Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 764 | 6 January

Light Lunch

Welcome back to Light Lunch! Clinks are excited to be working alongside you for another year, supporting the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system. We are immensely proud to play this part in creating change and thank you for your ongoing commitment to the cause. Happy New Year.

In this issue....​​​​​

CLINKS NEWS: Evidence Library | diversion for children and young people

This evidence review has been written by the team at the Centre for Justice Innovation. It shows that point-of-arrest youth diversion is a better way of addressing low-level criminal behaviour. Moreover, in line with the Youth Justice Board’s ‘Child First’ strategy, point-of-arrest youth diversion is vital to the prioritisation of the child’s needs, enabling a fairer youth justice system. Unfortunately, the consequences of being caught, arrested and convicted can be serious. For these children, this affects future education and employment opportunities, and it can have a backfire effect, making children and young people more, not less, likely to re-offend. Read the Evidence Library review here.

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Clinks policy briefing - sign up today

The next issue of our Policy Briefing will be sent a week later this month on the [17 January] due to the holiday time scale. The briefing provides our members with monthly updates and analysis of developments in criminal justice policy. The briefing is a useful resource for members and we encourage organisations striving for change to sign up here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: self-employment support for women with convictions

RIFT Social Enterprise is pleased to announce that with the support of Porticus, it has received grant funding to launch a new two-year project across the entire women's prison estate, developing and delivering an impactful self-employment support offer for women with convictions. RIFT will be working collaboratively with HMP Eastwood Park and New Futures Network, using an action learning research approach to ensure that they apply their learning meaningfully throughout the project's lifespan, driving change and ensuring that their work has ripple effects well beyond the scope and duration of the project. If you work within the women's prison estate either directly or indirectly and would like to know more, or become involved in the project, please contact Andy Gullick, CEO: agullick@riftse.co.uk

CLINKS-MEMBER'S EVENT: effective point-of-arrest diversion for children and young people: what the evidence tells us

On [6 February, online] the Centre for Justice Innovation will discuss the latest evidence for effective point-of-arrest diversion for children and young people. This is part of Clinks' “A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us” series, to accompany our Evidence Library, giving you the chance to ask your own questions of leading academics talking about the latest research on an important criminal justice topic. Find out more and book your place here.

The Centre for Justice Innovation seeks to build a justice system which everyone believes is fair and effective. Their work on effective point-of-arrest diversion for children and young people is hosted on the Youth Justice Board’s effective practice hub and as part of the Youth Endowment Fund’s toolkit on pre-court diversion. The Centre for Justice Innovation has summarised the evidence base for effective point-of-arrest diversion for children and young people in a review for our Evidence Library, which you can read here: Effective point-of-arrest diversion for children and young people.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE: celebrate someone in the industry with a nomination

Nominations are live for the @SMKCampaigners Awards 2023. Each year, the Sheila McKechnie Foundation celebrates the best campaigns and campaigners. Their interest is in finding those who have made change happen – most effectively, creatively and courageously. What all nominees have in common is the determination to secure a specific change that will make things better. Can you help find those who have made change happen most effectively and courageously? Nominate them today!

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: cyber security training

The National Cyber Security Centre is helping organisations in the third sector prevent the most common types of cyber attacks using the Funded Cyber Essentials Programme. The Funded Cyber Essentials Programme seeks to help UK organisations meet the five technical controls of  Cyber Essentials – firewalls, secure settings, access controls, malware and software updates – by identifying and implementing improvements that are right for the size and needs of the organisation. Qualifying organisations that meet the criteria and that are eligible for the programme will receive hands-on support at no cost. Find out more and apply here.

NON-MEMBER'S EVENT: a series of online events from the Ministry of Justice Female Offender team

The Ministry of Justice Female Offender Policy Team is hosting a series of online events this January to share best practice with areas interested in setting up a Whole Systems Approach (WSA). The first two events on best practice will be taking place in January and registration for these free talks is open now. Each online session will run for approximately an hour and a half with presentations followed by a chance to ask questions.

Event 1: Whole System Approaches: Common Principles, Different Applications [17 January, 13.30 - 15.00]. This session will focus on the common principles, in terms of setting up and running a WSA and how the application of these will vary by location.

Event 2: Whole System Approaches: Working Together [19th January, 10.00 - 11.30]. This session will focus on how to ensure that organisations working across an area are sharing the information required to improve outcomes for women and showcase ways in which you can use MoJ data sources.

Sign up via Eventbrite here. If you have any queries please contact cjwst@justice.gov.uk or alex.heron@justice.gov.uk

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: Society Matters CIC release February event schedule

The social welfare training organisation has released a series of applicable events for frontline organisations throughout February. Introduction to welfare benefits [1 February, online]. Living below the breadline [6 February, online]. In work benefit: A guide for employers [8 February, online]. Get to grips with PIP [9 February, online]. Money Matters [13 February, online]. Get to grips with Universal Credit [16 February, online]. Society Matters CIC provides affordable training sessions for organisations that aspire for social change - you can find out more about them and keep up to date with their events here.

FUNDING: training fund for frontline staff

If you are a frontline worker or team and have identified a training course that will help you in your current work with people experiencing homelessness, but your organisation is not able to fund it, St Martin in the Field's training fund may be able to help. Individuals can apply for up to £500 to cover the cost of training and groups can apply for up to £1000. Find out more and apply here.

FUNDING: advanced notice of funding: HMPPS Innovation grant round expected to take place Spring 2023

HM Prison and Probation Service Third Sector Partnerships and Programmes Team will be releasing an innovation grant round this year – with market engagement expected to take place in late Spring, and award in late Summer. The grant fund will total £2.5m, with the maximum grant amount to a value of £250,000 across two years. The Partnerships and Programmes Team expect micro-grants that run for a shorter duration to also be included in this grant round. HMPPS will keep you up to date as this progresses. There is no additional information to share at this stage.

FUNDING: the Ministry of Justice is re-competing the grant for prisoner participation in the arts

This grant is offered to support activities around those in prison with art, planning, organising, and curating art exhibitions within prison establishments, immigration removal centres and the Youth Custody Service, involving and engaging offenders in custody in the art, as part of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) objectives of rehabilitation. The grant is run over three years with a total value of £225,000 with the competition running from the [4-31 January 2023] with the start date of [1 April 2023]. The ITT number for this competition is: ITT 6974 and can be applied for through the Ministry of Justice sourcing panel.

FUNDING: the Ministry of Justice is re-competing the grant for the provision of advice and support following a miscarriage of justice

This grant is offered for activities to support victims of a miscarriage of justice, through self-referral or from the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), providing advice and support to enable integration back into society, including social welfare advice in the areas of housing, debt, benefits and health. The grant is run over three years with a total value of £300,000 with the competition running from [4-31 January 2023] with the start date [1 April 2023]. The ITT number for this competition is: ITT 6973  and can be applied for through the Ministry of Justice sourcing panel.

PUBLICATION: free-to-access resource library

The Co-Production Collective has launched a free-to-access resource library full of useful tools and information. Since the collective started out with co-producing in 2017, they have been adding to a spreadsheet of resources. All sorts of useful things such as documents about what co-production is, videos on how to do it and numerous examples of other people’s work. They have turned this into a user-friendly library of useful resources that is open to all. The resources come from all sorts of different places and include web pages, reports, videos, books, journal articles and much more. You can access it here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Communications and Engagement Manager 

Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) are looking for a Communications and Engagement Manager [£35,000-£40,000, full time, London] to help them build their profile on social media and other platforms, amplifying the work of their 180+ members and promoting good communications practice in the sector and amongst journalists, with the aim of effecting systemic change in the criminal justice system. This is an exciting and varied role focused on changing the public narrative, sharing sector good practice, promoting positive solutions, engaging and empowering our diverse membership in new ways and organising impactful events. Find out more and apply by 15 January here. 

FEATURED VACANCY: Offender Supervisor 

Are you looking for an opportunity where your skills will make a difference in supporting women in the criminal justice system? Elizabeth Fry Charity have an exciting opportunity for a passionate and motivated person to join their dedicated team as an Offender Supervisor [£26,820 - £31,000, full time, Reading]. You will support their residents through 1:1 sessions and a groupwork programme. Ideally you should have experience of working within the criminal justice system and understand the importance of leading by example, encouragement and enthusiasm. You will work with a team to effectively manage the risk posed by residents, as well as supporting them to address any difficult areas within their life. Find out more and apply by 19 January here.    

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Head of Effective Sentencing with the Sentencing Academy [£44,000 FTE, remote, part time]; Employment Coach with Seetec [£23,000-£24,801, Bath, full time];Casework Coordinator with Julian House [£22,440-£23,812, Exeter, full time]; Communications Coordinator with Prison Phoenix Trust [£27,344 FTE, Oxford, part time]; Service Manager (Prison Service) with Phoenix Futures [30,000, HMP Whitemoor, full time]; Mental Health Trainer with Inspire North [£28,226-£30,984 FTE, Leeds, part time] 

For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

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EXTRA INFORMATION:

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