Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 710 | 19th November 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: our Annual conference and AGM is next week

We’re delighted to announce our keynote speaker for our Annual conference and AGM 2021 [23rd-25th November, online, free] is Matt Grey, Executive Director for Reducing Reoffending, Partnerships and Accommodation, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Matt will talk about the work of his Directorate which seeks to galvanise efforts across HMPPS, Whitehall and partner organisations to provide support for prison leavers to make a positive contribution to society. He will be joined by panellists Gemma Fox, North Wales Women’s Centre; Josh Stunell, bthechange CIC; and Hamish Robertson, St Giles Wise – who will discuss the challenges and success of the last year and opportunities to build a better future. Our conference also includes a range of engaging workshops run by Clinks members and opportunities for networking. Don’t forget to book your place here

CLINKS NEWS: watch highlights from last year’s AGM

Watch the highlights from Sir Brian Leveson’s keynote discussion with Clinks CEO, Anne Fox, from our AGM last year. Sir Brian discussed the important role of the voluntary sector in reversing the decline in community sentences, and how to best ensure sentencers understand the complexity of people’s needs and have effective non-custodial sentencing options. You can expect more interesting discussions like this at our Annual conference and AGM next week. Watch the highlights from the discussion here and get tickets to this year’s Annual conference and AGM here

CLINKS NEWS: grants for organisations to engage with racially minoritised people in Wales

10 specialist organisations have been awarded grants from Gwent PCC, North Wales PCC, South Wales PCC, Dyfed-Powys PCC and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to proactively engage with racially minoritised people to shape the Criminal Justice in Wales Anti-Racism Delivery Plan. This work will help ensure that the plan will address changes that racially minoritised groups have been calling for. Clinks has been administering this grant programme on behalf of Criminal Justice in Wales. The organisations awarded grants are: Bawso, North Wales Regional Equality Network, Travelling Ahead, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Support Team Wales, bthechange, Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) Cymru, Race Council Cymru, North Wales Africa Society, The CAE Wales and Zahid Mubarek Trust.

CLINKS NEWS: community empowerment approaches

In case you missed it, we’ve published a video of the second in our event series “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” with Dr Patrick Williams in discussion with Russell Webster, chaired by Clinks’ Director of Support and Development Chris Stacey. The event series features our Evidence Library authors - experts in key criminal justice topics. Dr Patrick Williams presented the findings of his research on community empowerment approaches, including evidence of growing rates of racial disparity in the criminal justice system and key principles for effective interventions with racially minoritised people. He summarised the key findings of his research in a review for our Evidence library, published last year. Watch the event recording here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: guide to supporting peer volunteers

Russell Webster and a team of eight people with lived experience have launched a new best practice guide and website to support people with lived experience who volunteer or work in the social justice sector. Targeted at peers who volunteer and providers and commissioners of services, the guide sets out how best to recruit, train and support peer mentors. The guide covers seven key topic areas which are core to ensuring that peer volunteers are properly supported. Each chapter highlights key issues from the experiences of the 253 peer volunteers who gave their views through a recent survey, split into positive and negative experiences. It also includes suggestions and insights from the co-production team. Read the guide here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: call to introduce public funding for families at inquests

A coalition of organisations, including Clinks and many of our members have joined INQUEST in asking the government to level the playing field at inquests. In a letter sent to the Judicial Review and Courts Bill Committee, the coalition calls on the government to amend the Bill to introduce automatic non-means tested public funding for bereaved families at inquests. Inquests following state-related deaths are intended to seek the truth, to expose unsafe practices and abuses of state power. Examples of these circumstances include healthcare-related deaths in detention, self-inflicted deaths of voluntary patients in mental health settings or under the direct care of a mental health trust in the community, and deaths in supported accommodation or care settings where the person has been placed by a public body or local authority. Read the letter here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: frontline workers addressing homelessness

The St Martin in the Fields Frontline Worker Survey 2021 is now live. This is the survey’s fifth year, gathering views from hundreds of frontline staff supporting people experiencing homelessness across the UK. St Martin in the Fields Frontline Network want to hear from you to understand what has changed and what has been learnt when it comes to frontline work addressing homelessness. The deadline to complete the survey is 8th December. Share your insights, have your voice heard and help shape what happens next here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: environmental and sustainability statement

Birth Companions has recently published a new environmental and sustainability statement outlining its position regarding the current climate and biodiversity emergency, and its commitment to taking action to mitigate the impact of this emergency – as an essential part of its work to achieve systemic change for mothers and babies facing disadvantage and inequality. Alongside the statement Birth Companions has also published examples of practical actions the organisation has already taken with the aim to support employees to ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to sustainability. Birth Companions hope the statement and practical examples can inspire others in the voluntary sector to reflect on their own organisational and personal practices. Read it here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: feature on BBC Radio 4

Belong: Making Justice Happen has been featured on the BBC Radio 4 Appeal. In the programme, vocal coach and choral director Mark De-lisser talks about Belong’s intervention PLAN A, where young people access mentoring, restorative justice and creative therapy concurrently. The programme also features the story of Callum, who went to prison when he was 15 years old and received support from Belong. Listen here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Finance, Benefit and Debt market engagement

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is aiming to go out to tender for the delivery of Finance, Benefit and Debt (FBD) services before Christmas. In order to clarify the regional requirements of this service with suppliers and ensure there are no doubts and ambiguities, the MoJ is holding two market engagement events [22nd and 23rd November, online, free]. The first event (22nd November) will include a commercial presentation and information covering the North East, North West, South Central, South West, Wales and West Midlands areas. The second event (23rd November) will include information covering Yorkshire and the Humber, London, East of England, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, and East Midlands. If you have any queries, please contact ProbationDynamicFramework@justice.gov.uk. Register for the first event here and for the second event here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: what support is available in Norfolk?

Organisations across Norfolk are encouraged to take part in a survey to help understand how well people in contact with the criminal justice system are supported in the county, to identify any gaps in services and prevent re-offending. The consultation exercise has been commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk (OPCCN) and will be run by the Centre for Public Innovation (CPI). The survey forms part of a wider Strategic Needs Assessment being carried out by the CPI, at request of the OPCCN, to look at prevention and management with a view to better inform future work in this area. Take the survey here

FUNDING: Recovery Fund loans

UK charities and social enterprises can apply for loans of £100k-£1.5m from the Recovery Loan Fund. This fund provides loans to organisations who have been impacted by Covid-19 and need funds to help them to survive, recover and grow. It has been established by Social Investment Business (SIB) to make an existing government guarantee scheme, the Recovery Loan Scheme, more easily accessible to charities and social enterprises. Organisations led by racially minoritised people and those based in Wales or Scotland can apply for a smaller loan from £50,000. The fixed interest fee is 7.9% per year with an arrangement fee of 2.5-3%. Applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Find out more and apply by 21st November here

FUNDING: helping families overcome challenges

Funding is available from the Youth Endowment Fund’s themed grant round: A supportive home – helping families to overcome challenges. Between £6 million and £10 million is available to fund between five and 10 programmes. Funding is for organisations in England and Wales to support interventions to prevent children and young people who are at risk of being drawn into crime and violence. This funding round is focused on: parenting programmes (including programmes for foster carers or people working with children in residential care); family therapy interventions (including for children in foster care); programmes to reduce parental conflict; and domestic abuse interventions. Find out more and apply by 1st December here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: ethnicity and the criminal justice system

This Economic and Social Research Council event will present academic research, policy and practitioner perspectives, on ethnicity, inequalities and the criminal justice system [26th November, online/Manchester, free]. Speakers include Dr Patrick Williams, Manchester Metropolitan University; Dr Kitty Lymperopoulou, Manchester Metropolitan University; Jessica Mullen, Clinks; and Jeremy Crook, BTEG and EQUAL. The second part of the event will be a fishbowl discussion and will take place at Manchester Metropolitan University (offline). The discussion will explore ethnic disproportionality; what ethnicity means, how it is collected and used in the criminal justice system; evidence gaps and challenges; and how these can be addressed to tackle inequalities. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: poverty and policing

Join Revolving Doors, Leaders Unlocked and Newcastle University for the launch of Broke, but not broken: What the academic literature and young adults tell us about the interplay between poverty, inequality and repeat contact with policing [8th December, online, free]. Revolving Doors will also be launching a socioeconomic toolkit, guiding Police and Crime Commissioners and police forces to act in the spirit of a socioeconomic duty when making strategic decisions and policing socioeconomically deprived communities. At this event, you will hear a keynote speech from Kim McGuiness, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria, and hear key findings from the report authors and peer researchers. Find out more and register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: mental health awareness

2 Way Tenancy Solutions CIC is offering Adult Mental Health Awareness training [7th December, online, £90]. The half day introductory course will give you and your organisation a greater understanding of managing mental health issues in the workplace. The course is targeted at anyone looking to gain basic knowledge of some common mental health issues. It also includes an introduction to looking after your own mental health and maintaining well-being, and building confidence to support someone in distress or who may be experiencing a mental health issue. Learning takes place through a mix of presentations, group discussions and workshop activities. Delegates will receive materials and certification direct from MHFA England. Find out more here

FEATURED VACANCY: Alana House Women’s Community Project - Team Leader

Alana House is looking for a Team Leader [£30,184-£33,538, Reading, full-time] responsible for leading a team of Support Workers to positively engage with service users and achieve positive outcomes. As Team Leader, you will ensure day to day services are planned, co-ordinated and delivered effectively as well as being responsible for caseload management across the team, which will include responsibility for your own caseload. You will have experience of providing support to women with complex needs, preferably for those within the criminal justice setting. You should have experience of managing a team, monitoring performance, and ensuring key performance indicators are met. Find out more and apply by 2nd December here

FEATURED VACANCY: Service Delivery Manager

Spark Inside is looking for a Service Delivery Manager [£35,000, London and South East, full-time] to be responsible for engaging young people in prison and in the community to participate in Spark Inside’s life coaching workshops and one-to-one coaching. You will also manage a team of freelance coaches and play a key role in project management and smooth running of Spark Inside's coaching programmes. You should thrive when building relationships with young people, be highly organised, and have the passion and drive to achieve outcomes in challenging environments. You will be working mainly within prisons in Greater London and Kent, as well as in the community in partnership with other organisations. Find out more and apply by 6th December here

FEATURED VACANCY: Recruitment Consultant (male)

The Recruitment Junction is looking for a Recruitment Consultant (male) [£22,000-26,000, Newcastle Upon Tyne, full-time] to help in its mission to help people in contact with the criminal justice system to enter employment. The right person for this role will be a confident self-starter who has compassion and a strong belief that people with convictions can move on with their lives. You will be undaunted by the prospect of ‘cold-calling’ an unknown employer, to advocate passionately as to why their firm should consider hiring your candidate. The Recruitment Junction is looking to add a man to the team as some candidates have a legal restriction against having a female caseworker. Find out more and apply by 15th December here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Trainee Peer Circles Caseworker with St Giles Trust [London], Activity Hub Support Worker with Community Links [Leeds], Human Resources Business Partner with Hestia Housing and Support [London], Development Manager with Synergy Theatre Project [London], Cook with Stepping Stones [Luton], Visitor Centre Support Worker with HACRO [HMP The Mount], Trusts and Grants Lead with Inspire North [Leeds], Family Worker with Humankind [Durham], Administrative Support Volunteer with The Forward Trust [HMP The Mount]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

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EXTRA INFORMATION

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