package. UK charities, with an annual income of at least £1m, are invited to apply to receive a donation of £100,000 to meet the needs of their communities as they emerge from the pandemic, including: help for people experiencing physical and mental health issues; financial assistance for people facing financial hardship; support for racially minoritised communities disproportionately impacted by the crisis; and enhancing digital accessibility. Find out more and apply by 6th August here

FEATURED VACANCY: Complex Needs and Housing Officer

Brighton Women’s Centre is looking for a Complex Needs and Housing Officer [£24,799, Kent, full time] to provide in-reach and through-the-gate support to women involved in the criminal justice system. You will manage a caseload of women, providing them with personalised, practical and emotional support that encompasses a range of accommodation, financial, health, social and relationship needs. You will take a trauma responsive, strengths-based approach, providing holistic support in collaboration with each woman and advocating on the key issues around housing and homelessness that impact women affected by the criminal justice system. You will be working as part of a team of keyworkers in your region, working one-to-one with women across individual communities. Find out more and apply by 29th July here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Member engagement co-ordinator with Revolving Doors Agency [London/remote], Catering Officer with Humbercare [Hull], Finance Manager with Together Women Projects [Dewsbury], Fundraising Manager with ADVANCE [London], Specialist Women’s Inclusion Practitioner with Doorway Women’s Service [Norwich], Support Worker with Nacro [Manchester], Senior Involvement Manager with Revolving Doors Agency [London/Remote], Team Manager with St Giles Trust [London], Nursing Clinical Lead with Mental Health Concern [Gateshead], Visits Service Play Worker with NEPACS [HMP Durham], Activities Coordinator with Social Interest Group. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Chocolate bar selection box. £4. Details
  • Air cooler with wheels. 87% off. Details
  • Two garden sun loungers. Save 74%. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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