Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 709 | 12th November 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: needs and experiences of older people in prison

Clinks and Recoop have published a report providing valuable evidence on the needs and experiences of older people in prison, with key recommendations for policymakers to influence the development of the Older offender strategy. The report, commissioned by Clinks through our work as a member of the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Alliance, was informed by Recoop’s engagement with older people in prison. This joint work has revealed the particular challenges that older people in prison face and has highlighted the need for an overarching and consistent approach to meeting these needs. Read the report here

CLINKS NEWS: welcoming new members

13 new members joined Clinks last quarter and we are delighted to welcome them. They are: Altogether Human CIC, The Huggard Centre, Time to Change (West Cumbria) CIC, Inside Connections, Severn Arts, Abianda, The Jabbs Foundation, Rebuild with Hope, CAIS Limited, Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling, Calan Domestic Violence Services, Eeverse Events CIC and Cruse Bereavement Support. Clinks membership offers a voice to influence change, practical assistance to be effective and resilient, and support from a community of like-minded professionals. Membership is currently free for voluntary organisations until March 2022. See our full list of members here. Find out more about membership here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: HMPPS must be willing to be held to account on tackling race disparities

Prison Reform Trust Director Peter Dawson has raised concerns about a lack of accountability from Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) regarding its Race Action Programme. Peter Dawson wrote a letter to Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of HMPPS and Second Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, requesting publication of: the HMPPS Race Action Programme; measures of success; and a central register of equality assessments and what difference they make. He has received a reply from Ian Blakeman, Executive Director for Strategy, Planning and Performance, which fails to adequately address these requests. Clinks, along with Prison Reform Trust, Zahid Mubarek Trust, Partners of Prisoners, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and The Traveller Movement, are members of the HMPPS Race Action Programme External Advice and Scrutiny Panel and will continue to raise these issues with HMPPS. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: awards for great governance

Entries are now open to the Charity Governance Awards 2022, the UK awards that recognise and reward charities achieving great governance. Organised by The Clothworkers’ Company, with partners New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), Prospectus and Reach Volunteering, the awards shine a light on the trustees, staff and volunteers who make change possible day after day. The most outstanding entry in each of the five categories will receive a £5,000 prize (as an unrestricted grant) with runners-up receiving £1,000. In addition, all shortlisted charities will receive a one-year membership to the Association of Chairs and the opportunity to send a new member of their board on the Trustee Leadership Programme from Cause4. The deadline for entries is 26th January 2022. See more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: new classification of UK charities

A new classification system of charities in the UK has been launched – aiming to help researchers, umbrella bodies and others make sense of the diverse group of organisations that form the voluntary sector. NCVO has worked with David Kane, an independent data scientist, and Chris Damm from Sheffield Hallam University on this new classification system called UK Charity Activity Tags (UK-CAT). The aim is to help make clearer the work charities do and to identify subdivisions of the voluntary sector. In total, there are over 250 tags and defined rules for attaching them to charities using keyword matching. If you’d like to give feedback on the classification system you can do so via feedback@charityclassification.org.uk. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: stakeholder survey

The HM Inspectorate of Prisons annual stakeholder survey for 2021 is now live and will remain open until midday 29th November. The purpose of the survey is for the Inspectorate to learn what its stakeholders think of the work it has done throughout the year. Stakeholders include people working and volunteering in the criminal justice system as well as people who are or have been in prison and family members or friends of people in prison. The survey should take no more than ten minutes to complete. Take the survey here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Women in Prison’s Chief Executive

Women in Prison has announced that after six years, Kate Paradine is set to leave her role as Chief Executive at the end of the charity’s financial year in March 2022. Kate Paradine said: “After six of the most incredible years leading Women in Prison, I have decided to step aside as CEO. It has been the honour of my life to be trusted with leading such a treasured charity, and whoever takes over will be inheriting a wonderful and committed staff team.” Read more here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: impact of Covid-19 on voluntary sector

The Charity Commission for England and Wales has published the findings from its Covid-19 Survey 2021. The Commission found that nearly all charities (91%) in England and Wales have experienced some negative impact from Covid-19. The consequences have been wide-ranging and often severe, spanning service delivery, financial and staffing issues, as well as frustration and uncertainty. The survey found that many charities have actively tried to counter the impact of Covid-19, most commonly by adapting their services. Whilst many have actioned changes in light of Covid-19, there is some concern surrounding future viability. Some charities have already accessed funding support, but many would appreciate further clarity on where to find it. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insights22 Festival

The Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Insights22 Festival will be taking place on 9th-20th May 2022 and the team are now accepting offers from organisations who wish to be included in the festival line-up. Insights22 events are free and open to everyone who works for, and alongside, HMPPS. The festival brings people together to learn knowledge and skills, share ideas and good practice, connect to build relationships and celebrate success. The Insights team are looking for a broad range of events and unique learning opportunities, across departments, sectors, and regions in the UK and beyond. The team are seeking online events to attract large audiences, small group in-person visits or events, and exclusive VIP opportunities. The closing date for inclusion is 31st January 2022. Find out more here

FUNDING: Kent and Medway

Grants of up to £15,000 are available from the Kent Community Foundation for capital expenditure projects that strengthen voluntary sector organisations in Kent and Medway. The Foundation’s five themed funds are: Children, Young People and Families; Elderly and Isolated; Vulnerable Adults; Employability, Skills and Enterprise; and Environment. Priority will be given to groups with an annual income up to £1 million. Find out more and apply by 30th November here

FUNDING: Avon and Somerset

Grants of up to £1,000 are available from the Avon and Somerset Police’s Community Trust for local community and voluntary groups in Avon and Somerset for projects which reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and promote community safety. When reviewing your application, Trustees will be looking for projects which focus on: protecting local people and property from crime; reducing anti-social behaviour; educating young people on the dangers of drug, alcohol and solvent misuse; increasing community safety; diverting young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour, encouraging their positive growth; and building good community relations. Find out more and apply by 1st December here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: invisible sentence

A new play by Dinos Aristidou, created in collaboration with Sussex Prisoners Families and based on powerful verbatim accounts from women who have a child or partner serving a prison sentence, will debut this month [20th November, Hove, £10]. Directed by Julia Roberts, the company bring to life the experiences of families under extreme pressure who are key but largely silent, forgotten figures in the criminal justice system. See more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: safer recruitment

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s ‘Safer recruitment – train the trainer workshop' [24th and 25th January 2022, £1,500 + VAT] is designed for people who want to become safer recruitment trainers. Attendees will acquire skills, confidence and be equipped with up-to-date exercises and materials to obtain accredited status as a safer recruitment trainer, to help ensure schools and other settings receive good quality safer recruitment training to protect children, prevent abuse and meet their safeguarding obligations. Successful participants will be able to enrol on the Safer Recruitment Consortium’s register of accredited Safer Recruitment Trainers and be able to deliver Safer Recruitment training events to professionals. Find out more here

FEATURED VACANCY: Inside and Out Project Officer

Food Matters, a charity working on prison food reform, is looking for an Inside and Out Project Officer [£28,672 FTE, Brighton, part time] with facilitator/trainer experience and a nutrition, dietetic or health related background, who is confident working in challenging situations. The role is office (Brighton) or home-based with regular travel to a women’s prison in Surrey. You will work with the project lead to deliver Food Matters Inside and Out including participatory courses and in-cell learning at a Surrey women's prison. You will provide administrative support to the project and contribute to the dissemination of the project findings. Find out more and apply by 18th November here

FEATURED VACANCY: Community Link Worker - London Forensic Service

Together For Mental Wellbeing is looking for a Community Link Worker for its London Forensic Service [£24,252, London, full-time]. The Community Link Worker will identify and work with people going through the criminal justice system who have mental health needs and other vulnerabilities to support their access to appropriate services in the community. The successful candidate must have experience of working in the criminal justice system and delivering mental health services, and have good knowledge and understanding of peer support and service user leadership. You will need to have excellent interpersonal skills that will enable you to challenge, motivate, influence and inspire your colleagues at all levels.  Find out more and apply by 30th November here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Campaigns and Communications Manager with Why me? Victims for Restorative Justice [London], Workplace Development Programme Assistant Director with Open Clasp Theatre Company [Newcastle Upon Tyne], Early Intervention in Psychosis Practitioner with Inspire North [Yorkshire and the Humber], Specialist Psychologist/Psychotherapist with Community Links [Leeds], Community Keyworker with ADVANCE [Oxford], Project Worker with Nacro [Carmarthen], Team Administrator with Foundation [Leeds], Trusts Manager with Redthread [London], Business Manager with YouTurn Futures [Bedford], CEO with A Way Out [Stockton-On-Tees], Critical Time Intervention Team Leader with Crisis [Swansea], Recovery and Resilience Manager with Kaleidoscope Project [North Wales]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Vauxhall Comedy Club entry and drink. £2.50. Details
  • Winter duvet. Save 60%. Details
  • Dyson V6 cordless vacuum cleaner. Save 24%. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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