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...
Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan
We welcome the publication today of the Ministry of Justice's delivery plan for the female offender strategy. It will allow for a renewed focus on meeting the needs of women in the criminal justice system. It outlines the plan for supporting women in the community, as well as a way of tracking progress and holding government to account on this commitment. As a member of the Women in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) expert group Clinks has fed into the delivery plan, highlighting the importance of considering intersectionality and the needs of racially minority women and the need for clear data and metrics to measure progress against. We are also pleased to see published progress updates on the Farmer Review for women and the Concordat for women in or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system. Access all publications here
Women in the Criminal Justice System
Clinks’ Director of Influence and Communications, Jess Mullen, attended the Ministry of Justice Women in the Criminal Justice System Expert Group meeting in December. As well as discussion about the delivery plan for the female offender strategy, the group also heard about MoJ plans to expand the use of electronic monitoring (EM). The group fed back that it was important EM was used effectively and as an alternative to custody, rather than in addition to imprisonment. The Prison Reform Trust also presented its report Invisible Women, and the group discussed several key issues including the new rules on open prisons, the impact of the change in the security categorisation process for people looking to be transferred to open prisons, and the need for increased awareness of the impact of long sentences on both physical and mental health. Read the Invisible Women report.
Jess Mullen is moving on
Clinks is sad to announce that after 11 years with Clinks, Jess Mullen is leaving the organisation to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer with Collective Voice, the national alliance of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery charities. Jess has successfully led Clinks influencing work and tenaciously represented the views and experiences of women’s network members to senior stakeholders and policymakers. We thank her for her diligence and commitment to seeking positive change. She will be missed by all who’ve worked with her, but Collective Voice will benefit enormously from her expertise and leadership skills. We wish Jess well.
Clinks Commissioning forum – an update
Since 2021, members of Clinks senior team have been meeting regularly with representatives from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) to hear details of upcoming commissioning and procurement opportunities and for Clinks to provide feedback from the voluntary sector on what is working well and what could be improved. The most recent forum focused on current education provision, Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and Prison Education Framework (PEF); Future Prison Education Service (PES); probation services, Dynamic Framework (DF) and probation grants. The next forum is on 2 February and will include some focus on the recent women’s grants programme. Updates will be shared in a blog on the Clinks website. In the meantime, you can Read the blog from the October forum here.
Clinks women’s network update
On 24 January, Clinks members of the women’s network came together for a joint forum with members of the race and justice network. We shared a policy update from Clinks and were joined by speakers from Hibiscus, Agenda and the Ministry of Justice to hear updates on the Double Disadvantage Action Plan for ending inequality for Black, Asian, minoritised and migrant women in the criminal justice system. We also heard about work being done by the Ministry of Justice’s ‘Female Offender Minority Ethnic Working Group’ to address equality and inclusion. Members were able to network and share ways of developing anti-racist practice. The next women’s network forum is on 28 March. To attend future Women’s network meetings please register as a member of the network here .
“This is me”: A Child Impact Assessment toolkit
The Prison Reform Trust has launched “This is Me”: A Child Impact Assessment toolkit. The toolkit is a resource for practitioners to help ensure children with a mother in the criminal justice system are properly supported and listened to and their needs identified and met. “This is Me” is the result of a 15-month consultation funded by the Churchill Fellowship Activate Fund. It has been informed throughout by the views and experiences of 28 children and young people with experience of a mother in the criminal justice system as well as 38 mothers. Click here to view the toolkit.
Cost of living crisis: call for better support for women’s organisations
The Women’s Resource Centre shared a statement on behalf of 86 Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) organisations in England and Wales on the cost of living crisis. The current economic crisis is disproportionately impacting women, particularly those who are impacted by inequality and abuse, as well as the organisations that support them. The VAWG sector has outlined several recommendations, urging the government to further support women and women’s organisations through this time. They ask that all grants are paid to voluntary organisations in advance, given that organisations do not have reserves to subsidise this work using their own funds, as well as public commission bodies guaranteeing three to five-year contracts with inflationary uplifts. See the statement here.
Cost-of-living crisis: Agenda calls for targeted, gender-specific support for women at risk
As the cost-of-living crisis worsens, vulnerable groups are being hit hardest. Women with multiple unmet needs are struggling more than ever, too often overlooked and unaccounted for. The distinct effect of the ongoing economic crisis on women at-risk is well-documented. Yet, too often, the stories and everyday realities of those with real experience are not centred within public discourse. Agenda Alliance has spoken with women experiencing multiple unmet needs to explore the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on them. To find out more Read the blog here.
Howard League Community Awards 2022
As always, the Community Awards attracted large numbers of entries deserving of recognition and praise Following the judging panel, awards were announced on 22 November. The ‘Organisation of the Year’ award was shared by two outstanding entries – Willowdene Rehabilitation Ltd and Working Chance. Both Clinks members offer innovative and proven solutions to help women overcome structural and personal barriers to change. The ‘Women’ category was won by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Liaison and Diversion, Alana House and Thames Valley Police for their Enrich project, aiming to reduce the number of women receiving custodial sentences. Find out more about these winners and others 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 March, 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 our more and book here.
Clinks training: new course on working with women in the criminal justice system
In January Clinks piloted a new training course, Working with Women in the Criminal Justice System, to a group of 26 staff from member organisations. The course has been developed in response to a need for training for frontline staff in the women’s sector who are new to the criminal justice system. Content was structured around the ‘Whole System Approach’ covering early intervention/diversion; women in the community; women in custody; and resettlement, with policy context, included. We were pleased to receive evaluation from participants and will be using feedback to develop the course before rolling it out as part of the overall Clinks training offer. Courses are scheduled for [16 May, 19 Sept and 12 Dec]. Details are not yet on the website but information about all Clinks training and events can be viewed here.
New play from Clean Break - ‘Catch’
New play, Catch by Sonia Jalaly for Clean Break, will be touring in February and March. Developed with and performed by women with lived experience, the production will spark debate with audiences about what best practice looks like in services which support women who are criminalised. The play can be commissioned for seminars, training events or conferences. Catch presents a compelling case for the necessity of women’s centre services, and highlights how the criminal justice system places impassable barriers in front of women who are trying to survive. Find out more here or contact Producer, Dezh Zhelyazkova to commission a performance - dezh.zhelyazkova@cleanbreak.org.uk
Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison – practice briefing
The Safe Homes for Women Leaving Prison Initiative published a Women’s Prison Release practice briefing in December. The briefing was developed through consultation with the London Blueprint Delivery Group for Women in Contact with the Criminal Justice System, in conjunction with HMPPS in London, the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), and Ministry of Justice and DLUHC policy leads. It is intended as a resource to support joint work by national and local agencies throughout England and Wales to ensure women prison leavers have safe and suitable accommodation. Download the briefing here.
Bridging the Gap – successful residential support for women leaving prison
Clinks member Anawim and the JABBS Foundation, have produced a report about their residential facility for women, Dawn House. Established five years ago, located next to the Anawim women’s centre in Birmingham, Dawn House is a residential centre for women leaving prison, providing safe, secure and trauma-responsive accommodation, allowing them to rebuild their lives and prevent them facing severe risks to their safety, wellbeing and health. The report provides essential learning to inform policy and practice about residential services for women in the criminal justice system. Read the report here.
Women’s diversion in Wales
North Wales Women's Centre contributed to research for a new report which explores women’s pathways into the criminal justice system. Produced by the ACE Hub Wales (funded by Welsh Government and hosted by Public Health Wales) the report identifies key factors influencing women’s pathways into the criminal justice system and highlights opportunities to reduce the risk through early intervention and prevention. Four case studies from North Wales Women’s Centre highlight the experiences of women diverted away from criminal justice sanctions into support. The findings will inform improvements to policy and practice which could prevent women from entering the criminal justice system. The report supports the Wales Women’s Justice Blueprint early intervention and primary prevention work-stream. Read the report in English here and in Welsh here.
Alana House ‘Enriching Lives’ conference and research report
On 25 November, Clinks member, Alana House facilitated an online conference with the University of Reading on challenges faced by women in the criminal justice system. Speakers from the Prison Reform Trust, the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit, the Probation Service and the University of Reading addressed the importance of community resolutions such as Alana House in reducing crime. A research report, by Professor Carol Fuller and Zahra Akhtar, a former service user of Alana House and now volunteer was launched at the conference. You can access a recording of the event and read the report here
‘Still I Rise’ – magazine for women in prison
The latest edition of ‘Still I Rise’, a magazine produced by Women In Prison (WIP) and sent to all women’s prisons, is now available. The theme is ‘connections’ and alongside regular features including recipes, poetry and visual art, the issue includes interviews with a prison chaplain, an update on campaigning work about the value of Women’s Centres and an article about finding new and positive connections in prison. For the next edition the WIP team are handing over the editorial reigns to a group of women in HMP Styal, with the upcoming theme focusing on recovery. Hard copies can be provided by contacting Women in Prison but you can download it here: Women in Prison — Autumn-Winter 2022
Action Plan following a thematic review of outcomes for girls in custody
Following a report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons into the outcomes for girls in custody, HM Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice have published an action plan in response. All six concerns outlined in the review were addressed, including suitable accommodation not being secured early enough before release which prevents effective planning for healthcare, education, training and employment. In response to findings that girls were far more likely than boys to harm themselves, experience restraint, and be involved in violence during their time in custody, the action plan stated that the Youth Custody Service have commissioned the Centre for Mental Health to create an Effective Practice Briefing for frontline staff, as well as promising a review into the use of restraint on girls at Wetherby. Read the thematic review here and See the action plan here.
Lack of specialist support for young women with multiple unmet needs
Agenda Alliance’s ‘Girls Speak’ report exposes the real-life impact of lack of specialist support for young women and girls who are most at risk of poverty, abuse, discrimination and poor mental health. The study titled ‘Girls Speak: Pushed Out, Left Out’ focuses on the experience of young women with multiple unmet needs and discovered that many felt ‘pushed out and left out’ from appropriate help across services such as schools, doctors, policing and mental health provision. Read the report here.
Progress and prejudice: shifts in employer attitudes to people with convictions
Network member, Working Chance has published a new report looking at shifts in UK employer attitudes. The report surveyed 1,000 professionals to compare employer attitudes with previous studies. One in six people in the UK has a criminal conviction. The report shows that the number of employers knowingly recruiting people with convictions is twice as high as in 2010, and 86% of employers who had previously recruited someone with a conviction reported a good experience. However, people with convictions still have the lowest interview-to-hire rate out of other disadvantaged groups in the labour market. Working Chance’s study highlights that there is still some way to go to ensure people with convictions can flourish in employment. See the research findings here.
Women’s Resource Centre: submission to the UN rapporteur on family courts
The Women’s Resource Centre’s (WRC) response to the UN Special Rapporteur’s ‘Custody Cases, Violence Against Women and Children Submission’ (conducted in consultation with their members) raises serious concerns about the abuse and state violence that women and children victim-survivors experience in family courts in the UK. Following WRC’s ground-breaking report The Pathologising of Women Survivors of Male Violence by Family Court Experts (April 22) the data and testimonies in WRC’s submission evidences that thousands of mothers in the UK, who are survivors of abuse and violence, are losing their children and contact rights as a result of male violence and systemic failings. WRC outline the ways that perpetrators and abusers weaponise the family court system, its mechanisms and procedures, to further abuse, violate, punish and degrade women and children survivors. Read the findings from the report here and the submission here.
Ministry of Justice grant awards for women’s services
In our last bulletin, we reported on the launch of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) grant funding programme to improve outcomes for women. The funding was announced as being £24 million over three years to support women in or at risk of contact of the criminal justice system, through three separate funding strands – core costs; services and interventions; and local partnership approaches. The original timetable for assessing and awarding grants was revised and notifications of the outcomes to applicants were delayed. Clinks had urgent conversations with MoJ about the impact of these delays and we are pleased that organisations applying for the core costs grant competition for specialist women's services have now been notified of the outcome, recognising the vital role played by women's centres in supporting women in contact with the criminal justice system to transform their lives. Clinks understand that exact amounts of grant funding have not yet been communicated as the grants will operate from the date on which grant agreements are signed. We have been informed that the timeline, as published in the later update on Jaggaer, for the other two strands of funding still applies.
Probation 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. However, like the women’s grants, the original timetable for notifying funding award intentions and formally offering grants has not been met. We are raising this issue as a matter of urgency with Ministry of Justice and we will update the sector as soon as we have information to share.
Commissioning: Wales Whole Systems Approach for women
In January, Clinks attended a market engagement event hosted by Emma Wools, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales and SRO Women in the Criminal Justice System in Wales. Around 60 stakeholders heard about plans to co-commission Women and Young Adult Services. Evidence from current provision has been used to inform the tender specification for a 4-year Framework. Lot 1: South Wales and Gwent - integrated Women’s Pathfinder WSA (incorporating Community Rehabilitative Services (CRS) and Families Ties Service to support women in prison to maintain contact with their children), plus 18-25 Early Intervention Service. Lot 2: Dyfed Powys and North Wales - CRS, Families Ties Service and funding to support local development and integration of services. To find out more about this tendering opportunity you must register on the portal or for an informal discussion please contact Bryn Hall, Clinks Senior Development Officer, Wales Bryn.hall@clinks.org
Stronger Voice – consultancy offer
In November, Clinks’ Stronger Voice programme, funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, completed its final phase of free training for the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. If you attended any of the Stronger Voice training sessions, you have the chance to apply for up to a half-day of support from charity communications expert, Liz Kearsley. To apply, look out for an email from us or contact our Senior Policy Officer, Olivia Dehnavi, at olivia.dehnavi@clinks.org
If you have any comments about this ebulletin or feedback for improvement, please email Jackie Lowthian.
Get involved Donate | Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Join Mailing List
Contact us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 4502 6774
Manage your subscriptions here, or email info@clinks.org
© Clinks, 2023
Registered office: 82A James Carter Road, Mildenhall, Suffolk, IP28 7DE
Registered charity: 1074546 | Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales: 3562176