Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 701 | 17th September 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: a matter of fact – what the evidence tells us

We’ve launched an event series to accompany our Evidence library, giving you the chance to hear from the experts themselves [19th October – 14th December, online, free]. Clinks’ online Evidence library is designed to support voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system with access to the most up-to-date evidence about a range of different activities and interventions. Our event series will feature online conversations with the authors of our evidence reviews. In the first three conversations, we will be looking at: Working with life sentence prisoners with Dr Serena Wright and Dr Susie Hulley; Community empowerment approaches with Dr Patrick Williams; and Peer mentoring in the criminal justice system with Dr Gill Buck. Book your place here

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

Clinks and many of our members have signed a joint letter to the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice sharing urgent concern over the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which had its second reading in the House of Lords on 14th September. The Bill constitutes a direct threat to Gypsy and Traveller communities and includes a host of expansive policing and sentencing powers that will further entrench racial disparity in the criminal justice system. The letter was covered by the Observer quoting Sarah Mann, director of Friends, Families and Travellers. Read the letter here and the article here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: nominations closing soon

Have you delivered a project in the last twelve months that you’re proud of? Or do you know an individual or organisation worthy of some recognition? The Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) Awards celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations who have helped make the criminal justice system fairer or more effective in the last 12 months. The CJA has launched two new awards this year. The Jack Merritt Legacy Award is for an individual who has improved outcomes and opportunities for racially minoritised people in the criminal justice system. The Saskia Jones Legacy Award is for an individual who has positively impacted the lives of victims. Winners and runners-up receive cash prizes. The deadline is midday on 27th September. Find out more and make a nomination here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: youth justice services

Commissioned by the Youth Justice Board, Peer Power Youth has created a report on participation and co-creation in youth justice services co-produced by young people with lived experience – “Peer Power Experts”. This report details reflections from staff within youth justice services on how they understand and implement participation and co-creation with children, identifying some of the challenges that currently stand in the way. 78.7% of youth justice service staff surveyed described co-creation differently than the Peer Power Experts. Peer Power has created a resource pack with a guide called 'Are You Really Co-creating?' so children and practitioners can start on the same page. Read the report and download the free resource pack here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: young women at risk of violence, abuse and exploitation

Agenda has published a new briefing with the Alliance for Youth Justice titled I wanted to be Heard. As part of their research, commissioned by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, they spoke to young women with lived experience and expert practitioners who support them about what young women in contact with the criminal justice system need from services. They found that young women’s experiences of violence, abuse and exploitation can drive them into the criminal justice system, but their experiences are too often overlooked by the agencies they turn to for support. They recommended a joined-up approach which addresses the issues mentioned, including addressing inequalities which drive the over-representation of racially minoritised young women and care-experienced young women. Read it here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: cabinet reshuffle

Following a cabinet reshuffle Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP and Alex Chalk MP have left the Ministry of Justice. Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice; and Victora Atkins MP has been appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Safeguarding and Afghan Resettlement). Victoria Atkins MP's responsibilities include prison and probation operations, health in the criminal justice system, women, transgender people, veterans and foreign national people in the criminal justice system and reducing reoffending (see the full list here). We are looking forward to working with them to ensure the department continues to be able to draw on the knowledge, expertise and experience of the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: infrastructure and emotional support grants

Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will be holding a virtual market engagement event [11am, 28th September, online, free] for two strategic grants: Infrastructure Support for Small and Medium Sized Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Organisations, and Emotional Support to Prisoners in Distress or Crisis. Both grants will run from 2022 to 2025. Over a number of years, HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have provided grants to voluntary sector organisations, working to reduce reoffending. As well as providing grant funding for project-based grants, HMPPS also provides strategic grant funding. The total funding available for the Infrastructure Support grant is up to £550,000 per annum or up to £1,650,000 in total for the duration of the grant. The total funding available for the Emotional Support grant is up to £500,000 per annum or up to £1,500,000 in total for the duration of the grant. Please email MoJCommercialReset@justice.gov.uk to book your slot.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: disclosure checker tool launched

The Ministry of Justice has launched a new tool to help people with convictions into employment. The Disclosure Checker tool, now available on Gov.uk, is a free, easy-to-use, government-approved calculator that helps people with cautions and convictions better understand their disclosure requirements so that they do not over or under disclose. All an individual needs to do is enter the type of conviction, sentence or caution they received, the date they got it, and the length of the sentence or the date any conditions ended. Any individuals who are unsure of these details can get this information via a subject access request here. Since the tool launched in the summer it has been used by over 1,600 people. If you have any questions about the Disclosure Checker Tool, please email disclosure.checker@digital.justice.gov.uk. Find it here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge

In May 2021, the Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge set the tech sector six ‘challenge statements’ to solve, based around some of the key areas which can impact prison leavers on release. The outcome of the Innovation Challenge has now been revealed and nine suppliers have been awarded up to £25,000 funding to develop their solution over the next eight weeks. Suppliers include a range of consortia across the tech sector, voluntary sector and academia. This includes several Clinks members - The Disabilities Trust, St Giles Trust, Offploy and The Shannon Trust. You can find out more about them here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: recruiting people from prison

The Ministry of Justice is hosting an interactive virtual summit to support businesses who are interested in recruiting people on release from prison [21st October, online, free]. With many businesses currently experiencing skills gaps, the summit is an opportunity to hear first-hand from employers including Greggs, Timpson and Greene King about why they have benefitted from recruiting prison leavers. Book your place here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Covid-19 in prisons and probation

As of 7th September, the first three adult prisons have progressed to Stage 1 of the National Framework. Stage 1 is the final stage of the framework, requiring minimal Covid-19 restrictions and therefore enabling greater levels of regime activity to be provided. Of the 117 adult prisons, 71 are at Stage 2 and 49 are at Stage 3, with work underway to progress further. All Youth Custody Service under-18s young offender institutions have made the transition to Stage 2 of the National Framework and preparations are being made for further progression to Stage 1. All Probation Regions in England have now moved to Green delivery status on their Exceptional Delivery Models (EDMs). Wales remains in Amber due to national restrictions remaining in place longer than England but is progressing to move to Green status shortly. Read more about Covid-19 and prisons here

FUNDING: South Yorkshire

Grants up to £7,500 are available from the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme to non-profit organisations in South Yorkshire for activities that give communities the opportunity to tackle issues of concern, break down barriers and encourage partnership working in an effort to make them a safer place to live. The money should be used to contribute to local communities and should meet the aims of the Police and Crime Plan. Find out more and apply by 30th September here

FUNDING: Merseyside and Wirral

Grants between £500 and £3,000 are available from the Philip Bates Trust for individuals, voluntary and community organisations undertaking projects in Merseyside and Wirral. The Trust works particularly to provide help for charitable projects in the fields of: social need; youth and employment; help for older people; the arts; and the environment. Applicants should ideally be a registered charity or applying to become one. Find out more and apply by 1st October here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: deaths in custody

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) and INQUEST will be presenting on deaths in custody at The Institute of Contemporary Arts [18th September, London, £10]. They will speak about family campaigns and the inquest process, followed by a screening of RIP Seni – a documentary exploring the death of Seni Lewis, the crisis of mental health and racism in the UK, the long fight for justice and what happens when members of the public take art into their own hands. Book your ticket here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: preventing child sexual abuse

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s training course ‘Understanding and preventing online child sexual abuse’ [5th and 6th October, 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 treatment work with people who have sexually abused a child online and their families, 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: pornography and the internet. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: online play

Livestream tickets for Clean Break’s Typical Girls are now available [6th October, online, £15]. Typical Girls in part-gig part-play, set in a specialised unit inside a prison. It follows a group of women who discover the music of punk rock band The Slits and form their own group. An outlet for their frustration, they find remedy in revolution. Options for audio description and British Sign Language interpretation are available. Book tickets here

FEATURED VACANCY: Young People's Circles Coordinator

Circles South West is looking for a Young People's Circles Coordinator [£32,000FTE, Devon, part time (21 hours)] to recruit, train, coordinate and supervise small groups of community volunteers to support young people (and families) for around 12 months, enabling them to make safe choices; take responsibility for their behaviour; engage in positive activities; improve their social connections; and enhance their self-worth. You will assess referrals, coordinate, and monitor provision, and provide progress updates. Your professional experience with young people must include working with harmful sexual behaviour and be informed by your knowledge and understanding in this field. You must be passionate about enabling young people to reach their potential, understanding the complexities. Find out more and apply by 30th September here

FEATURED VACANCY: Training Coordinator

Circles South West is looking for a Training Coordinator [£32,000FTE, South West, part time (17.5 hours)] to lead the development and delivery of its training and consultancy offer designed to enhance the skills, knowledge and understanding of professionals, organisations and local communities, enabling them to effectively engage with people who sexually harm, and contributing more widely to the prevention of sexual abuse. It is anticipated that this post will be self-sustaining within two years. With substantial experience, your flair for training will be underpinned by significant knowledge and practice experience in the field of sexual harm and sexual abuse prevention. Circles South West seeks to appoint motivated self-starters to part-time positions with the option to combine to a full-time role. Find out more and apply by 30th September here  

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Senior Gangs Mentor and Facilitator with St Giles Trust [Basingstoke], Community Advice Manager with Centre for Justice Innovation [London], IAPT Trainee Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners with Insight IAPT [Newcastle-Upon-Tyne], Women’s Specialist Practitioner with Doorway Women’s Service [Norwich], Director with Prisoners Penfriends [London], Programme Administrator with Mental Health Concern [flexible], Peer Support Worker with Inspire North [Hull], Peer Mentor Volunteer with ADVANCE [London], Construction Skills Tutor with Groundwork [HMP Forest Bank], Specialist Project Worker with Imagine Independence [Wigan]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Laser quest Birmingham. £5. Details
  • Microsoft Office 2019 for Windows. 61% off. Details
  • Kids digital camera. £7.50. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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