In this issue...
Restorative Engagement Forum Ltd shares news about their peer led sessions
The peer led sessions in Warren Hill have been astonishingly successful. They are working from new films and updated booklets that have incorporated all the changes. The men who deliver the course have taken total ownership of the material and preparation. They meet the day before to prepare each session for three hours. The feedback from the participants is incredibly good and we believe that the peer led model is the way forward. Dr Willmott has interviewed participants from three cohorts and the trainers and is writing a further report. The work at HMP Aylesbury continues also with several interventions in the pipeline with family members.
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) evaluation of Routes2Change programme
Manchester Metropolitan University has now submitted a proposal for the evaluation of the Pact-led Routes2Change programme at HMP/YOI Isis to the National Research Committee for approval, with the endorsement of the HMPPS Families Team, London PGD and Governor Emily Thomas. The research plan was guided by work with Confluence MEL partners, and consultation with research experts within MoJ/HMPPS, and has involved instensive dialogue with Pact practitioners. It will be delivered by Kevin Wong and his team from the PERU team (Policy Evaluation Research Unit). Pact are most interested to measure outcomes and impact around attitudes, thinking and behaviours, and prisoner and family well-being and engagement, based on a theory of change which builds on the evidence base around family & relationships, and the specific context of the Pact interventions and the setting & population at HMP/YOI Isis.
The Clink Charity Kitchens project review
The Clink Charity has completed a mid-term review of The Clink Kitchens project which includes our experience of working with students convicted of sexual offences and a statistical analysis of student attrition which shows that almost half of enrolled students are either removed by security or are moved at short notice to another prison without completing their qualification. We have identified a series of learning points to improve outcomes which may be of interest to others working in prisons. We will publish externally during March 2023. In other projects, we have opened a new training facility, The Clink Bakery, in HMP Brixton which has its first student patissiers, and we are mobilising a new staff mess training facility at HMP Buckley Hall to go live in April. Following the closure of our restaurant in Cardiff, are there any organisations who may have a small office facility in Cardiff on a no/low rent basis? Please contact yvonnethomas@theclinkrestaurant if you can help.
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) ‘Listen to Families’
Pact’s new Patient & Public Voice pilot programme, ‘Listen to Families’, is up and running. The new Patient and Public Voice programme, ‘Listen to Families’ (LtF), is creating new mechanisms and opportunities for families and carers to be heard, and to influence how healthcare services in prisons are delivered and developed. We’re piloting the service in nine London prisons, working closely with our Routes to Change colleagues in Brixton and Isis. Commissioned by NHS London, the service works alongside prisons and prison healthcare providers, supporting them to listen to families in order to improve prison healthcare. Amy Pollard is heading up the programme (amy.pollard@prisonadvice.org.uk), Miriam Bachman has taken on the role of Community Engagement Manager as of January (miriam.bachman@prisonadvice.org.uk) and more information is here.
RIFT Social Enterprise Porticus project launched
RIFT SE are pleased to announce that their Porticus project launched mid-February, with Jemma En Rose heading up the project. This two-year project will see RIFT SE develop and deliver an impactful self-employment offer to women with convictions, delivered whilst still serving their sentence in prison and post their release in the community. The first few weeks of the project, RIFT SE will be identifying interested and influential stakeholders, identifying key role tasks and timelines for the feasibility and development stage of the project, and clarifying key messages for external stakeholders, such as ‘naming’ the project. With this being an action learning project, a proposed name has already been put forward to women in prisons, and they await feedback.
Criminal Justice Alliance ELEVATE CJS update
The inaugural cohort of ELEVATE CJS leaders have started the 12-month programme. We had a successful kick off dinner and residential weekend focused on 'Awakening The Leader Within'. We look forward to starting to develop the employer toolkit when our new Policy Manager is in post in March.
We have been working with a media consultant and Frameworks UK to get coverage of employment and family issues, and to understand effective methods of getting journalists to use well framed, non-stigmatising language. We secured a workshop slot with all the PCC communications professionals. Our new Comms Manager will start in April.
We are working in partnership with the Centre for Social Justice to co-host a roundtable on children with parents in prison with officials, the Children’s Commissioner and other PPfP partners Pact and PRT. Nina has also contributed to the Labour Party review of the CJS. We are hosting a symposium at the University of Westminster on 3 March on Trust in the CJS including a workshop by PPfP partner Restorative Engagement Forum. Register here
St Giles Trust whole family approach success
St Giles Trust, Yorkshire, had great feedback from HMP Wealstun. Thanks to the whole family approach undertaken by all teams within St Giles Trust, HMP Wealstun have seen 98% of prison leavers go into settled accommodation, since release 25% have recently entered employment and there has been a 25% reduction in people being recalled.
Moving forwards HMP Wealstun are now integrating St Giles's Strengthening family ties (SFT) and COPE teams into their new and updated resettlement plan. SFT and COPE will now be able to support clients during imprisonment, as well as reintegration back into the community and family homes.
Learn more about our work with children and families here
RIFT Social Enterprise lunch and learn event
RIFT Social Enterprise is looking at revamping their Mentoring Scheme in 2023 and will be holding a "Lunch and Learn" information session [15 March, 12:00 - 13:00] to help shape the future of the service and recruit new volunteer mentors. If you are interested in finding out more about the scheme, or becoming volunteer mentor with us, we'd love to see you there. Event registration closes on 14 March. Register here
CLINKS Event - in conversation with HMPPS leadership - save the date!
Clinks is planning a voluntary sector engagement event 'in conversation with Amy Rees and Phil Copple'. This is a unique opportunity to meet His Majesty's Prison and Probation (HMPPS) senior leaders in person at the Ministry of Justice.
The details are still being finalised but it's likely that it will be in the morning of [3 May], held in person at the Ministry of Justice, 102 Petty France, London.
There'll also be the option to join virtually. Booking will open soon but in the meantime please save the date.
Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) report into the importance of family
On 3 February Pact published a new report about the crucial role that family and carers play in helping to keep people in prison well. Involving families proactively in prison healthcare benefits prisoners and families, as well as relieving pressure on the criminal justice system and NHS.
However, the report concludes that families are too often locked out of a system that doesn’t value their role as carers, which stores up a range of problems both inside and outside prison. It also makes a series of practical recommendations for how prisons and healthcare teams can involve families and carers more proactively. Read the report here
Spark Inside publish the Being Well Being Equal report
Last week Spark Inside teamed up with the Being Well Being Equal Alliance to launch a new report calling for immediate action and prioritisation of the wellbeing of young men and young Black men in prison.
Spark Inside are delighted to share their new Being Well Being Equal Report, on prioritising the wellbeing of young men and young Black men in the criminal justice system.
The report focuses on the wellbeing of young men in custody aged 18 to 25 and in particular highlights the experiences of young Black men in custody. It presents a consolidation of the research, policy and practice concerned with the wellbeing of young men in custody, as well as insight from expert organisations and, most importantly, young men themselves.
It is hoped, that by bringing together the evidence, this report will enable practitioners, policy makers and commissioners to have a more informed understanding of how to promote Being Well and Being Equal amongst young men in custody. Read the report here
Clinks is recruiting a Voluntary Sector Co-ordinator
In 2016 Clinks developed the Good Prison Project pilot in three prisons in South West England following discussions with a range of stakeholders and voluntary sector providers which emphasised the need to better enable voluntary sector support and co-ordination in prisons, ensuring people in prison have access to the services they need.
Following the success of this project and further discussions with HMP Isis, we have been successful in securing three-year funding for a part-time (0.6 full-time equivalent) Voluntary Sector Co-ordinator role within HMP Isis, London. Learn more and apply here by [9:00 on 20 March]
Dates for partners meetings in 2023
Looking ahead for the year, please pencil in these dates into your diary for the PPfP partner meetings – with the usual time of 11:00 - 13:00 with lunch until 14:00. The dates are 1 March, 7 June, 6 September and 6 December.
The next e-bulletin
The feedback we received from partners was that this e-bulletin would best work quarterly. As such, the next edition will be sent on 1 June 2023.
The deadline for sending in updates for the June edition is 25 May. Complete the form here
If you have any questions about this e-bulletin, please contact christopher.stacey@clinks.org