Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 779 | 21 April 2023

Light Lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Contract Readiness Programme

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announce the launch of the VCSE Contract Readiness Programme, a £900,000 package of support designed to enable the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in England better compete for government contracts.

It primarily provides fully funded and tailored training to voluntary organisations, complemented by offering public sector commissioners ways to increase their awareness and understanding of the sector. The programme is being delivered by School for Social Enterprise in consortium with Social Enterprise UK, and Voice4Change England, running until the end of the 2024/25 financial year. Find out more here.

CLINKS NEWS: inquiry on public opinion and understanding of sentencing

Clinks provided a response to the Justice Committee inquiry on public opinion and understanding of sentencing. The response is informed by consultation with the voluntary sector as well as our experience of supporting the voluntary sector working in prisons and the community, and those delivering resettlement support.

Key points:

  1. There is a lack of public understanding of the long-term implications of sentencing and criminal records disclosure.
  2. Sentencing policy is uneven, resulting in disparities between groups such as women, racially minoritised people, young adults, and people with multiple disadvantage.
  3. Government should inform the public of the reality of effective sentencing by adopting the expertise and research of the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system.
  4. Clinks recommends sentencing policy be evidence-based and developed in consultation with the voluntary sector.
  5. Evidence-based sentencing policy will lead to better public understanding and confidence in sentencing.

Read the Clinks response.

CLINKS NEWS: regional third sector stakeholder events

HMPPS Regional Third Sector Stakeholder Events: HMPPS Third Sector Partnerships and Programmes Team, in partnership with Clinks, are planning a series of events to gather feedback on the organisation-wide Third Sector Partnership Approach. [Exeter, 10 May; Cardiff, 23 May; Birmingham, 6 June; Manchester, 22nd June; Newcastle, 6 July].

The approach provides a guiding set of principles to strengthen and maximise the department’s engagement with the Third Sector to highlight and raise the profile of the valuable services the Third Sector provides across England and Wales. The events will also provide an opportunity to engage with regional HMPPS colleagues, and hear about the upcoming Innovation Grants programme. More details can be found on Clinks events page.

CLINKS MEMBER 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, the Director of Operations, HMPPS at our hybrid event. 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 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.

CLINKS MEMBER NEWS: reflections on the first multi-jurisdictional conference on problem-solving justice

On 18 April the Centre for Justice Innovation held a marquee conference covering problem-solving approaches within the UK criminal, family and youth justice systems. The conference brought together practitioners, judges, researchers and others from across justice to share problem-solving practice and implementation lessons. There were a range of workshops and discussions delivered by individuals and practitioners involved in problem-solving initiatives across the UK. Clinks is pleased to have been able to attend the conference and you can see our coverage of the day on our Twitter page. The Centre's Director, Phil Bowen, has reflected on the day in a blog which you can read here.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: how to end the cycle of crisis and crime

Mark your calendars for “Diversion and Prevention: how to end the cycle of crisis and crime” [27 April, 11:00 – 15:00, London, free]. This is a Revolving Doors event, led by lived experience.

This event will be of interest to anyone who works with people who have had repeat contact with the criminal justice system and experienced multiple unmet health and social needs such as homelessness, problems with drugs or alcohol, or poverty. It would also be of interest to anyone who has experienced any of these challenges themselves. The event will appeal to people who are passionate about developing solutions to the cycle of crisis and crime in partnership with people with lived experience. Book your place here.

For any questions about the event, please contact admin@revolving-doors.org.uk

NON-MEMBER’S EVENTS: Manchester International Crime and Justice Film Festival 2023

This year’s events are a mix of online and in-person at the original home of independent cinema in Manchester [Various dates and all events are free].

Manchester Metropolitan University have an eclectic mix of crime classics and lesser-known gems chosen by crime experts and film enthusiasts and a film selected by learners from HMP/YOI Thorncross. There will be a Q&A discussion after each screening with those who chose the movies. We’re pleased to be partnering internationally with City University Hong Kong and the University of Indonesia. In the UK, the festival is being supported by: Novus – a provider of education in prisons; HMP/YOI Thorncross; HMP Humber; and Code 4000 workshop – a charity who teach software development skills in prison. Find out more and book here

RESOURCE: Transition guide for boys and young men moving to the adult prison estate

The Young Justice Advisors have published a guide to provide boys and young men with information about moving into the adult male prison estate. This includes details about arriving at prison and reception, the daily regime, parcels and post, roles in prison, and organisations and agencies that can provide support to people in prison. This is accompanied by the experiences of individual people. In addition to this guide, the Youth Justice Advisors have produced several other resources including a guide to the care system and a guide to the women's estate. You can Young Justice Advisors resources here and you can Click here for “Your guide to the male estate” and access the Young Justice Advisors resources here

FEATURED VACANCY: Specialist Criminal Justice Coach

Changing Lives is seeking a dynamic individual with excellent motivational interviewing and engagement skills, to work with women who are subject to a Conditional Caution by Northumbria Police [£27,040, full-time, fixed term until April 2024, North East]. You will provide early intervention, diversion from the Criminal Justice System and ultimately, desistance. Knowledge of the geographical area and existing community service provision is essential. Ability to foster quick rapport with service users, commissioners and referrers is vital. Delivering a service for women by women, this post is exempt under section 7 (2) (e) and (f) of The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and open to female applicants only. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. [Find out more and apply by 16th May here].

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Data Administrator (Probation Services) with The Forward Trust [£22,034, London, full time]; Team Leader - HMP Onley with Shannon Trust [£30,000, HMP Onley, full time]; Nurturing New Adventures Caseworker with St Giles Trust [£23,000, Wolverhampton, full time]; Delivery Manager - Domestic Abuse Intervention ( Ref DDM-231) with St Giles Trust [£34,500 - £42,000, Office base in Coventry or Wolverhampton with regular travel across the West Midlands, full time]; Data Analyst (Ref DAM-231) with St Giles Trust [£25,000 - £31,000, Based in either our Coventry or Wolverhampton Office, full time]; Trustee with Change for Good [voluntary, London, part time]; Prison Support Worker with Ingeus [£21,255, HMP Winchester, full time]; Women's Criminal Justice Keyworker (Female) – BaNES with The Nelson Trust [£21,000 - £23,000, Bath and North East Somerset, full time]; Female Outreach Worker - Perinatal Mental Health – BaNES with The Nelson Trust [£21,000 - £23,000, Bath and North East Somerset, part time]; Volunteer SOS+ Coordinator (Ref VSC-231) with St Giles Trust [voluntary, Camberwell with travel around London, 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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