Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 825 | 22 March 2024

Light Lunch Clinks

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: State of the Sector 2023 published

Building on the past decade of Clinks’ State of the Sector research, this report provides a snapshot of the voluntary sector working in criminal justice in the 2022-23 financial year. It looks at the profile of the sector, its finances, its future, and the changes it wants to see from the government that wins the upcoming election.  

Three key themes emerged:

1. The voluntary sector working in criminal justice continue to operate in a challenging environment.
2. Organisations prefer grant funding over contract arrangements, including for future government commissioning.
3. Organisations were cautiously confident about their financial sustainability over the next two years but uncertain what service delivery might look like.

In anticipation of the next UK General Election, expected to take place in 2024, we asked organisations and funders what they would like to tell the incoming government. They want a new government to focus on:

• Investment in prevention and rehabilitation
• Leaning on the expertise of voluntary organisations
• Empowering local organisations to deliver in their communities.

Get up to speed on the views of Clinks members by reading the State of the Sector 2023

CLINKS EVENT: The Anne Peaker Lecture 2024

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is excited to invite you to our annual Anne Peaker Lecture [26 March, 4pm-6pm, online, free].

At this year’s event we will be publicly sharing the full findings of the Inspiring Futures research project for the very first time. Join us as keynote speaker, Dr Caroline Lanskey take the audience through the report.

We will have a wide-range of expert panellists taking your questions, as well as creative content from Clean Break, Helix Arts the Irene Taylor Trust, and Only Connect. Tickets are selling fast! Find out more and book your place here

MEMBER FOCUS: No Going Back (NGB)

No Going Back Cleaning and Support Services CIC is a programme providing support to individuals in and out of prison, helping develop the necessary skills to turn their lives around and prevent them from returning to prison. With over 150 volunteers, many of whom are employers, NGB is able to tap into a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure success. Partnerships are also key to everything it does including with the prisons and other organisations in the sector.

NGB is also a Cleaning and Support Services Social Enterprise, employing individuals leaving prison and driving commercial success. Through support, guidance, and mentorship, NGB collaborates with employers and partners to provide essential training and secure meaningful employment. Find out more about No Going Back Cleaning and Support Services CIC

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Unrestricted funding in practice

This is the fourth IVAR briefing paper in a series of case studies asking funders to share their thinking about unrestricted funding – and invite their funded partners to reflect on the difference it makes.

In this publication, hear from Laura Roling, Director at The Bromley Trust. Laura shares how the Trust’s decision to give unrestricted funding was vital to helping charities navigate challenging times and develop new ways of meeting people’s needs.

We also hear from two charity leaders: Naomi Delap from Birth Companions and Penny Parker from StandOut, whose organisations have received unrestricted funding from The Bromley Trust. They explain why this form of funding matters to them and ultimately allows their charities to deliver a better, flexible and more consistent service. Read the briefing paper

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Switchback report on Mental Health and Prison Release

Earlier this week Clinks member organisation Switchback launched their Mental Health and Prison Release Report. The report focuses on prison-leavers’ mental health, including the experience of high levels of anxiety associated wirh prison-release, and the access to mental health care in prison and after release. Switchback are calling for better mental health support for people leaving prison and for a prison release system that responds to the emotional challenges that people leaving prison are facing. Read more online.

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: staff coaching improves wellbeing

Spark Inside is pleased to publish the evaluation of its prison staff coaching programme, conducted by a research team from the University of Lincoln! This new external evaluation found that Spark Inside coaching supports prison staff to build resilience, manage stress and improve their wellbeing. The report details the benefits of coaching for prison staff, the ​“keys to success” in the programme, and the University of Lincoln’s recommendations for Spark Inside going forward. Read the evaluation

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: Birth Companions' respond to the Sentencing Council's new mitigating factor for pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period

This week the Sentencing Council has announced that pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period will be included as a specific mitigating factor to be considered by magistrates and Crown Court judges in sentencing decisions. Commenting on the announcement Naomi Delap, Director of Birth Companions said: “This is a huge step forward by the Sentencing Council, and a clear acknowledgement of the risks the prison system poses to pregnant women, new mothers and their babies." Read more.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Leadership programme for women

Elevate is a 10-day leadership and skills development programme [first week of April, 2 days a week for 5 weeks, central London, free] designed for:

  • 18-25-year-old young women (London-based)
  • Affected by, or at risk of, criminal exploitation & violence
  • Not in Education, Training or Employment (ETE)

Young women will have the opportunity to earn CPD accreditation (Level 1) in Leadership and take part in group work, group discussions, and individual presentations.

The deadline for applications is [12pm, 20 March]. Abianda will be in touch with you by Friday 22 March. They will discuss your application, provide more information about Elevate and answer any questions you may have. Apply here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Clare Wade KC’s review, one year on

Clare Wade’s independent review looked at domestic homicide sentencing, and provided key recommendations for the government to protect vulnerable women. The review found that:

  • when intimate partners murder, women are the victims in 90% of cases
  • of the murder cases reviewed by Clare Wade, over half involved controlling behaviour
  • excessive violence was identified in 60%, with men being the perpetrator in all but one case

The Government invited responses to their "murder sentencing consultation" where they received over 5,000 responses.

As a result of these responses, the government has pledged that domestic murderers and ‘rough sex’ killers will face longer behind bars. Read the Ministry of Justice press release here

FUNDING: organisations run by-and-for those they serve

Mark Johnson, Founder of Clinks member Lived Expert, is part of the Lloyds Bank Foundation Advisory Group for its research project into by-and-for organisations.

They are inviting bids for research in the 'Exploration of the distinctiveness of small voluntary sector organisations run by-and-for those they serve'. They have partnered with The Legal Education Foundation to co-fund this research to better identify and understand the characteristics, value, role and distinctiveness of by-and-for organisations.

An estimated budget of [£75,000] will finance the two phases of research, initial exploration and deeper examination. Confirm your intention to bid by [3 April] and apply here before [23 April].

OPPORTUNITY: experiences of young Muslim women

Call for participants to engage with pioneering research on the experiences of young Muslim women in contact with the CJS. 

A groundbreaking study into the experiences of young Muslim women aged 17-25 years entering the criminal justice system (CJS) is being undertaken by the Muslim Women in Prison Project (MWIP) based in Bradford, and in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University. Led by a partnership between Dr Sofia Buncy, Dr Alexandria Bradley and Dr Sarah Goodwin and funded by the Barrow Cadbury Trust and Transition 2 Adulthood (T2A), the study is the first of its kind with a specific focus on the intersection of gender, age, and faith.

Organisations are actively encouraged to promote the participation of young Muslim women. For further information view this poster, and signpost via email: mwip@khidmat.org.uk or telephone 01274 521792

PUBLICATION: Probation Quarterly 

Issue 31 of Probation Quarterly includes articles from academics, practitioners and policymakers. This issue includes a themed section on probation in Wales and a number of other articles focusing on:

• What we know about probation and punishment in Wales
• The new professional register in probation;
• The House of Lords report on community sentences.

Issue 31, published today, can be downloaded here for free

RESOURCE: navigating life after prison

Sussex Prisoners' Families, is an organisation that supports family members who may have a loved one in prison. They have shared two resources they are sharing for prison leavers and their families.

Find out more about Sussex Prisoners' Families here

FEATURED VACANCY: CEO, CASS+

CASS+ are looking for a strong, inspirational, and dynamic CEO [£45,000, Full-Time, Plymouth] who will lead the development and delivery of the CASS+ strategy. The role requires someone with a proven track record of successful leadership who shares CASS+ vision for advice and support to be available in every court. You will be joining at an exciting time of growth, heading up 11 employees at five courts in Devon and Cornwall (Exeter, Newton Abbot, Plymouth, Bodmin and Truro), and around 21 volunteers. CASS+ are a dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable team focused on finding solutions for people facing many disadvantages, reducing the risk of re-offending, and improving the lives of people experiencing the Justice System. [Find out more and apply here by 21 April] 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Community Keyworker – Hertfordshire with ADVANCE (Advocacy and Non-Violence Community Education) [£22,000 - £26,000, Hertfordshire, full time]; Construction Skills Tutor – Prison with Groundwork Greater Manchester [£30,573 - £33,900, full time]; Volunteer Network Lead with Shannon Trust [£30,000 - £33,000, Home Based, full time]; Bank Community Partner with One Small Thing [£26,000 - £28,000, Southampton, part time]; Bank Night Safety Worker with One Small Thing [£26,000, Southampton, part time]; Recovery Programmes Trainee - HMP Swansea (12 Months FTC) with The Forward Trust [£19,838, HMP Swansea, full time]; Youth & Inclusion Worker with The Forward Trust [£30,082, HMP Downview and HMP/YOI Bronzefield, full time]; Regional Peer Coordinator - Bronzefield, Send & Coldingley (Full time - 35 Hours Per Week) with The Forward Trust [£25,154, HMP/YOI Bronzefield, HMP Send and HMP Coldingley, full time]; Floating Support Worker with Hestia Housing & Support [£26,268, Bromley, full time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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