Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 704 | 8th October 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: Spencer Bundschuh

Spencer joined Clinks in September 2021 as Health and Justice Policy and Development Officer to lead on the health and justice and service user involvement work that Clinks delivers. Spencer has previously worked with refugee youth, as an advocate and specialist support worker for those with complex mental health needs experiencing homelessness, and most recently at Stonewall, an LGBTQ+ human rights charity. Additionally, he has volunteered in numerous capacities, including in a juvenile detention centre in Nepal and a poverty law clinic in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Originally from Canada, he has a BA in Psychology and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Saskatchewan, as well as an MSc in Mental Health, Ethics and Law from The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London. Meet the team here

CLINKS NEWS: join the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector advisory group

We are refreshing the membership of the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector advisory group (RR3) Covid-19 Special Interest Group (SIG). The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. It meets to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on people in contact with the criminal justice system, with a particular focus on the recovery of regimes in prisons and the delivery of voluntary sector services. We are looking for leaders from voluntary organisations that: provide specialist support to women; are led by and focussed on racially minoritised people; deliver services to those deemed at high risk of harm to others; deliver services in prisons (contracted and non-contracted); or work to elevate the voice of service users. To express interest in joining, please email noori.piperdy@clinks.org by 9am on 22nd October

CLINKS EVENT: campaign planning

Sheila McKechnie Foundation is delivering a workshop [7th December 2021, online, free] to help voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system develop a strategic and responsive approach to planning campaigns. You will learn how to articulate aims, objectives and a strategic approach for campaigns, as well as develop an effective delivery plan, including how to monitor and continuously review your strategy. This is aimed at organisations working in the criminal justice system with limited experience of campaigning or policy influencing. The workshop is part of ‘Finding your voice’, the first phase of the Clinks Stronger voice programme, funded by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales. Book your place here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: invest in social infrastructure

Ahead of the Spending Review and Budget announcement on 27th October, Clinks, as part of a coalition of 21 infrastructure bodies, is calling on the government to urgently invest in social infrastructure to build back better. The coalition represents or serves thousands of charities across the UK. It says that the government must work more closely with civil society if it is to keep its promises on levelling up and building back better. The recommendations in the representation to the Spending Review include greater investment in communities through new funds like the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and a Community Wealth Fund, and a call to cancel the cut to Universal Credit. Clinks has also submitted its own representations and will be publishing these shortly. Read the coalition’s representation here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ NEWS: dramatic rise in long term prisoners

Prison Reform Trust has published a briefing, revealing that the last 20 years has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people serving long prison sentences. The briefing has been produced as part of the Prison Reform Trust’s Building Futures project, a five-year project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund to explore the experiences of people who will spend 10 or more years in custody. There are now nearly 11,000 people in prison in England and Wales who will spend 10 years or more held in custody – and more than two-thirds do not know when or if they will be released. Meeting the challenges of this change will shape the prison landscape for the foreseeable future, the briefing says. Read the briefing here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ NEWS: wellbeing of young Black men in prison

Spark Inside has launched a new campaign to highlight the urgent need for tailored support for young men in prisons, including young Black men. The Being Well Being Equal campaign calls for action from the government, prison policy-makers and practitioners to prioritise wellbeing services, tailor wellbeing services to take into account and meet the specific needs of young men and particularly Black men in prison, and provide better support and guidance for professionals in prison working with and caring for them. As part of the campaign, Spark Inside will convene an alliance of specialist organisations seeking change, and platform the work of specialist organisations working with young people living in prison. To join the alliance, please contact tim@sparkinside.org or find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ NEWS: employment support to women in Reading

Employment 4 All CIC works with jobseekers to provide confidence building and wellbeing support, peer group mentoring, CV and employability help, training, clothing, food and if appropriate referrals to partner charities and organisations. It has partnered with Westminster City Council and Reading Groundworks focusing on the borough of Reading to offer a ‘Moving On Project’ that will support female job seekers who are on license from prison, serving community sentences, or are at risk of offending, to gain employment. It will prepare women for employment with training and soft skills development, helping them begin to address the issues they face, improve their lives, reduce the likelihood of further reoffending and combat the social exclusion many experience. Find out more about this here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: lived experience of children in the youth justice system

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation together with Ofsted and Estyn is undertaking a joint thematic inspection of education, training and employment provision for children in the youth justice system in England and Wales. We are seeking to recruit an organisation that has lived experience expertise of the criminal justice system, to obtain the views of children and their families working with youth offending services. If you are interested in this opportunity please contact karen.kendall@hmiprobation.gov.uk

FUNDING: arts, education, environment, health, and disadvantage

Grants with the minimum value of £10,000 are available from Steel Charitable Trust, to charities in the UK working in the areas of arts and heritage, education, environment, health, or social and economic disadvantage. The funding is intended for projects that make a real impact in the areas of arts and heritage; education; environment; health; and social or economic disadvantage. All applicants must have an annual turnover of over £50,000. Find out more and apply by 20th October here

FUNDING: diversity in Yorkshire and Humber

Wharfedale Foundation is offering grants of up to £2,500 to not-for-profit organisations for projects in areas of Yorkshire and Humber that address the divisions in society by developing greater understanding of social justice and diversity. The Foundation's objects are achieved through funding projects that are designed to; create greater inclusivity by breaking down barriers of fear based on for example religious, cultural, ethnic or social difference or financial hardship; integrate marginalised groups into mainstream society and promote a welcoming culture; develop a greater understanding of these issues through carrying out research. Find out more and apply by 21st October here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ EVENT: sentencing young adults

The Howard League for Penal Reform and Transition to Adulthood (T2A) Alliance are launching four films to embed the growing consensus that young adults require a distinct approach within the criminal justice system. This joint Howard League and T2A event will launch the films by showing clips along with an expert panel discussion [13th October, online, free]. The discussion will explore how the information in the films can help practitioners to recognise and meet young adults’ needs. Get tickets here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: safety and wellbeing of people in custody

Safe, Secure, Decent? What will it take for prisons to build back better to ensure the safety and well-being of all men and women in custody? Pact is holding a ‘Virtual Conference 2021’ [16th November, online, free]. Attendees will hear from two women who have experienced the imprisonment of a loved one who suffered with severe mental illness. Learn more about the obstacles they faced in trying to navigate what can be a complex and challenging system, whilst trying to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their loved one. You will hear from leading experts in the field of mental health provision about how we not only protect the wellbeing of prisoners with mental illness, but divert mentally ill people from custody into treatment. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: reduce crime and transform lives for the better

The Howard League for Penal Reform is holding an event to celebrate the winners of the Howard League Community Awards 2021 [19th October, online, free].  Successful community projects that reduce crime and transform lives for the better will be honoured in eight different categories. Speakers confirmed so far include: Frances Crook, Chief Executive, Howard League for Penal Reform; Gerry Marshall, Trustee, Howard League for Penal Reform; Sofia Buncy, National Coordinator, Muslim Women in Prison Project, Khidmat Centres; Superintendent Stan Gilmour, Local Policing Area Commander – Reading, Thames Valley Police; and Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns, Howard League for Penal Reform. Book your place here

RESOURCE: cybersecurity for charities

To help charities protect themselves and those they serve from the growing threat of cybercrime, Lloyds Bank Foundation has prepared a four-part film series on the essentials of cybersecurity. The series encompasses an introductory session, laying out the essentials of staying safe in the digital sphere - and three films covering the topics of passwords, phishing and data. These are supported by a downloadable guide, which expands on the films and includes additional cybersecurity resources. Access the films and guide here

FEATURED VACANCY: Women’s Community Project Team Leader

Alana House is looking for a Women’s Community Project Team Leader [£33,538, Reading, full time] to lead a team of support workers and provide support to the Alana House managers, ensuring effective day-to-day delivery of the service and its caseload management so that service users positively engage and progress and Alana House achieves its goals. Alana House is an innovative women’s community project run by Parents And Children Together and provides a holistic approach to support women facing multiple disadvantages. The deadline for applications is 11th October. Find out more and apply here

OPPORTUNITY: join a network of chairs

Are you the Chair or Vice-Chair of a charity or non-profit organisation? Join the Association of Chairs. Association of Chairs would like to pass the milestone of 1,000 members in its network. The 1000th member to join will get a year’s free membership and print copies of popular guides A Chair’s Compass and A Question of Balance. If you are the member or supporter who recommended them to join, you will be offered a choice of free publications or a £50 gift voucher. Membership provides practical knowledge, skills and support to enable Chairs to perform their roles to the highest standards of good governance. Membership is available for £55 or £110 a year, depending on the organisation’s income. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Project Coordinator at Inspire North [Leeds], Trainer Assessor at St Giles Trust [Hull], Project Coordinator at Inspire North [Leeds], Mental Health Engagement Worker x5 at Changing Lives [Northumberland], Women's Outreach Worker at ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [Hammersmith and Fulham], Employment Worker at St Giles Trust [Camberwell], Business Systems Co-Ordinator at Achieve North West Connect [Manchester], Recovery Co-ordinator TC at Humankind [Stockton], Assistant Housing Support Worker at Foundation [Leeds]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • 45 minute deep-tissue massage. £15. Details
  • Teddy reversible mattress enhancer. £13.99. Details
  • 24 craft beers. £27. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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