Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 774 | 17 March 2023

Light Lunch

In this issue...

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: our first in-person London Criminal Justice Forum

Voluntary organisations working within the criminal justice system in London are warmly invited to attend the first in-person London Criminal Justice Forum [24 March, 10:00 – 15:00, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, bursary tickets available]. Join us at this event where we will focus on bringing the voluntary sector closer to commissioners and funders in the London criminal justice system. Guest speakers include Will Balakrishnan, Director of Commissioning at the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and Karen Tipping, Head of Community Integration at London Probation.

The forum is open to all voluntary organisations working in the sector in London. Spaces are limited so please register early to avoid disappointment. Find out more and book here.

CLINKS NEW MEMBER: UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF)

UKABIF raise awareness of acquired brain injury and provides the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Acquired Brain Injury, steering the course to develop a report designed to drive change for brain injury survivors. Find out more here.

CLINKS NEW MEMBER: Breakthrough

Breakthrough is the UK’s first apprenticeship provider to recruit directly from prisons. They work in prisons to deliver technology-focused training which is followed by a technology apprenticeship after release with one of their large partner employers. Find out more here.

CLINKS NEW MEMBER: Oak London

Oak London provides a residential course and mentoring programme for young men aged 18+ who have faced challenges. Oak London is especially inclusive of young men who are at risk of offending or reoffending. Their programme is always small and participant centred. It provides the means to inspire positive decision-making and a hope-filled future. Find out more here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Birth Companions win a GSK Impact award

Birth Companions, a charity that supports pregnant women and new mothers experiencing disadvantage and inequality, has won a GSK IMPACT Award. The awards recognise organisations that have made a significant positive difference to community health and wellbeing. The charity, which works in prisons and the community, was selected from over 400 organisations across the UK, and was among just 10 winners. The awards’ judges praised Birth Companions for its 50-strong team of women with relevant lived experience, which informs the work of the charity and offers expertise to other organisations. The charity’s innovative approach to listening to the voices of those it supports was also commended. www.birthcompanions.org.uk.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Are criminal records fair?

Listen to the latest podcast by Transform Justice. Hosts Penelope and Rob bring together campaigning expertise from the UK and US to discuss why the criminal records system is unfair and what needs to change. Chris Stacey, Director of Support and Development at Clinks and Jay Jordan, CEO of the Alliance for Safety and Justice, discuss the reality of living with a criminal record and campaigning efforts to build a fairer system on both sides of the pond.

More than 12 million people in the UK have a criminal record, many for old or minor offences. The vast majority have already moved on with their lives, but for many their criminal record still haunts them, preventing them from gaining employment or developing in their career. Listen here.

FUNDING: legal support grant

The Access to Justice Foundation, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, has just launched the Improving Outcomes Through Legal Support (IOTLS) grant programme, and are inviting applications from organisations providing free legal advice and support.

The funding programme aims to support organisations working to sustain and improve access to early social welfare and family legal support and advice, to enable users to resolve these problems as early as possible and avoid the need for court or tribunal proceedings where possible. Where court or tribunal proceedings are needed, they expect the grant to provide the support needed to help people navigate the process effectively, including where support to prepare for court and at court is required. A virtual Q&A [20 March, 11:00, online, free] will be held to support you in your application process. Find out more and submit your application by 5 May here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Wisdom from inside

Join the Prison Phoenix Trust for ‘Wisdom From Inside’ [28 March, 19:00 – 21:00, Kellogg College, Oxford, £15]. This will be an evening with inspirational speakers sharing their life-changing experiences of meditation and yoga in prison - and since their release. Included, will be an update on developments in meditation and yoga as valued rehabilitative interventions. Book your ticket here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Eric Allison: Don’t mourn, mobilise!

Join Prisoners Advice Service (PAS) for the return of the PAS annual panel discussion. The occasion will honour the memory of a dear friend and colleague of PAS, and will take as its title: ‘Remembering Eric Allison: Don’t Mourn, Mobilise!’ [19 April, 18:00, London]. The event panel will share stories of working with Eric to fight the injustices of imprisonment. Find out more here or e-mail list@prisonersadvice.org.uk to reserve your place.

NON-MEMBER’S EVENT: NHS Specialist Services Jobs Open Day

Pinch Point Communications is working with Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust on a recruitment campaign for the Trust’s Specialist Services division, which supports patients in the criminal justice system. A Specialist Services Jobs Open Day [22 March, 16:00 – 18:30, Chase Farm Hospital, London] has been organised for mental health professionals, nurses, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists to find out about the rewarding work in forensic mental health services. It is an opportunity to meet people in these roles, find out about the range of jobs on offer, and hear about how the team is making a difference to patients’ lives. Find out more and register here. 

PUBLICATION: Work and wages in prison

Nacro has published a new briefing with their Justice ExChange - a network of people with direct experience of the criminal justice system. The briefing, the first in a series, looks at work and wages in prison and the impact those can have on people’s ability to turn their lives around on release. The briefing sets out a range of recommendations, including:

  • A real working day – ensuring that, where possible, people in prison have a working pattern which reflects a working day outside of prison.
  • Fair pay – establishing a national pay scale for people in prison and reviewing current wages.
  • Saving for release – establishing a new ringfenced resettlement fund.

Read the briefing here.

PUBLICATION: Probation Quarterly

Issue 27 of Probation Quarterly includes articles from academics, practitioners and the voluntary sector covering the following subjects:

  • The role of probation practitioners in parole decisions.
  • How probation can support young adults and women under probation supervision.
  • Discussion about the place of probation in the wider criminal justice system and summaries of important research being undertaken in this area.

Issue 27 can be downloaded here for free.

FEATURED VACANCY: Policy & Public Affairs Manager

Nacro is looking for an experienced Policy & Public Affairs Manager [£41,664, full time, London] to join their team. This exciting role will involve helping them drive a step-change in their policy and influence to increase their impact on the lives of the disadvantaged young people and adults they support. Taking a lead role in Nacro’s work to influence policy and services, you will be a creative thinker who can manage research projects and communicate research findings in compelling ways. You will manage the policy, research and public affairs team and develop and maintain a network of productive external relationships and partnerships including with politicians, officials and other stakeholders. Find out more and apply by 29 March here.

FEATURED VACANCY: Interim Service Manager - Rescue and Response

Abianda is looking for an Interim Service Manager – Rescue and Response [£33,800-£52,000, full time, London] for a minimum 3-month freelance contact for an immediate start. You will be the operational lead for the Abianda Rescue and Response service and will be responsible for line managing a team of three practitioners. Are you an experienced service manager, able to support and hold a small team of three who are working shoulder-to-shoulder with girls and young women who have been identified as at risk of or exploited through county lines? You will need to be a solution focused, quick learner, with significant safeguarding experience and able to support your team’s daily safeguarding issues, as well as overseeing exploitation-related advocacy with statutory partners. Find out more and apply by 2 April here.

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Communications and Campaigns Officer Vacancy with Restorative Justice for All International Institute CIC [£100 per day, London, part time]; Community Project Officer with Restorative Justice for All International Institute CIC [£20,100 - £24,500 FTE, London, part time]; Partnership Manager with 3Pillars Project [£35,000 - £36,000, London, full time]; Visit Centre Worker with POPS (Partners Of Prisoners and Family Support Group) [£17,188, HMP Fosse Way, Leicester, full time]; Family Service Manager with POPS (Partners Of Prisoners and Family Support Group) [£30,225, HMP Fosse Way, Leicester, full time]; Innovative Practice Intern with the Centre for Justice Innovation [£7,767, London, full time]; Mentor with The Wise Group [£25,190 - £25,190, North East England - Prison Based with an element of home working, full time]; Essential Services Manager with the Centre for Justice Innovation [£29,000, London, full 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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