This specialist quarterly ebulletin keeps you updated on relevant developments for organisations working to support women in contact with the criminal justice system. Please contact Jackie Lowthian at Jackie.lowthian@clinks.org if there is anything you would like to raise or to include items in the next ebulletin.
In this edition...
Ministry of Justice to invest £24m in services for women
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is investing £24 million over three years to support women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system. Three grant funding competitions are live. Community sector organisations can apply for ‘core costs’ over three financial years and to extend or offer new services. Statutory-led partnerships can apply to develop ‘whole system approaches’ in local areas. To apply, you must log in to the Ministry of Justice sourcing portal. The ITT numbers for each competition are: core costs ITT_6494, new or extended services; ITT_6495 and statutory-led partnerships ITT_6488. Clinks welcomes this having advocated for multi-year core grant funding since the publication of the Female Offender Strategy. Find out more about MoJ grant funding for women’s services in this Clinks blog
Residential Women’s Centre Swansea
The first Residential Women’s Centre (RWC) is due to open in 2024 in Swansea subject to planning permission. New details from HMPPS also include activities that women might do at the centre and the long-term support it will offer. Find out more here
Women’s problem-solving court update
Following an earlier announcement about the planned pilot of a women’s problem-solving court operating from Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, the government has released further details. Work will target those with complex needs, including substance misuse. Women sentenced at the court will see the same judge or bench of magistrates for regular reviews, receive intensive support and supervision from the Probation Service and have access to services for drug and alcohol dependency, and support with housing, training, and employment. Find out more about problem-solving approaches for women in this briefing from the Centre for Justice Innovation
Continuation of gender-specific services for women in South and Southeast London
Following a competitive process, specialist voluntary sector partners, Women in Prison, Pecan, Housing for Women, Hibiscus, Advance, Working Chance, Together and Clean Break have been co-commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, NHS England and Lambeth Council to continue to deliver services to women under probation supervision and those at risk of being in contact with the criminal justice system in South and Southeast London. This means that women will continue to access trauma informed, gender-specific services until March 2025. Read more here
Major survey exploring cost of living crisis on charities
Pro Bono Economics (PBE) and the National VCSE Data and Insights Observatory, run by Nottingham Trent University, are partnering to conduct this survey exploring the impact of the cost of living crisis on charities and community groups. The group includes bodies, such as the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF) and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), as well as the British Red Cross and Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales. Findings from quarterly surveys will help to inform policymakers about the state of the social sector during the crisis and fill a gap in the lack of reliable data on the social sector and the economy. Find out more here
Clinks women’s network update
The Clinks women’s networking forum took place on 20 September. Attendees heard from Chloé Geoghegan, Head of women and criminal justice programme at the JABBS Foundation on the interim findings from the Women's Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) Validation Research. Anawim shared their experiences of using the tool to offer women a gender-specific needs assessment and there was an engaged Q&A session. Agenda provided a policy update and Clinks shared early thinking about the ‘women’s section’ of the ‘Clinks Thinks’ publication. The next network forum is on [24 January]. To attend future Women’s network meetings please register as a member of the network here
PRT publishes it’s updated ‘Why focus on reducing women’s imprisonment?’ briefing
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) briefing contains key facts and figures on the number of women imprisoned, the characteristics of women in prison, and drivers to their offending, as we all information about community-based services and solutions. It also provides a concise explanation of the need to focus on reducing the imprisonment of women in England and Wales. View the briefing here
Update from National Women’s Justice Coalition
The National Women’s Justice Coalition celebrates its first anniversary this month and will launch a dedicated website outlining its vision, mission and aims later this year. The coalition’s 16 organisational partners have also committed to growing its membership in 2023. New members will soon be invited to apply to join. Meanwhile, the coalition remains focused on progressing its work in key areas including developing an anti-racism charter and action plan, convening a national advisory board of experts by experience, promoting shared messages on the MoJ’s women’s strategy, and positively influencing the way services for women are designed, delivered, commissioned, and sustainably funded. Further updates and details on how to join the NWJC will be published on its website later this year: www.weareNWJC.org.uk
Agenda’s action plan for government
Britain’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, is urged to reflect women and girls’ needs in policy decisions and government funding. Agenda has developed five recommendations for the government to improve the lives of women and girls at the sharpest end of inequality. Issues including addressing racism and the disproportionate impact of the cost of living crisis on women and girls. Read the action plan here
Growing suspensions for girls during the pandemic
Agenda’s analysis of the latest exclusions and suspensions data for the school year 2020 to 2021 has revealed that the pandemic has taken its toll on girls most in terms of disciplinary action in schools. While the number of overall permanent exclusions of pupils has decreased (from 5,057 the previous year to 3,928), suspensions of girls increased by 20% compared to the year before. Find out more here
Racism within prisons
Speaking to ITV News, the CEO of Agenda, Indy Cross was interviewed about the racist treatment of racially minoritised women in the criminal justice system. As part of the feature, ITV News also spoke to poet Lady Unchained about her experience in prison, and Nina Champion, Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA). Indy Cross stated, "let's co-produce, co-design interventions with black women, Asian women, minoritised women, let's ensure we're recruiting black women, Asian women, minoritised women as well into the prison system, that's the only way we can tackle it, we need to act on this now." Watch the interview
Clinks Stronger Voice: Using the legal system to achieve change
Do you want to learn about innovative ways to use the law to support campaigning work? This training will help develop confidence in engaging with the law, increase understanding of ways the law can be used and build knowledge of how to incorporate legal strategy into wider campaign planning. Join us for this three-hour training session [3 November, online, free] for anybody working for a voluntary organisation in the criminal justice system. Find out more and book here
Clinks training: Navigating the criminal justice system workshop
Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system? Join us at this three-hour workshop [10 November, online, £50 members/£75 non-members] for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of, and provide the opportunity to, explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works. Find out more and book here
Clinks member’s training: introduction to welfare benefits
This introduction to welfare benefits training by Society Matters CIC is CPD accredited [23 November, 9:00 – 13:00, online, £45 plus VAT]. Since the introduction of Universal Credit and PIP in 2013 with the objective of simplifying the welfare state, there are still multiple ‘legacy’ benefits that are being claimed by millions of people. This short course provides newcomers to welfare benefits with an overview of 14 welfare benefits that are currently being claimed in the UK. Book your place here
Clinks member’s training: get to grips with Universal Credit
Society Matters CIC is providing training to help get to grips with Universal Credit [10 November, 9:00 – 14:30, online, £59.50 plus VAT]. This highly interactive, quality accredited Universal Credit training course has been designed to help support organisations involved in all aspects of social welfare to get to grips with Universal Credit. Book your place here
Women’s Resource Centre training: Ten top tips for fundraising
The nature of fundraising and the climate in which we fundraise has developed radically over the last few years. This interactive webinar [16 November, 10.00 -12.00, online, free to London women’s organisations, from £34 for others] will refresh your knowledge using a ten top tips format and what key features are necessary to improve funding applications. Find out more and book your place here
Women’s Resource Centre Training: Wellbeing
Staff wellbeing was a major concern amongst respondents to the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC's) survey on the impact of COVID-19 on the women's sector. The pandemic can have negative impacts, including anxiety related to working with marginalised women whose disadvantages risk exacerbating, worries about personal and family's physical and mental health, working while having caring responsibilities, 'social media envy' and more. This session [23 November, 11:00 – 1.30, online, free to London women’s organisations, from £34 for others] offers space for self-reflection and provides an opportunity to have a conversation about what we need from our workplaces to ensure our well-being. The session is facilitated by WRC trainers but we welcome everyone to participate and contribute. Find out more and book your place here
Howard League Community Awards 2022
The Community Awards attracted large numbers of entries deserving of recognition and praise for their excellent work in the community. The range and diversity of the nominated programmes, each delivering services under difficult circumstances during the pandemic, was remarkable. Following the judging panel in September the final shortlist was agreed and winners for 2022 awards will be announced at an awards ceremony on 22 November. Shortlisted entries in the 'Women's category’ are Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Liaison and Diversion, Alana House; and Thames Valley Police – Enrich; Employment 4 All CIC, Thames Valley Berkshire - Women’s Moving On Project; and Willowdene Rehabilitation - Willowdene Women's Whole System Approach. Find out more here
The Value of Women’s Centres
A new report by Women in Prison shows that Women’s Centres generate a nearly triple return on public investment, by keeping women out of prison and easing demand for other services, but that nearly half of Women’s Centres are concerned about their survival. Women’s Centres are services by women for women and provide support under one roof to address the root causes of offending including mental ill health, debt, domestic abuse and homelessness. Read the report here
Launch of the North Wales Women’s Justice Strategy
The Office of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has published a new strategy to help address the causes of women’s offending in North Wales. Building on the foundations of the Women’s Justice Blueprint for Wales and the work of existing organisations and partners across the region, the strategy aims to support women to live crime-free, positive, and healthy lives, improving well-being and making communities safer. It has delivery priorities for early intervention and prevention; courts and sentencing; community sentences; custody and resettlement; systems and governance; and research and evaluation. Read the strategy
On “being a ‘good woman:’ stigma, relationships and desistance
Working Chance has published a guest blog, authored by Úna Barr and Natalie Rutter, lecturers in criminology. Their research focusses on women’s desistance, relationships, and probation service delivery, with reference to an idea of the “good women”. Barr and Rutter conclude that there is a knowledge gap between the established male desistance literature and the realities of women’s lives, arguing there must be an understanding of how gender, class, race, and other inequalities inform our understanding of what a “good woman” is, and these ideas should be challenged in theory and practice. Rather than desistance research and practice based on individual responsibility, they call for critical desistance strategies which reflect the realities of women’s experiences, and are based on compassion, love, and support. Read the blog
No Safe Place – women victims of abuse accused of offending
A report published by the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) recommends that national female offender policy and local whole system approaches should include a strategic focus on protecting domestic abuse victims who are accused of offending. CWJ calls on local authorities to make better internal links between work to improve the response to women in contact with the criminal justice system and work to tackle domestic abuse, including the provision of safe housing. Other proposed reforms include the establishment of women-only probation teams as standard everywhere, and increased investment in women’s specialist services. Read the report here
The funding landscape for women’s voluntary and community organisations in London
The Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) has published a report summarising the initial findings and recommendations of its pilot research on the funding landscape for women’s organisations in London. The WRC found only 310 of the 8,950 grants awarded to voluntary organisations in London in 2020 went to women’s organisations. WRC’s recommendations include that funders in London should be actively engaging with WRC and other women’s infrastructure organisations in the co-production of grant programmes, and that 50% of funding should be ring-fenced for London’s specialist and led-by-and-for women’s organisations. Read the report here
Probation launch grant competition for services to support racially minoritised people
The first round of probation grant competitions was launched on 21 September and is for organisations delivering services to support racially minoritised people on probation. This competition covers all probation regions. Clinks welcomes this significant investment of £12.8 million in services for racially minoritised people and is very pleased to see it being distributed through grants in line with our recommendations on how to best commission the voluntary sector. For more information on the funding allocations in each probation area and the timelines for applications please read our updated blog
ROSA: voices from the frontline
Rosa, a UK-wide fund for women's initiatives, is offering one-off grants of between £500 and £7,000 to women’s organisations across the UK for projects and activities that raise women's voices and challenge inequality. The deadline for applications is 4pm on Thursday 3rd November 2022. There is a webinar [25 October, 3-4pm, register here] for organisations interested in applying to the fund. See full details here
Triangle Trust 1949 Fund: support for young people in the criminal justice system
The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund is now accepting applications from not for profit organisations working to support young people caught up in the criminal justice system. There are grants available from £10,000 up to £60,000 for a duration of 6 months to 2 years. The funding is for projects that work with young people with criminal convictions (up to the age of 25) to find meaningful and secure employment. You can read about the eligibility criteria on our website. They are particularly looking to support projects that work with young women and girls who have been in the criminal justice system. The closing date for application is noon on 28 October 2022. Find out more and apply here
If you have any comments about this ebulletin or feedback for improvement, please email Jackie Lowthian.
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