Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 772 | 3 March 2023

Light Lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: No place for old men

In this Clinks Evidence Library review: No place for old men, Louise Ridley, a senior lecturer in Criminology at Northumbria University, provides an in-depth analysis of the issues faced by ageing prisoners. She discusses the disproportionate growth of older prisoners, the challenges of providing adequate care to this group, the lack of a coherent strategy, and the consequences of limited responses to their needs. Ridley also examines how some prisons have adapted to the challenges of caring for older prisoners with chronic health and social care needs. Additionally, she emphasizes the important role played by voluntary organisations in improving the quality of life for ageing prisoners through collaborative work in prisons. Read the Evidence Library review here.

CLINKS NEWS: building our evidence library

Over the last three years Clinks has been building its online evidence library, designed to create a far-reaching and accessible evidence base covering the most common types of activity undertaken within the criminal justice system. There are two main aims of this online series:

  • to increase the extent to which the voluntary sector bases its services on the available evidence base, and;
  • to encourage commissioners to award contracts to organisations delivering an evidence-based approach.

The 14 articles have been written by leading academics with a particular expertise on the topic. The topics are selected by Clinks’ members as areas of priority interest. You can see all the articles here.

In 2023, we will be publishing articles sharing the evidence base on gambling and crime, sports-based interventions and prison education. Would you like to see any additional subjects added to the Clinks Evidence Library? Please share your ideas via this link which will take a maximum of two minutes to complete.

CLINKS NEWS: Blog: The Justice Committee calls for greater support for people sent to prison on remand

Clinks’ Senior Policy Officer, Olivia Dehnavi, has written a blog about the Justice Committee’s report on the use of adult custodial remand, to which Clinks submitted evidence. Olivia explores Clinks’ recommendations alongside those of the Committee. The Committee reflected Clinks’ concerns that little is known about people on remand, and it calls for more data to be collected and published on remand defendants, particularly around reasons for refusing bail and demographic information, including vulnerabilities and protected characteristics. The blog also notes voluntary organisations, even if not specifically funded to work with unsentenced populations, do their best to provide services to people on remand. The Committee’s other recommendations include making greater use of community alternatives to custodial remand and an independent review of the legislation governing custodial remand. Read the blog here. 

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks in conversation with Amy Rees and Phil Copple

Join us for this exciting opportunity for the voluntary sector to engage with Amy Rees, Director General CEO, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Phil Copple, HMPPS Director of Operations, at our hybrid event [3 May, 10:00 - 11:30]. We will be hearing about the new HMPPS senior leadership structure and learning about the priorities and vision for the service, including the role and the value of the voluntary sector working within it. This will then be followed by a Q&A, which we welcome questions to be submitted for in advance by emailing them to events@clinks.org by 31 March.

This will be a hybrid event hosted by the Ministry of Justice and we have a limited capacity of in-person tickets available to attend Petty France (London). If you wish to attend in-person, please email events@clinks.org to secure your space and find out more here. 

CLINKS NEWS: Creative Inclusion: merging education, health and justice

Neurodivergent people in the criminal justice system have a variety of needs, across health, social care and education.

The aim of this event [9 March, 09:30 - 12:30, online, free] is to bring together voluntary sector organisations who work with neurodivergent people with commissioners, referrers, providers and others with the aim of learning, sharing good practice and making connections. We have speakers bringing perspectives on education, health and justice, with time for questions and discussion. Register here.

CLINKS NEWS: Vacancy: Voluntary Sector Co-ordinator – HMP Isis

Clinks is seeking to hire a Voluntary Sector Co-ordinator within HMP Isis [33,656 FTE, part time, London] as part of the Good Prison Project. 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. You will provide a single point of contact between voluntary organisations and HMP Isis to coordinate a sustainable model of engagement, strengthen relationships between the voluntary sector and the prison, and enable identification of, and access to, services for men in HMP Isis and their families. Find out more and apply here by 20 March.

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: Inspire festival of arts

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) presents Inspire: Sustainability in the arts and criminal justice sector [21 March, 9:30-17:30, variable pricing - see below, Rich Mix, London], featuring a showcase of the Inspiring Futures project and a gathering of network members at Rich Mix, London.

Gather for a day of performances, workshops, panel debates and networking. The afternoon participatory workshops are themed around sustainability from an environmental perspective to one considering workforce wellbeing. The event will bring together our network of sector specialists and stakeholders to share and reflect on the impact and future sustainability of delivering arts in criminal justice settings.

We are offering bursary tickets for anyone booking before 8 March on a first come first served basis. The full ticket price is £75 and delegates who do not attend the event without prior notice may be required to cover this cost - please see our terms and conditions on our website further details.

Places for this sought after event are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment. Register here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Robin Corbett Award for prisoner reintegration

Applications for the 2023 Robin Corbett Award for Prisoner Reintegration open tomorrow. Closing date is [15 May], so you have only 6 weeks to get your application in.

All winners receive a beautiful glass plaque donated by James Timpson plus a copy of A Life Well Lived - the book written by Lady Val Corbett about Robin. The £10,000 prize money is split between the winner (£5,000); Highly Commended (£3,000) and Commended (£1,000).

Check out the 2022 winners and apply here.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Getting it right – an Insights event

HMPPS Insights proudly presents ‘Transitioning young people from the children and young people secure estate to adult custody - getting it right’ which is the third thematic online event relating to young adults in HMPPS [20 March, 14:00 - 16:00, online, free].

This event promotes the Transitions Policy Framework and the new transitions process. Join hosts Lisa Short, HMPPS National Young Adults Team Lead and Lauren Brothwood, Head of Placements, Casework and Transitions for YCS, a multi-disciplinary panel, and Keynote speakers Alan Scott, Executive Director and Debra Baldwin, Deputy Director YCS. Attendees will:

  • learn about the new transition process
  • understand the supporting evidence, lived experience and impact on Young Adults and staff,
  • see what best practice looks like, and
  • familiarise themselves with what is needed to implement the policy framework in prisons.

There will be a question-and-answer session too. Register here.

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: Tackling gang violence and exploitation

This Academy for Social Justice (HMPPS) seminar [30 March, online, free] offers an insight into prosecuting offenders of gang violence, exploitation, and the preventative and rehabilitative work that St Giles Trust are doing to help those affected by gang violence and exploitation.

Claire is a Senior Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service and will speak about her work with the police and other stakeholders and discuss how charging decisions are made, what can be involved in bringing cases to court and what makes a case a success.

Evan is Director of Criminal Exploitation Development at St Giles Trust and he has been leading the work St Giles do around gangs. During his talk Evan will discuss their work with multi-agency gangs units and how the model has developed. Register here to attend.

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: Restorative policing: where next?

What practical next steps can be taken to move towards greater use and embedding of restorative approaches within the police force in the UK? In light of recent high profile cases of police misconduct, how can the police force respond restoratively?

Join the Mint House - Oxford Centre for Restorative Practice on [16 March, 12:00 – 13:00, online, variable prices] as they explore the use of restorative approaches to improve external police relations (e.g. between police and the community) and internal police relations (e.g. grievances, team dynamics). Book your place here.

NON-MEMBER'S EVENT: young adults and the parole system webinar

Transition to Adulthood (T2A) is a criminal justice programme and campaign making the case for a distinct approach to the unique needs of young adults. They are hosting a webinar on [Tuesday 28 March,1.30-3pm, online, free] to share key insights from their “Young Adults and the Parole System” report and recommendations on how to best support young adults through the parole process.

This is a great opportunity to hear from a range of experts – including criminal justice practitioners and young adults themselves – and ask the questions that are important to you. Simply visit their website to register your interest here.

OPPORTUNITY: free IT & tech grant funding for UK charities

A wide range of sources of free charity laptops, computers, IT support and software, including Microsoft 365, CRMs and for websites. Plus charitable foundation grant funding for tech, and free digital tools and online learning for UK charities. Find out more here.

BLOG: The Domino Effect

This thought-provoking blog, The Domino Effect is by Lilly Lewis, a domestic abuse and prison reform campaigner. Although written in 2020, Lilly’s experiences still ring true for people in prison today. In her touching story she navigates dependency, abuse, shame and prison. Read the blog here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Member Engagement and Training Manager

The Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) is looking to recruit a Member Engagement and Training Manager [£35,000 FTE, part time, remote]. They are looking for people with specific skills to help to deliver their future business plans and to grow their reach. The new manager will support ICVA’s members to deliver high quality inductions to new ICVs, develop new training packages for the scheme managers themselves and help shape membership benefits. In this role you will be able to make an impact and difference to police custody in the UK. Candidates must share ICVAs commitments to fair and humane treatment and to improving custody and the experience of those in police detention. Find out more and apply by 2 April here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Office Manager and Bookkeeper 

ICVA is seeking a new Office Manager and Bookkeeper [£30,000 FTE, part time, remote]. They are looking for someone interested in a small but mighty not-for-profit membership organisation. ICVA is interested in hearing from those who are experienced bookkeepers, are excellent team players and are excited about undertaking back-office projects to increase organisational resilience. The incoming Office Manager will be part of a lively, friendly and hardworking team, dedicated to ensuring that the rights, entitlements and wellbeing of detainees in police custody are upheld. Find out more and apply by 2 April here.

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

SOS+ Mentor and Facilitator with St Giles Trust [£25,000 - £31,000, South Gloucestershire, full time]; Senior Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£24,289, Chorley and Preston, full time]; Senior Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£24,289, Brierfield, East Lancashire, full time]; Mentor FBD (Finance, Benefit and Debt) with The Wise Group [£25,190, remote first - Prison and Community Based, full time]; Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£18,572, Chorley and Preston Lancashire, full time]; Partnerships Lead with StandOut [£29,000 - £32,000, Vauxhall with options for hybrid working, full time]; Partnerships Lead with StandOut [£29,000 - £32,000, Vauxhall with options for hybrid working, full time]; Office Manager and Bookkeeper with Independent Custody Visiting Association [£30,000, Home Based, part time]; Member Engagment and Training Manager with Independent Custody Visiting Association [£35,000, home based, part time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

About Clinks Light Lunch

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