Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 771 | 24 February 2023

Light Lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks Member Advisory Forum - priorities for the year ahead

In the January Member Advisory Forum meeting we discussed the forum's priority focus areas for this coming year as a way of sense-checking that we are moving in the right direction with the support we would like to provide to our members. We narrowed our extensive list to two overarching themes; capacity building for small and specialist organisations (including commissioning processes, evidencing impact and outcomes, organisational governance, strategy development and fundraising) and the voluntary sector workforce (including staff retention and wellbeing, building a resilient workforce, diversity of the workforce and employing staff with lived experience of the criminal justice system). We welcome feedback from our membership on these two focus areas and encourage you to get in touch with us to share your thoughts or to find out more by emailing support@clinks.org Find the February meeting notes here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Why can't police solve more crime?

Listen to episode 16 of the Transform Justice Podcast, this episode asks 'why can’t police solve more crime?'

Most crime has gone down in recent years, but police have been criticised for not resolving more of the crime that does happen. In this episode, hosts Penelope and Rob ask Richard Horton, retired police officer and prize-winning blogger, and Rick Muir, Director of the Police Foundation, what is preventing police from solving more crimes. They discuss over-reliance on the police in cases better addressed by other public services, exacting recording standards, a changing crime landscape, and whether we should reallocate police funding to social services. Make sure to listen here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Consultation on the ageing prison population

The Ageing Population Strategy – formerly the Older Offenders Strategy – is in the final stages of development and will be shared with external stakeholders in the next couple of months, ahead of publication later in the year. The strategy has four areas of focus: the physical environment, the prison regime, health and care and preparation for release and resettlement. If you’d like to be included in this consultation please contact rory.mcerlean@justice.gov.uk.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Legal win for joint enterprise campaigners

Research suggests people of colour, particularly Black boys and young men, are disproportionately targeted by Joint Enterprise but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) doesn’t record this data.

Campaign group Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association (JENGbA) took legal action against the CPS and as a result, CPS agree to trial monitoring data on those prosecuted under controversial joint enterprise doctrine after a legal challenge from campaigners. Read about it here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Recruiting a Chair of the Lay Observers' National Council

The Ministry of Justice is currently advertising for a new Chair of the Lay Observers' National Council.

Operationally independent of Government, the Chair will be expected to lead the Lay Observers and challenge the Government to improve conditions, through regular engagement with senior government stakeholders as well as well-designed recommendations in an Annual Report.

Applications close on 27 February at 11:00. Find out more and apply here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Developing a shame informed approach

The Forgiveness Project have launched their new online training Developing a Shame Informed approach [ongoing, online, £85]. A Shame Informed approach builds on and complements the practice of anyone working with trauma informed practices. Shame can often be at the root of disruptive behaviours and by understanding how to recognise and safely work with shame it is possible to transform how you support the groups and individuals you work with. Book your training here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Prison Choir in Soho

The Prison Choir Project is holding what they hope to be their biggest fundraiser ever in Soho, London [28 February, 18:00, London W1D 6JA]. It’s set to be an enjoyable evening of music performed by the now legendary 'Pros and Cons,', food and wine, and speeches from former inmates along with the charity’s founder, Adam Green.

There are a few tickets remaining and we welcome anyone from the Clinks community. Book your tickets here or email adam@prisonchoirproject.co.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Nutrition the land and our health

This unique event delivered by Think Through Nutrition and FarmED [8 March, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, from £25] explores the profound links between the farmed environment and the soil beneath our feet, with food quality and nutrition, and our own gut health, brain health and behaviour. Kimberley Wilson, author of How to Build a Healthy Brain and Unprocessed and host of the Stronger Minds podcast, will be joining us as guest speaker, alongside Emeritus Professor of Physiology John Stein of Magdalen College, Oxford. We will also hear from Suzy Dymond-White, a former prison governor who commissioned a prison nutrition pilot at HMP Eastwood Park, and Heather – a participant in the pilot, in a panel discussion chaired by Tahani Saridar, Think Through Nutrition’s CEO. Book your place here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Achieving compliance and engagement, a symposium

Catch22 and the RCA are hosting a symposium to discuss and celebrate the success of the Achieving Compliance and Engagement (ACE) Pilot [9 March, 13:30 – 16:00, The Royal College of Art, Free].

The purpose of this event is provide insight into why the service exists, its aims and achievements, and to discuss its social value and innovation. It is an opportunity to share experiences and impact and encourage discussions around potential future commissioning of this Service. You will hear from master’s students at the Royal College of Arts (who supported in service design), Catch22 ACE Staff, Probation Practitioners and People on Probation who have accessed this intervention over the past 12 months.

There will be an opportunity for networking, refreshments, asking questions and to discuss future opportunities on a 1:1 basis following the formal presentation. Book here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Get to Grips with Welfare Benefits (An Introduction)

This Get to Grips with Understanding Current Welfare Benefits training course [13 April, 9:00 - 13:30, online] is designed to help the people and organisations that are providing social welfare support. The course is CPD Accredited. 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 16 welfare benefits that are currently being claimed in the UK.

An overview of 16 current welfare benefits being claimed in the UK (including Universal Credit and PIP). E-mail hello@societymatterscic.com to book your place.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Prisoners and Welfare Benefits

Prisoners and their families face massive challenges both before and after spending time in prison when it comes to welfare benefits and support with housing. Many prisoners are released into homelessness and struggle to navigate the system which increases the likelihood of reoffending by over 50% – (Source MOJ).

This in-depth course by Society Matters [20th April 2023 9:00 - 14:00] looks at the barriers prisoners with different types of sentences may face, the effect on benefits and housing, and how to support both them and their families. Through a combination of real-life case studies, interactive quizzes and experienced trainers you will learn best practice in supporting prisoners through today’s challenging system. To book your place, e-mail hello@societymatterscic.com

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENT: Young Justice Advisors showcase

The Young Justice Advisors are inviting you to our first in-person event in over two years [30 March, 14:00 - 17:00, Lift Islington, London, N1 9PH]. 

The team will be showcasing their work from the past year including our report and resources, discussing the future plans of the project and most importantly - publishing a new resource! A transitions guide for boys from the youth estate into the adult estate in collaboration with HMPPS. Printed copies of the guide will be handed out. The afternoon will contain presentations from the team, testimonials from those we have been working with, tabletop discussions, a Q&A session and we will have optional networking time too. You will have a chance to bring any questions/problems focused on young adults that you would like answered by Young Justice Advisors. 

Limited spaces available, so please only register if you are able to attend. You can sign up here

PUBLICATION: Being well, being equal

Spark Inside has launched the Being Well Being Equal report, focusing on the wellbeing of young men in custody aged 18 to 25 and in particular, highlighting the experiences of young Black men, who are significantly overrepresented in the prison system. 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. The report aims to 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.

FEATURED VACANCY: Service Manager – Criminal Justice

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, is seeking a welfare/wellbeing service manager with experience of the Criminal Justice System to take on a lead role within the Volunteer Operations Directorate [£30,000, full time, Home-based with regular travel to London and Newark]. You will lead on developing, supporting and overseeing SSAFA’s work in the criminal justice system, particularly with members of the armed forces community who are in prison or other detention facilities, and their families. If you have a passion for working with volunteers, find out more and apply by 1 March here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Community Key Worker with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£21,000 - £25,000, Essex/Hertfordshire, full time]; Service Manager - Minerva Wraparound Service with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£34,000 - £38,000, Hertfordshire and Essex, full time]; Community Key Worker – Kent with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£21,000 - £24,000, East Kent – Ashford, Folkestone, Canterbury and Swale, full time]; Residential Night Supervisor - Approved Premises with Seetec [£24520 - £27,434, Bristol, full time]; Administrator with Give A Book [£26,500, London, full time]; LeapCC Trustee with Leap - Confronting Conflict [voluntary, Hybrid and Finsbury Park, full time]; Team Manager at HMP Littlehey with Phoenix Futures [£26,500, HMP Littlehey, full time]; Mentoring Co-ordinator with Koestler Arts [£28,928 - £28,928, London, full time]; Research Manager with Revolving Doors Agency [£39,270, London, full time]; Housing Support Worker with Foundation [£24,496 - £26,845, Leeds, part time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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