Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 819 | 09 February 2024

Light Lunch Clinks

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: “Clinks Thinks” - an influencing resource for the criminal justice voluntary sector 

In case you missed it, we recently shared a Clinks Thinks blog post to explain how Clinks Thinks can aid you in your influencing work. The key principles, ambitions and recommendations found in Clinks Thinks have been created in collaboration with our members and networks. Our principles are: 

  • Recognise the role of the voluntary sector in supporting people in the criminal justice system to realise their potential 

  • Ensure criminal justice services have strong foundations 

  • Understand and meet the needs of people in contact with the criminal justice system. 

We highlight the importance of the sector’s voice being sought out and heard in campaigning, policy, and the shaping of service delivery. We call for all criminal justice services to be person-centred, and joined up to ensure they enable people to access the help they need to desist from crime, to realise their potential, and to thrive. This all needs to be underpinned by a sustainable voluntary sector, supported by grant funding and contracts that deliver full cost recovery for contracted organisations. Take a look at our ambitions on the Clinks Thinks website.

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks membership renewal coming soon! 

As we gear up for another impactful year, we want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to each and every one or you who has been part of Clinks. Your dedication to our mission of supporting the voluntary sector in the criminal justice system is what makes our community thrive. 

Membership renewals 
With 1 April just around the corner, we wanted to remind you that it’s time for membership renewals. Your continued commitment not only ensures uninterrupted access to your membership benefits but also reinforces your integral role in our dynamic community. 

In the coming weeks, we will be in touch with your Member Contact via email to guide you through the renewals process, to ensure you can make the most of everything Clinks has to offer. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact us at membership@clinks.org

New members 
To those considering joining our community, we extend a warm invitation to explore the benefits of Clinks membership. If you know someone who shares our passion for positive change within the criminal justice system, direct them to the Clinks website for more information or contact us directly at membership@clinks.org

MEMBER FOCUS: Lived Expert 

Lived Expert is a new social enterprise that aims to unlock the power of lived experience. Their mission is to harness the power of lived experience, innovating new products and services while also assisting other organisations on their journey to incorporate lived experience. Find out more here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE: call-out for resources and views on wellbeing support for creative health practitioners 

Are you an artist/creative health practitioner, commissioner, or partner organisation delivering creative programmes to people living with challenging conditions/ circumstances? We would like to hear what supports you in your work - the resources you use and what is needed.  

We are crowd-sourcing this information to update and strengthen resources for professional wellbeing support options. This call-out is being conducted by Dr Julia Puebla Fortier and Dr Kate Massey-Chase, supported by Arts Council England. Results will be released publicly in March 2024.   
  
For more information, contact Dr Julia Puebla Fortier at research@ahsw.org.uk

Respond to the call-out here   

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: new PET Chair 

Paul Kelly has been appointed as the new Chair of Prisoners’ Education Trust (PET). Paul has experience in the private sector and as a trustee and chair, as well as experience of the justice system. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: better work opportunities for people in prison  

Nacro has launched its "Wasting Time" campaign, calling for better work opportunities for people in prison. Nacro is calling for: a real working day; fairer pay; and improved use of ROTL. See their short film and campaign page for more information.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Society Matters CIC 

The following online training is available from Society Matters CIC: 

Get to Grips with Personal Independence Payment – [4 March, £89]   

Challenging Welfare Decisions (Advanced) - [7 March, £89]  

Financial Fitness – Get your money in shape - [19 March, £89]  

Understanding Stress and Mental Health - [20 March, £89]  

Understanding Immigration and Benefits (Advanced) - [21 March, £89]  

Get to Grips with Understanding Welfare Benefits - [2 April, £69]  

Get to Grips with Universal Credit (Advanced) - [6 April 2024, £89]  

Self-Employment & Welfare Benefits - [12 April, £69]  

Get to Grips with Universal Credit (An Introduction) - [16 April, £89]  

Disability Rights workshop for employers - [18 April, £89]  

Prisoners and Welfare Benefits - [23 April, £89]  

Housing and Homelessness Matters - [30 April, £89] 

NON-MEMBERS’ EVENTS OR TRAINING: free charity training & webinars

The Charity Excellence Framework is providing a variety of free training courses and webinars for charities. Events are held weekly [Thursdays, 10:00, online]. There is no booking - you simply create an appointment in your calendar and join the webinar. Webinars and courses cover areas such as: fundraising, artificial intelligence, trustee governance, how to create vision & mission statements, and much more. Find out more here 

PUBLICATION: new AYJ research - supporting racially minoritised young people in the transition to adulthood 

The Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) has published a new report calling for reforms to ensure that as racially minoritised young people in the criminal justice system turn 18, the ‘by and for’ voluntary and community sector is there to support them - bridging gaps in statutory services and guiding young people to brighter futures. This report is the first in a series of briefings from a project exploring the experiences of young people transitioning into adulthood, funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust. It raises concerns that for racially minoritised young people, the destabilising impacts of the cliff edge transition to adult services are compounded by deficits in support before and after turning 18. It makes a number of recommendations to policymakers setting out the concerted effort that is needed to ensure specialist, age-appropriate, culturally relevant, and strengths-based support is available. Read the report here 

PUBLICATION: the climate emergency & reproductive justice 

This paper from Birth Companions and Wen (Women's Environmental Network), looks at the implications of the climate emergency for reproductive justice in the UK. 

Using the framework of reproductive justice, it interrogates specific challenges brought about by the climate emergency, and demonstrates the myriad ways in which the climate emergency undermines our human rights. It examines how: climate change, global heating, air pollution, toxic chemicals, environmental degradation and the decline of nature, pose severe challenges to women’s ability to conceive; sustain healthy pregnancies; and birth and parent their children in safety and health in the UK today. 

This paper forms part of the Feminist Green New Deal (FGND) policy paper series, developed in recent years by Wen and the Women’s Budget Group. Read the paper here

RESOURCE: advice & funding to support people in fuel poverty

The Wise Group are a social enterprise dedicated to lifting people out of poverty. They currently have funding to support people in fuel poverty across the England & Wales.  

Do you support people in the community who may be struggling with their cost of living situation? The Wise Group are eager to support as many people as possible. The service is only live until end of February, with hope it will be extended, however this will be dependent on demand.  

Their Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT), provides one to one support to individuals who are at risk of fuel poverty, currently experiencing fuel poverty or who simply need some guidance in relation to their energy usage or supply.  

The service will be able to provide support in the following ways: 

• Income Maximisation 

• Distribution of Crisis Funds (up to £150) 

• Fuel Debt Support 

• Energy Saving Tips and Measures 

• Support Applications for additional services

Use the referral link here 

FEATURED VACANCY: Service Manager 

Belong: Making Justice Happen are looking for a Service Manager [£38,300, full time, hybrid] to join their new service “Amplify”, supporting people with criminal convictions from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. Through reducing reoffending, improving wellbeing and increasing a sense of identity, the service will amplify the voices and the participation of people who are racially minioritised. They are seeking a motivated, empathetic, and organised manager to join Belong's specialist team and lead the Amplify pilot. You will bring resilience, enthusiasm, and experience of working in the criminal justice sector. You will have experience working with people who have experienced racial trauma, particularly young women. You will manage one creative psychotherapist and supervise 10-15 volunteers. Find out more and apply by 3 March here 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

HR and Operations Manager with Hibiscus [£33,000 - £37,000, full time, London]; Community Caseworker - Wellbeing Coach with NEPACS [£26,461, full time, Cleveland]; Fundraising Manager with Life Cycle [£34,439 - £42,092, full time, Bristol]; Accommodation Support Officer with Seetec [£23,088 - £24,801, full time, Norwich]; Family Support Group Volunteer with Prisoners Abroad [voluntary, part time, London]; Psychotherapist with Belong: Making Justice Happen [£35,098 FTE, part time, remote/West Midlands]; Financial Wellbeing Coach with St Giles Trust [£25,500. full time, Newport/Cardiff/Swansea]  

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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