Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 715 | 7th January 2022

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: supporting families and maternal imprisonment

We have published two further additions to our online evidence library. Jane Dominey, Sophie Ellis and Caroline Lanskey from the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge have provided up-to-date evidence on the impact of criminal justice involvement on the families of people in prison and on probation. Dr Lucy Baldwin from De Montfort University has provided an in-depth look at the impact of maternal imprisonment on the children affected, the mothers themselves and the family members who take over childcare responsibilities. The online evidence library, curated by Russell Webster on behalf of Clinks, 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 topics. See all evidence library publications here

CLINKS NEWS: consultation on the Prison's Strategy White Paper

To inform Clinks’ response to the government’s Prisons Strategy White Paper, we are holding three consultation events [2pm 11th January | 2pm 13th January | 2pm 20th January, online, free]. The first event is for organisations with knowledge and expertise in delivering through the gate and resettlement services. The second is for organisations with knowledge and expertise in delivering services to support people's wellbeing and rehabilitation throughout their sentence. The third event is for organisations providing arts-based services in the criminal justice system. Places are limited and we expect a high demand. Where we cannot offer organisations a place, we will aim to provide an opportunity for views to be shared via e-mail. To express an interest in attending, please complete this form here

CLINKS BLOG: building a better future for people in the criminal justice system

See highlights from our Annual conference and AGM 2021 in our latest blog. Clinks’ Annual conference brings together people working in the criminal justice system – from the voluntary sector and beyond – to stimulate ideas, celebrate outstanding work and learn from each other. This year we were delighted to welcome more than 250 people over three days of activities. Thank you to everyone who joined us, including our wonderful speakers, fantastic workshop leaders, and everyone who participated by listening, asking questions and sharing ideas. You can watch the video recording of the first day of our Annual conference and AGM in full at the end of the blog. Read more here

VOLUNTARY SECTOR NEWS: Small Charities Coalition

We’re sad to hear that the Small Charities Coalition will close in Spring 2022. The organisation started in 2008 and aimed to be the ‘go to’ place for small charities, supporting them to start up and run themselves well. More about the coalition here. We know that many voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system have benefitted from the support and resources that it has provided. If you were part of the Small Charities Coalition and feel that Clinks might be able to support you in areas where you needed Small Charities Coalition, please email support@clinks.org. We also want to remind all voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system that membership of Clinks is currently free, and it will always be free to the smallest of charities. Join Clinks here  

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: learning partner opportunity

GamCare is looking to engage a learning partner who will work with the organisation to help refine, review and develop its current Criminal Justice and Gambling Harm Programme. The learning partner should be equally interested in exploring the relationship between gambling harm and the criminal justice system with an ambition to contribute to an emerging area of knowledge and evidence base. Although the links between problematic gambling and people within the criminal justice system can seem clear, there is currently little published evidence on prevalence levels, types of gambling harm and best practice around implementing impactful treatment. If you are interested in working with GamCare, find out more about this opportunity here. You can also contact Chris Walker Programme Manager at chris.walker@gamcare.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: songs by dads in prison

The Irene Taylor Trust’s Lullaby Project will be featured in a BBC Radio 4 documentary on 11th January. The Lullaby Project is a partnership project with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ‘Resound’ where orchestra members work with dads in prison to compose and record songs for their children. The project returned to physical delivery in July 2021. The aim of the project is to strengthen the bond between parent and child through a creative arts activity. The project can also be a way for parents to explore and express their emotions in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Find out more about the half-hour documentary and the project here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: governance awards  

Entries for The Charity Governance Awards 2022 are closing this month - don’t forget to enter to be in with a chance to win £5,000 for your voluntary organisation. Organised by The Clothworkers’ Company, with partners New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), Prospectus and Reach Volunteering, the awards celebrate outstanding governance and trusteeship in charities across the UK. There are four award categories: Board Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Transforming with Digital; Covid-19 Response: Embracing Opportunity and Harnessing Risk for Long-Term Change; and Improving Impact in Small Charities. Find out more and enter before 26th January here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: update for families of people in prison

Phil Copple, Director General Prisons, has written to prisoners’ families regarding the impact of the government’s decision to move to Covid Plan B on 8th December 2021. The letter has been published on the Prisoners’ Families website and gives details of how this affects people in prison and prison visits. Read the letter here. Further to this letter, on 20th December 2021, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service provided an additional update for families and loved ones. This update explains that all visitors aged 12 and over must now take a lateral flow test before coming to a prison and show proof that the result was negative. The update also gives details about additional phone credit, Release on temporary license, social distancing in prisons and more. Read the update here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: delays to Finance, Benefit and Debt and Dependency and Recovery competitions

The competitions for Finance, Benefit and Debt and Dependency and Recovery services that are being procured through the probation Dynamic Framework have been delayed. There will now be three competitions across the multiple regions: Finance, Benefit and Debt with community specification only – aimed to be published in the week commencing 10th January; Dependency and Recovery – aimed to be published in the week commencing 17th January; and Finance, Benefit and Debt with in-custody and community specification – aimed to be published in the week commencing 24th January. Some regions will be commissioning Finance, Benefit and Debt with a community element only and some regions will be commissioning in-custody and community elements together. Regions that are not buying in-custody now will be looking to procure a national solution that will be tendered in February/March 2022. If you have any queries, please contact ProbationDynamicFramework@justice.gov.uk.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: list of all prison and probation policy frameworks

HM Prison and Probation Service has published an index of all prison and probation policy frameworks that have been issued since September 2018. The index also includes the most up-to-date contact details for the owner of each policy framework and some details regarding any amendments/updates to policies. See the index here

FUNDING: young people and employment

Grants of up to £125,000 are available from the Youth Futures Foundation for local partnerships in the voluntary, public and private sector to deliver projects which support young people facing disadvantage and barriers to employment in specified regions across England. Find out more and apply by 17th January here

FUNDING: health, arts, and social or economic disadvantage

Grants of up to £25,000 are available from the Steel Charitable Trust to registered charities in the UK working in the areas of arts and heritage, education, environment, health, or social and economic disadvantage. Applications under the social or economic disadvantage category, should have a focus on disadvantaged children or housing and people experiencing homelessness. Find out more and apply by 20th January here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: reading in HMP Aylesbury

The National Literacy Trust is holding an event to celebrate and share the learning from its work in HMP Aylesbury over the past three years [18th January, online, free]. New Chapters was created to support and encourage reading for enjoyment, to raise aspirations and to promote a culture of reading within the prison through book donations, author events and workshops, audiobooks, and staff engagement. The National Literacy Trust wants to celebrate what New Chapters has achieved and, crucially, share what has been learnt – successes as well as the challenges faced. Find out more and book your place here

FEATURED VACANCY: Inside and Out Project Officer

Food Matters is looking for an Inside and Out Project Officer [£28,672 FTE, part time, Brighton]. You will work with the project lead to deliver the Food Matters Inside and Out project which aims to change food systems within prisons. This includes 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. Food Matters is seeking someone with facilitator/trainer experience and with a health related background, ideally with nutrition experience, who is confident working in challenging situations. Find out more and apply by 20th January here

FEATURED VACANCY: Policy and Communications Manager

The Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees (AVID) is seeking a Policy and Communications Manager [£35,000 FTE, part time, remote]. This role will work closely with the Director to deliver an ambitious and exciting portfolio, extending AVID’s reach and influencing change. The post holder will lead on all aspects of external communications and digital work, ensuring that AVID extends its reach, accessibility and influence on behalf of people in immigration detention. The role will oversee and lead on policy, research and advocacy activities, working with AVID’s membership to ensure a collaborative approach to external engagement. Find out more and apply by 24th January here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Volunteer Mentor with Northumbria Coalition Against Crime [Northumberland], Community Fundraiser with Anawim [Birmingham], Family Worker with Humankind [HMP Deerbolt], Skills and Employment Manager with St Giles Trust [London], Programme Manager with Leap – Confronting Conflict [London], Mental Health Recovery Practitioner with Imagine Independence [Redbridge], Advice Line Caseworker with Prisoners’ Advice Service [London], Deputy Service Manager with Social Interest Group [London], Communications Officer with CASS+ [Devon and Cornwall], Beth Centre Advocate with Women in Prison [London], User Involvement Project Worker with The Advocacy Project [London], Liaison and Diversion Practitioner with Together for Mental Wellbeing [London], Peer to Peer Service Manager with Brighton Women’s Centre [Brighton and Hove]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

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EXTRA INFORMATION

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