This specialist quarterly ebulletin keeps you updated on relevant developments for organisations working to support women in contact with the criminal justice system. Please contact Jackie Lowthian at Jackie.lowthian@clinks.org if there is anything you would like to raise or to include items in the next ebulletin.
In this edition...
Clinks influence: Justice Committee - future prison population and estate capacity
On 9 January, Clinks CEO, Anne Fox, and Sonya Ruparel, CEO at Women In Prison, gave evidence at an oral hearing of the Justice Committee. Members heard from them about the impact of the failure to properly implement the 2019 Female Offender Strategy on the rise in the number women being sent to prison. They noted the significant proportion of women held on remand and the numbers of those serving short sentences and welcomed the introduction in the Sentencing Bill of a duty on courts to suspend sentences of less than 12 months. They expressed concerns about the need for investment in appropriate community and probation services if women were to successfully complete community orders. Anne also pointed to the need for better partnership working between probation and voluntary sector providers to undo some of the damage created by previous policies. Watch the session
Clinks influence: Welsh Affairs Committee – prisons in Wales
On 17 January, Bryn Hall, Clinks Senior Development Officer for Wales and Katie Fraser, Head of Prisons and Participation at Women in Prison gave evidence at an oral hearing of the Welsh Affairs Committee. Some of their evidence focused on Welsh women and the impact on them being imprisoned outside of Wales. They raised the importance of the maintenance of family ties and access to continuity of support from custody into the community, particularly trauma-informed, gender-specific local services. They also cited on-going issues since the pandemic, including staffing challenges, restricted prison regimes and the impact this has on voluntary sector service providers. Bryn mentioned the importance of Welsh-specific data in understanding how policies affect Welsh prisoners. Questions about the proposed residential women’s centre in Swansea were raised. Watch the session
Clinks influence: women and the criminal justice system
Clinks Head of Influence and Communications, Sam Julius, attended the Ministry of Justice’s Women in the Criminal Justice System Expert Group meeting in December. The meeting noted the appointment of Minster Argar as Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation since the last meeting, and heard that he is keen to attend a future meeting. Members of the group had an opportunity to feedback on the data dashboard being used to measure outcomes in the Female Offender Strategy Delivery Plan; discussed the proposals in the Sentencing Bill; heard a presentation about the Health and Social Care Review; and received an update on the Women’s Policy Framework review. For the next meeting, Clinks is leading a task and finish group on early intervention and prevention. Look out for invitations to contribute to this work or contact Sam.julius@clinks.org - Find out more about Clinks policy work here
Clinks influence: Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Board (RR3)
The RR3 met in December and heard from the Ministry of Justice on its plans for the new Racial Disparities Unit, its broader work tackling racial disparities within the criminal justice system, as well as an update on the progress of the Criminal Justice Anti-Racism Action Plan for Wales. The group discussed vetting challenges faced by the voluntary sector with HM Prison and Probation Service’s senior policy lead and plans to escalate concerns around ongoing vetting challenges. The special interest groups (SIGs) continued to meet to develop solutions to their policy areas of focus – accommodation (barriers for people leaving prison); employment (improving outcomes for people leaving prison); commissioning (influencing next generation Community Rehabilitation Contracts); and staffing (tackling staffing challenges across the criminal justice system). Final outputs for each will be produced by the end of the financial year. Find out more about RR3 on this page
Clinks influence: Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) – Women’s Specialist
As Lisa Dando, Director of Brighton Women’s Centre, nears the end of her current term in the role of women’s specialist on the RR3, Clinks has an open call for recruitment to this voluntary position. Members of the group sit as individuals, and they act as a representative of the wider voluntary sector. The successful candidate will be a senior leader with expertise and experience of providing specialist support to women in contact with the criminal justice system. The Women’s Specialist on the RR3 also helps convene the Clinks women’s network forum and chairs quarterly meetings. Find out more, including how to apply, here
Clinks networks updates: women’s network forum
The Clinks women’s network forum met on 19 December with members sharing successes from the past year. In what has been a challenging time, with ever-increasing need for specialist women’s services and high demands placed on staff and volunteers, we were inspired to hear about some of the incredible work members are delivering. The forum confirmed the resilience of the sector and the value of specialist services in empowering women affected by the criminal justice system to recover and move forward in their lives. The next women’s network forum is on 19 March See here for details. If you are not yet a member of the network you will need to register to join the network here.
Clinks networks updates: Clinks Launches Families Network
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 network brings together organisations, large and small, to identify challenges, share practices, and influence policy. Members gain free access to forums, events, bulletins, and communications for collaborative research. They can engage with government officials, receive one-to-one support, and actively shape Clinks' national policy work. Whether family support is your organisation's primary focus or a project within, the Families Network creates a collaborative community. Find out more by contacting Natalie Maidment at natalie.maidment@clinks.org
Agenda Alliance and Changing Lives launch Transforming Together
Transforming Together: Building place-based networks to improve services for women is a new phase to Agenda’s Transforming Services for Women's Futures project. Thanks to funding from Smallwood Trust, Transforming Together will focus on building a resilient network of local practitioners in the North-East, offering a model for collaborative systems-change. The project will build and develop a network of practitioners and women facing multiple unmet needs in the North East. This network will work together to implement real change for the most marginalised women in the region. Find out more here
Women’s Resource Centre seeking faster change on violence against women and girls
The Metropolitan Police published their Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Action Plan in December. Among other commitments, the plan states the intention to eliminate police perpetrated domestic abuse and sexual offences, commit more resources to help survivors with 500 more dedicated staff, and engage more with victim/survivor organisations. They will also open more routes for external scrutiny and accountability. The Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) has been working with the Mayor’s Office for Police and Crime (MOPAC) to try and drive faster change. Find out more about this here and read the action plan
Clinks training: Why gender matters in the criminal justice system - 2-part workshop
Part One: Monday 26 February 2024, 10:00 - 12:00
Part Two: Tuesday 27 February 2024, 10.00 -13.00
Is your organisation part of the Clinks women’s network? Do you have frontline staff or volunteers who are new to your organisation and want to increase their understanding of why gender matters in the criminal justice system? If so, join us for this entry-level training course [26 and 27 Feb, online, £95 for both days, Clinks voluntary sector members]. The training aims to develop understanding of women’s gendered experience of the criminal justice system. Part One focuses on understanding the policy landscape, including the Female Offender Strategy and the aim to achieve a ‘Whole System Approach’ (WSA) for women. Part Two guides participants through elements of WSA in practice. The course has been developed in response to a need for training for frontline staff in the women’s sector who are new to the criminal justice system and is exclusively for members of the Clinks women’s network. Find out more and book your place here
Clinks training: Working and volunteering in prisons
Working or volunteering in a prison can be quite daunting due to the many complexities associated with its unique environment and establishing the role of the voluntary sector within that can be challenging. Join us at this three-hour training session [5 March, online, £95 members] for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to raise awareness of the prison environment and provide information on key aspects such as staffing structures and departments, prison procedures and current challenges associated with working in prisons. Find out more and book your place here
Clinks training: Navigating the criminal justice system workshop
Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system? Join us at this three-hour workshop [14 March, online, £75] for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of, and provide the opportunity to, explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works. Find out more and book your place here
Clean Break training: Lived experience in governance
Join a panel of trustees/former trustees and senior leadership from Clean Break [6 February, online, free] to understand how organisations can best support lived experience Board members to contribute and know that their contributions have value. Learn how anti-racism can be practiced in the Board room and how co-chairing can enable lived experience to be front and centre on Boards. Develop your knowledge of the culture needed to support a diverse Board to thrive. This event aims to share Clean Break's learning and explore the strategies deployed on their journey to Board equity. Find out more and book your place here
Clean Break training: 'Leading with Kindness' trauma-informed practice
Clean Break's Members Support team is delivering ‘Leading with Kindness’ training, aimed at bringing trauma-informed practices into the UK's leading theatres and arts organisations [29 Feb or 29 March, London, from £50]. Leveraging decades of experience working creatively with women who have experienced trauma, the programme ensures comprehensive support for women to thrive in creative endeavours. The in-person training covers understanding trauma, its social context, implementing trauma-informed practices, and ensuring safety when working with trauma. Participation facilitators, directors, stage managers, and those tackling challenging themes are invited to join this dynamic session. Please note, the training occurs in a women-only setting, with mixed-gender sessions announced for the future. Find out more and book your place here
Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) Bitesize Sessions: Building a regional voice, A case study of the London VAWG Consortium
This session [21 February, online, free] is open to anyone interested in learning more about the London Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Consortium. It will focus on the importance of partnership working as funding shrinks. Using the London VAWG Consortium as an excellent working model, presenters will talk about why and how this model has worked, the outcomes, and introduce some basic ideas to think about if you want to replicate it. WRC’s Bitesize Sessions are part of a series of short lunchtime drop-in sessions which are informal, online meet-ups where you can learn some new skills, meet other women from the sector and discuss common issues. They are free. Find out more and book here
International Women’s Day: opportunity for organisations funded by City Bridge Foundation
To celebrate International Women’s Day in March 2024, City Bridge Foundation are offering an opportunity for one of their funded organisations to share their expertise and experience by giving a presentation to an audience of other funded organisations and their staff. You can talk about the work of your organisation, your individual experience or a relevant chosen topic. This will be the first in a series of online Spotlight Talks showcasing the knowledge and work of the charities the Foundation fund. Find out more here
Changes needed to improve support for women wanting to stop using drugs and alcohol
New research from Staffordshire University, the Centre for Justice Innovation and Expert Citizens CIC, including lived experience experts, shows need for services to better address women’s drug and alcohol treatment needs. Women reported lengthy delays in accessing mental health treatment and this exacerbated emotional trauma from past child abuse and adulthood experiences of sexual and domestic violence. Women-only service provision assisted with women being able to talk about shared experiences and to make positive life changes. Women experience stigma-induced harms from friends, family and professionals and sexual harassment from male service users and male professionals. Find out more about the research findings and recommendations for changes to policy and practice via articles in the Probation Quarterly and also the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Social Investment to increase racial equity in the arts, social enterprise and business
Create Equity is a social investment organisation that creates funding opportunities to support diverse founders, leaders and talent, harnessing their creative and entrepreneurial energy for a fairer and more cohesive society. Activities include campaigns, funding and consultancy. They partner with various funders to facilitate funding opportunities, including grants, loans, or equity finance. There are currently three offers available with varying eligibility criteria: The Create Equity Fund (CEF), Flexible Finance Fund, and a Capacity Building Programme. Find out more here
Grants for capital projects
The Bernard Sunley Foundation is a family grant-making foundation which supports charities working to raise the quality of life and provide greater opportunities for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged. Each year the foundation gives about £4 million to capital projects that deliver a real community focus or provide facilities to support those in need. Typical funding might be for new buildings, extensions, refurbishments, and recreational spaces, or for new minibuses and other vehicles that provide a vital service to those most in need in their local community. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Find out more here
Advance calls for specialist support for women and girls under 25
Young women and girls under the age of 25 are disproportionately affected by abuse and violence, and there is a lack of support and recognition of the impact this has at such an early age. With nowhere to turn for support, many are left traumatised and can go onto experience further harm, including getting caught up in the criminal justice system. Advance has created a short film based on real stories of five young people. They want to see greater investment in early invention programmes for young women and are calling on the non-profit and statutory sectors to host a viewing of the film to raise awareness. Watch the film and find out more here
Criminalisation of victims/survivors of domestic abuse: Centre for Women’s Justice launch films and briefings
Five victims/survivors of domestic abuse share their stories of criminalisation in a new series of short films launched in December by the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ). The films and accompanying five-minute briefings are intended to raise awareness about the need to prevent the unjust criminalisation of victims/survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls, and the reforms needed to law, policy and practice to achieve this. Amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill were tabled in January to introduce statutory defences for victims of domestic abuse who are accused of offending. CWJ’s films and briefings are freely available here
Receiving the Clinks women’s network ebulletin
If you find this quarterly bulletin useful, please tell your colleagues about it. If they would like to receive the bulletin, please encourage them to login to their Clinks account and go to this manage subscriptions page where they can sign-up. They will need to be a member of the women’s network so if they need to join, they can register here today.
If you have any comments about this ebulletin or feedback for improvement, please email Jackie Lowthian.
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