Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 791 | 14 July 2023

Light Lunch Clinks

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: State of the sector survey 2023

Make your voice heard! Respond to our 2023 State of the sector survey – exploring key trends in the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. Use this opportunity to share your experiences so Clinks can influence on your behalf and ensure that our support meets your needs. 

If we are to best represent and support you, we need the most up-to-date evidence on how you are faring. Read our blog: State of the sector 2023 survey: why your response is crucial to find out more about how we use your responses and why your voice matters!

Complete the survey today here! And share the survey on Twitter here

CLINKS VACANCY: Fundraising Officer

We have an exciting opportunity available for you to join us as our new Fundraising Officer. You will help support and maintain Clinks’ healthy income stream and ensure that we secure appropriate income to remain independent and impartial as we grow, progress and develop infrastructure support for criminal justice charities.

Clinks is an equal opportunities employer and individuals with direct experience of the criminal justice system and/or with protected characteristics are actively encouraged to apply. This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Clinks recruitment policy is that there is no requirement to disclose any convictions.

Applications close 9am, Friday 4 August 2023. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS NEWS: Call for evidence: Social prescribing in the criminal justice system

This Clinks blog looks at the evidence for social prescribing and the approach being taken to support its growth across prisons and probation. Clinks is keen to identify examples of promising practice within the criminal justice system which we can promote to support the development and growth of social prescribing. We will collate this information and send it to HM Prison and Probation Service to support them in building an evidence base to support social prescribing activity in criminal justice settings. If you provide a non-clinical service, activity, or intervention that supports people’s physical, mental, or emotional health, please help us to build our evidence base by sharing your experience, including any challenges, successes, or insights by getting in touch with policy@clinks.org before 31 July.

MEMBER FOCUS: Own Merit CIC

Own Merit CIC accommodates prison leavers who were at risk of homelessness. The pilot accommodation model has been developed through social prescribing and co-creation with men in HMP Five Wells. The residents are recognised for their potential and they provide support for each other. This is a community of “supportive living”, not supported living. Co-founders Steve Gallant and Darryn Frost met at an event at Fishmonger’s Hall while tackling a terrorist. They set up Own Merit with the aim of achieving something positive despite the tragic circumstances of that day. Read this Inside Times article to find out more

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Yoga Charity of the Year nominee

The Prison Phoenix Trust has been nominated for Yoga Charity of the Year - and needs your vote to help it win. The Trust, which supports rehabilitation through meditation and yoga in prison, was recently invited to a celebration at St James's Palace, where trustee Shola Arewa asked the King if he still practises yoga and former prisoner Sue told and audience of 100 how The PPT had supported her in prison 30 years ago and still does to this day. Voting for Favourite Yoga Charity of the Year closes on 8 September. You can vote for The PPT here 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: THREADS peer support programme and materials

The THREADS peer support programme is a new service by Recoop, supporting those currently serving a sentence. The THREADS intervention uses mind maps and no prescriptive questions, so peers being supported do not feel the need to fall back into using a prepared ‘scripts’. They own and steer the process.

The programme provides the peer with a living breathing account of their lives, which changes with them as they grow and develop new thought process and coping strategies.

The independent ‘Theory of Change’ evaluation, good practice learning and training guides are now available for download

OPPORTUNITY: a call for partners

Novus are calling for partners to support their Prison Education Service delivery. Working with partners is an important part of what Novus do and whilst they already have many brilliant partners across all aspects of their curriculum, they know that there are many others out there who could collaborate in new and innovative ways to make an even bigger difference to the future outcomes of their learners. If you think this might be of interest to your organisation, please visit the Novus website for more information

PUBLICATION: a call to localise criminal justice services

Transform Justice has published a new report: Close to home: the case for localising criminal justice services in England and Wales, which calls for the localisation of criminal justice services. This would support local politicians and people to address the drivers of crime. For example over 12,000 people a year are released from prison homeless, of which a quarter are forced to sleep rough because they have no alternative. If criminal justice services were localised, local authorities could be incentivised to support prison leavers to find settled accommodation. Read the report

PUBLICATION: Dismantling Disadvantage

In partnership with Changing Lives, Agenda Alliance have published a report: Dismantling Disadvantage: Levelling up public services for women with multiple unmet needs. The report highlights the experiences of women with multiple unmet needs accessing public services, including criminal justice services, in the North East. It explores how these services can be improved post-pandemic to respond more effectively to women’s needs. The report makes a number of recommendations such as the need for early intervention and prevention; gender, trauma, and culturally responsive support; greater co-ordination between services; embedding co-production; and long-term and sustainable funding and commissioning. Read the report here

PUBLICATION: support for families affected by imprisonment

YSS, in collaboration with the Children Research Centre of the Open University, have just launched a new report evaluating the need for services supporting families affected by the imprisonment of a loved one, like our Families First service in Worcestershire. The current provision of support within the criminal justice system fails to consider the much broader and intergenerational needs of their families. To find out more about the findings and recommendations, read the full report

FEATURED VACANCY: Specialist Outreach Coach (Criminal Justice Women)

Changing Lives is seeking a dynamic, personable, creative, highly motivated and empathetic individual to work with women who are subject to a Probation Order across Northumbria [£27,040, part time, Northumbria]. You will support some women to make a successful transition from custody to community and provide interventions to others, both one-to-one and in group work delivery, enabling them to make positive changes to their lifestyle. 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 and Level 1 clearance. Find out more and apply by 28 July

FEATURED VACANCY: Learning & Engagement Co-ordinator

Join Synergy Theatre Project as a dynamic and highly organised Learning & Engagement Co-ordinator [£30,000, full time, London]. This exciting role aims to support their young people’s programme, focusing on those at risk of, or already within, the criminal justice system. You will work closely with the Learning and Engagement Manager (Young People) to deliver a range of creative participatory activities, touring theatre and film productions, and response projects for schools, pupil referral units, young offender institutions, and youth organisations. Synergy Theatre Project is an arts and criminal justice charity committed to creating a fairer world by offering alternative pathways and reintegration opportunities. Join them in making a meaningful impact. Find out more and apply by 4 August

FEATURED VACANCY: ELEVATE CJS Project Manager

Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) is seeking an experienced Project Manager [£38,000 - £40,000, full time, London] with lived experience of the criminal justice system to head their exciting ELEVATE CJS leadership programme. With a focus on empowering individuals with lived experience, this London-based pilot aims to elevate participants into positions of power and influence. As an ideal candidate, you will have a minimum of three years’ relevant experience, demonstrating strong project management and communication skills. Collaborative and adept at building relationships, you will be dedicated to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion. This innovative programme is being independently evaluated, with plans to expand to other regions and ultimately become an independent, lived experience led organisation in the future. Find out more and apply by 13 August

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Key Worker with Achieve North West Connect [£25,466 - £28,817, Greater Manchester, full time]; Community Key Worker with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£21,000 - £26,000, Hertfordshire, full time]; Service Manager with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£35,000 - £40,000, Hammersmith/Stratford, full time]; Housing Officer with Seetec [£23,000 - £24,801, Ipswich, part time]; Housing Officer with Seetec [£23,000 - £24,801, Bury St Edmunds, part time]; Interventions and Women’s Centre Coordinator with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£21,000 - £24,000, Waltham Cross, part time]; Community Care Worker with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£26,000 - £32,000, Finsbury Park, full time]; Women’s Early Intervention Caseworker with St Giles Trust [£23,000 - £25,500, Coventry, full time]; x 2 IRIS Clinical Lead with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£83, Hammersmith & Westminster, part time]; Employment Coach with Seetec [£23,000 - £24,801, Hastings, 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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