Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 796 | 18 August 2023

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CLINKS NEWS: Clinks annual conference 2023 – save the date

Clinks annual conference 2023 “Making race and justice everybody’s business” will take place on [22 November, 9:30 – 16:00, in London (pricing TBC)]. Please save the date.

This year we would like to take the opportunity to provide a platform for our specialist members who are led by/for racially minoritised people to share their expertise on how to best support people from racially minoritised communities, and how we can unite and commit to confronting racial disparity in criminal justice. Tickets will be on sale soon, for more information and if you would like to register your interest in delivering a session at our conference, please click here.

CLINKS NEWS: an update on commissioning

In June Clinks met with representatives from His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice for the in-person quarterly commissioning engagement forum, a space created to provide regular discussion and feedback on commissioning rounds that will involve the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. See our update on commissioning blog for more detail.

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks Health and Justice Bulletin

Please note that Clinks' Health and Justice Bulletin will be taking a break in August, and will be back in September with health and justice related updates. To sign up to the bulletin or update your newsletter subscriptions, click here.

MEMBER FOCUS: Steps2Recovery

The primary objective at Steps2Recovery (S2R) is to offer clients 12-step treatment programme based on need rather than access to funding. There are numerous rehabs available for those with money but hardly any available for those with none. At S2R they believe that everyone should have the opportunity to turn their lives around, regardless of financial circumstance. They raise all funds privately without recourse to government – this means their clients can access treatment at ‘point of need’ rather than following weeks of community based funding assessments.

Steps2Recovery gives hope to people who are trapped in the nightmare of addiction, crime and short prison sentences – people who desperately want to change their lives and become fulfilled members of the community. As a result of their work, individuals’ lives are improved, broken families and relationships are healed and the wider community is a safer place. Everybody benefits. Find out more

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Know your rights: an animation on licence and recall

The Howard League found that of the many criminal justice issues young people say need to be addressed, recall is among the most common.

The Howard League often helps young people get released from prison, only for them to be recalled shortly after. Frequently, it is because the young person does not understand their licence conditions, how serious they are, and what it means if they breach.

One caseworker reported that a young person she worked with did not understand that the ‘good behaviour’ condition of his licence meant that being ten minutes late for a probation appointment risked him being recalled to prison. The lack of understanding of the recall process can have significant consequences, so the Howard League has made an informative animation for people in prison, their families, and practitioners. Find out more and watch the animation here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: the impact of inflation on charities - survey

The impact of inflation on charities delivering public services survey by NCVO is now live.  

Income from government and public bodies through grants and contracts to deliver public services makes up 26% of the voluntary sector’s income. Underfunding of these services is a longstanding problem for the sector, and it is now being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis. 

NCVO would be grateful if you would take the time to complete this short survey before [12:00, 1 September]. The data will be used to help NCVO and infrastructure companies to address these issues. Please complete the survey here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: THREADS peer support extended

The results and feedback received from the THREADS Peer Support Programme by Recoop has been incredibly positive. Not only has the programme helped reduce incidents of self-harm by 67% at one prison, it has also improved the mental wellbeing of those it supported. Recoop can also confirm that the programme has played a part in reducing healthcare costs, as well as providing a social value return of £3.81 for every £1 spent.

Due to the success of THREADS, it has been extended for another year, allowing the programme to have a continued impact on the life of many more individuals. Find out more

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: subsistence payment increase

The "Subsistence Payment" - previously the "Discharge Grant" - given to a person leaving prison on the day of their release has been increased to £89.52. 

The increase follows the government’s commitment in 2021 to uplift the Subsistence Payment, year on year up to and including 2024/25, in line with the UK Consumer Prices Index. Since this commitment was made, the government has increased the Subsistence Payment by 95%, continuing to support prison leavers to purchase the basic goods that they may need on release. This is a substantial increase on the £46 figure that had been in place since 1996.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Insights23 VIP tickets closing soon

Hurry! The Insights23 VIP ticket ballot closes at midday on [Wednesday 23 August].
Don't miss out - visit the Insights website to apply for your chance for exclusive, exciting and unique opportunities including:

  • immersive experiences
  • shadowing opportunities
  • meet and greet/coffee and chat with senior leaders and frontline practitioners
  • exclusive behind the scenes access, and
  • bespoke expert advice for your team to overcome a challenge

HMPPS will randomly allocate tickets by ballot and inform the lucky VIP ticket winners by 1 September. Good luck! Visit the Insights website to book your tickets here. Watch the event trailer here  

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: recommissioning of core services - survey

As part of the ongoing market consultation work around the recommissioning of core services HM Prison and Probation Service have created a follow up survey which is being used to gather information primarily around performance and payment mechanisms as well as other design elements, such as costs and grants. This survey contains more closed questions (with opportunities for expansion, if desired) so should not be as resource intensive as the previous survey. Closing date for responses noon on 4 September. Complete the survey here. For any queries contact: probationsourcingteam@justice.gov.uk or joey.stanford@justice.gov.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Henry Hawkins Lecture 2023

Together for Mental Wellbeing is delighted to invite you to the Henry Hawkins Lecture [13 September, 17:45 - 20:30, London Guildhall’s Milton Court Theatre (nearest tube station Moorgate), free]

The lecture will be a thought provoking and insightful look at the topic of art and mental health and the importance and positive impact that art in all its forms can play in the lives of people living with mental distress. Dr Simon Hackett, will talk about "Walking the corridors of powerlessness, and hope: Reflections on Art Therapy in institutions, recovery, and personal agency". Angela Samata's talk will be on "Art is the highest form of hope".

Art work will be exhibited, there will be original spoken word and music curated and performed by alumna and students studying at the Guildhall on the theme of art and its relationship with mental health. Join in for what promises to be an exciting, eclectic and intellectually stimulating evening. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Exploring women’s experience of drug and alcohol treatment

This event [5 October, 11:30 - 13:00, online, free] will launch a new research report which maps the needs of women who use substances and the ways that those needs are currently being met in the West Midlands.

Women who use substances have different needs than men. They face greater stigma, are more likely to carry the trauma of domestic abuse and are more likely to be caring for children. All of this taken together means that they may struggle to achieve recovery in a treatment system where they are outnumbered by men two to one.

The research was jointly undertaken by the Centre for Justice Innovation, Staffordshire University and Expert Citizens, with funding from the JABBS Foundation and the Office of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner. Register here

OPPORTUNITY: Train the Trainer scholarships

Scholarship places on the award-winning Train the Trainer qualification are available. Thanks to Innovate UK funding, Taye Training has 25 scholarships available for the UK's only Train the Trainer for people delivering training in frontline services. Suitable for people with lived personal or professional experience, those new to training or have delivered for years! It will teach you to develop and deliver values-led, trauma informed, accessible training and can be applied to any subject. The qualification involves 12 live online sessions, a personal mentor and support group.

The closing date for applications is [31 August]. Please email Training4Influence@TayeTraining.org.uk for a chat or an application form.

OPPORTUNITY: recruiting lived experience influencers

The National Suicide Prevention Alliance (NSPA) work with a group of Lived Experience Influencers, who are trained and supported to influence and inform suicide prevention work in a whole range of ways. This can be from being part of groups that steer or advise strategy and planning, advising on or co-producing projects, working on campaigns, or speaking at events, or co-facilitating webinars, workshops, or training. NSPA are recruiting 10 new Lived Experience Influencers to join this group. Applications are open to people who are over 18 years old, reside in England, and have lived experience(s) related to suicide. NSPA are particularly keen to receive applications from people who are from marginalised or under-represented groups. The deadline for applications is [31 August, 9:00]. Find out more

FEATURED VACANCY: Service Delivery Manager

Join Spark Inside as a Service Delivery Manager [£35,000FTE, part time, South East] and make a difference in the lives of young people facing challenges. You will be a highly organised and passionate individual who thrives on building relationships with young people. You will work mainly within prisons in Kent, as part of a team covering London and the South East, as well as in the community with partner organisations. Responsibilities include engaging young people in life coaching workshops, managing freelance coaches, and ensuring smooth project management. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional people skills, resilience, and a commitment to amplifying impact through learning and tenacity. Find out more and apply here by 6 September

FEATURED VACANCY: Trustee

StandOut is seeking trustees [Voluntary, part time, London]. Their mission is for more people leaving prison to be empowered to transform their own lives, realise their potential, and escape the justice system for good. Standout do that through intensive programmes for people inside prison, followed by 1:1 coaching and holistic support after release for as long as required. Standout are a young charity and looking to expand their trustee board. Their trustees play a significant role in strategy and governance, ensuring that StandOut delivers on its mission. Find out more and apply here by 18 September

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

RSAP - Tenancy Sustainment Officer with Action Housing & Support Ltd [£21,189 - £22,990, Derby, full time]; Tenancy Sustainment Officer with Action Housing & Support Ltd [£21,189 - £22,990, Derby, full time]; Team Leader - HMP Wormwood Scrubs with The Forward Trust [£30,082, HMP Wormwood Scrubs, full time]; Health and Wellbeing Practitioner - HMP The Mount with The Forward Trust [£24,000 - £25,844, HMP The Mount, full time]; Director of Delivery with Leap - Confronting Conflict [£51,000 - £56,000, Finsbury Park, full time]; Mentoring and Advocacy (MAS) Key Worker with Together Women Projects (Yorkshire & Humberside) [£26,136, Sheffield and South Yorkshire, part time]; Family Support Worker (Based at Visitors' Centre at HMP Wayland) with Ormiston Families [£19,838, Visitors' Centre at HMP Wayland, part time]; Senior Practitioner - Breaking Barriers Suffolk with Ormiston Families [£23,439, Home (will need to live in the County of Suffolk), part time]; Senior Employment Caseworker with St Giles Trust [£30,000, Camberwell with some travel across London, full time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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