Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 815 | 12 January 2024

Light Lunch Clinks

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: new funding guidance for the criminal justice voluntary sector

As a sector support organisation, providing information, advice and resources to voluntary organisations is an important part of Clinks. We have heard from many of our members about how difficult it is to identify, understand and navigate funding opportunities for the criminal justice voluntary sector, and know that this is becoming even more challenging. We have therefore published new information and guidance on our website which explores this topic and includes guides to statutory and charitable funding, fundraising support, and information on securing alternative sources of income. Have a look at our new Funding and Income webpages here

CLINKS NEWS: Could you be the next Chair of the Board of Trustees

We're excited to extend our recruitment for you to apply to be Clinks Chair of the Board of Trustees. Our new chair will be committed to voluntary action, our organisation, our values, and anti-racism. This role is pivotal in creating the conditions for overall board and individual director effectiveness, both inside and outside the boardroom. We aim to onboard our new chair as a trustee from April 2024 to ensure efficient handover, ahead of the AGM. We welcome applications from across society and we aim to have a diverse board representative of the communities impacted by criminal justice and the challenges they face. The deadline for applications is [5 February]. Click here for more information and how to apply

CLINKS NEWS: RR3 recruitment - Youth Justice and Resettlement seats

We are seeking two senior leaders with criminal justice voluntary sector expertise in Youth Justice or Resettlement to join The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3). The group works closely with senior officials in the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service to reduce reoffending and to build a more effective partnership between government and the voluntary sector. The application deadline for the role is [29 January] For more information, click the links below.

Youth Justice application : Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group – Youth Justice Specialist  | Clinks

Resettlement application : Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group – Resettlement  | Clinks 

CLINKS NEWS: working with people on probation who experience mental health problems

Read the latest evidence review as part of our comprehensive Evidence Library. In this publication, Professor Charlie Brooker, honorary professor at Royal Holloway, University of London and Dr Coral Sirdifield, Senior Research Associate at the University of Lincoln, look at:

  • The benefits of focusing on the mental health of people on probation
  • What we know about the mental health of people on probation
  • The organisation of mental health care, current initiatives, and challenges to providing high-quality care
  • What good quality care for people on probation looks like
  • Improving the evidence base and provision of care.

Charlie and Coral will discuss this topic in a webinar as part of our 'A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us' series - Date TBC shortly. Read the review here

CLINKS NEWS: London Third Sector & Service User Voice Adult Disproportionality Steering Group

All voluntary organisations working in the London criminal justice system interested in race inequality are invited to attend the next Third Sector & Service User Voice Adult Disproportionality Steering Group meeting taking place online on Microsoft Teams on [22 January, 12:00-13:30, online, free]. The Steering Group is a joint initiative between Clinks and the London Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) giving voluntary organisations a platform to discuss their work with minority ethnic groups and share insights on how to reduce ethnic disproportionality in the London criminal justice system. 

The focus at the next meeting will be on exploring the latest disproportionality data with London Probation, specifically in relation to recalls and other agencies, including the courts. Ideas about how all parties, including voluntary organisations, can do more and be better supported to reduce ethnic disproportionality will be explored. Please email matthew.uberoi@clinks.org to register for this online event and receive the Microsoft Teams meeting credentials.

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks Families Network for voluntary sector organisations

Clinks is delighted to have secured funding to develop a network of voluntary organisations supporting families of, and relationships for, people in the criminal justice system. The voluntary sector plays a leading role in designing and delivering services. These services develop and maintain relationships, supporting adults and children affected by a family member’s involvement in the criminal justice system.

Natalie Maidment, Clinks Senior Development Officer, is developing a network to provide advice, support and share information to any voluntary organisation working with families and significant others in and around the criminal justice system, this may be the main aim of your organisation or a project within it. The network aims to bring together organisations both large and small to identify challenges, share good practice and influence policy and decision making.

If you would like to find out more about our new Families Network contact natalie.maidment@clinks.org  

MEMBER FOCUS: Fine Cell Work

Fine Cell Work (FCW) trains and pays prisoners to do craftwork in their cells to encourage motivation, improve mental health and build employability skills. FCW is geared to long-term, male and female, people in prison who are deemed high-risk. They tend to stay on the programme for two to ten years. The goal is to enable prisoners to gain social and employment skills so they can desist from re-offending in the future. People on the programme work for 20-40 hours a week in their cells.

The workforce has expanded to approximately 250 prisoners across 30 prisons. The apprenticeship training is done by 50 skilled volunteers. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Rethink & Reset podcast series launched

The first episode of Revolving Doors' Rethink & Reset (RE)cordings podcast is now live, and can be found wherever you like to tune in by searching for 'Revolving Doors Podcast' on your preferred listening platform. There are six episodes altogether, with the remaining episodes due to be published throughout the next month. Listen here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: New Year Sale

Recoop kicks off the new year with a unique New Year sale. They are offering discounts on a number of their services which are used by many prisons to socially prescribe activities which bring focus to empowering and supporting older people. Their sale includes popular products such as “On Track”, their virtual walking programme as well as their Mindfulness booklet, which aims to support individuals with meditation and guided imagery. The New Year Sale ends on the [31 March]. Follow this link

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Government to quash wrongful Post Office convictions

The Ministry of Justice have announced that Hundreds of innocent postmasters who were wrongfully convicted due to the Horizon scandal will have their names cleared under new laws to be brought forward by the government. Read more about the announcement here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Pre-Sentencing Toolkit launch

The Traveller Movement (TM) will be launching their new Pre-Sentencing Toolkit: Fair Sentencing for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller people. This event [16 January, 14:00 – 16:00, online, free] will bring together policymakers, stakeholders, and third-sector experts to hear more about the new Pre-Sentencing Toolkit and how it can support fair sentencing for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller people. Register here

FEATURED VACANCY: Head of Delivery

Switchback are looking for a Head of Delivery [£48,205 - £56,000, Full Time, London Hybrid] to join their Leadership team. The Head of Delivery will play a central role in growing Switchback's evidence-led offer and championing their intensive 1-1, through-the-gate model as they support young men to find their way out of the justice system and live life differently. As part of the Leadership team, you will contribute to growing Switchback's sustainability and impact, modelling their values and empowering strengths-based leadership, through putting trainees at the heart of everything they do and increasing their work on tackling social and racial justice. Switchback are looking for someone dynamic and robust, with buckets full of emotional intelligence and vision. [Find out more and apply here by 22 January]

FEATURED VACANCY: Criminal Justice Domestic Abuse Practitioner

Changing Lives is seeking a dynamic, personable, creative, highly motivated and empathetic individual to work with victims of domestic abuse across Northumbria region, who are referred by Police, Probation and Prison [£24,892 pro rata, 30 hours]. In a trauma-informed way, you will advocate at the point of crisis, providing practical and emotional support around areas such as safety planning. 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 enhanced DBS check and Level 1 clearance. [Find out more and apply here by 15 January]

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Educational Psychologist with Seetec [£42,930 - £47,000, Gravesend, full time]; Behavioural Change Practitioner with Seetec [£30,240 - £33,600, Ashford Kent, part time]; Community Keyworker with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£26,000 - £32,000, Stratford, full time]; Housing Support Worker with Saltbox-Restart [£21,400 - £23,700, Stoke-on-Trent, full time]; Accommodation Support Officer with Seetec [£23,088 - £24,801, Channings Wood, full time]; Family Engagement Manager (Scale 3) with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£31,500, HMP Ranby, full time]; Specialist Outreach Coaches (Criminal Justice Women) - full and part time roles available with Changing Lives [£27,040, Newcastle upon Tyne, full time]; Visits Centre Assistants (18.75 hrs) x3 posts with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£25,642, HMP Feltham, part time]; Visits Centre Assistants (casual) with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£23.400, Isle of Sheppey, part time]; Casual Visits Centre Assistants with Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) [£23,400, West Midlands Prisons, part time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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