Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 848 | 13 September 2024

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Clinks conference and AGM 

Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation, and Reducing Reoffending, will deliver the key note speech at the Clinks Conference and AGM Connecting for Change: Voluntary Sector Engagement in Criminal Justice [3 December, London, 09:15 - 17:00, £60 - £130, with a limited number of bursary places]. This year’s event will focus on deepening the connection between the voluntary sector working in criminal justice, Clinks and the newly formed UK government. Find out more and book here

CLINKS EVENT: Empowering Fair Chance Employment across the UK

Join us for a thought-provoking webinar [8 October 2024, Online, Free] that delves into the critical issue of Fair Chance Employment in the UK. This co-hosted event with Clinks and the Fair Chance Business Alliance will bring together inclusive employers, leading voluntary organisations, aligned stakeholders, and wider advocates to discuss the challenges faced by individuals often furthest from the workforce and explore the new Fair Chance Employment Charter as an innovative solution to this employer and societal opportunity. Book now

MEMBER FOCUS: Spark2Life

Spark2Life is determined to make sure that all children and young people have a safe and nurturing life. They work in schools and the community to prevent criminal activity, tackle exclusion, reduce racial disproportionality and increase emotional resilience of young people (age 11+) affected by violence. 
 
Their services in the community and education are delivered in London, Kent and Buckinghamshire where they provide therapeutic mentoring, casework, counselling and awareness programmes to prevent young people from gang violence, offending and criminal exploitation. Spark2Life provides family support and training to professionals through Trauma Informed courses and AQA Accredited Wholistic Mentoring. Find out more 

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Advance call for the decriminalisation of truancy

Advance have launched a social media campaign highlighting the disproportionate impact of truancy prosecutions on women. They are asking supporters to sign an open letter to the Secretaries of State at the Ministry of Justice and Department for Education, calling for the decriminalisation of truancy and increased support services for families facing multiple disadvantages. #NotGoingBackToSchool

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Training grants for the homelessness sector

The Frontline Network Training Programme offers regular, free, online training courses from leading homelessness sector training providers, and individual and group grants to support frontline workers to access training if funding is a barrier for their employer. Individual frontline workers can apply for up to £500 and groups for up to £1500. Find out more here or email frontline@stmartinscharity.org.uk

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Lucie Russell, the new CEO of User Voice

The Board of User Voice are delighted to announce Lucie Russell as their new CEO.

Lucie has many years of senior leadership experience in a range of social justice organisations. She began her career as a youth worker, then qualified as a Social Worker before joining the Big Issue, as a founder, and subsequently set up its sister charity. She was most recently CEO of Redthread.

Lucie is committed to confronting systematic injustice and disadvantage and empowering those who lack power to take control of their own destinies, and in all her roles has ensured that lived experience engagement is an integral part of all her practice. Lucie will take up her position with User Voice on 1st October.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Becoming Trauma Informed

One Small Thing’s vision is a justice system that can recognise, understand, and respond to trauma. They are running a one-day in-person training designed to support staff in organisations to develop an understanding of the dynamics and process of trauma, inform practice and support system change [21 November, London, £190 + VAT, or £114 +VAT (for organisations with an income under £350,000)]. 

The objectives of the Becoming Trauma Informed Awareness course are:

• To understand the pervasiveness of violence and the impact it has upon people
• To know the definitions of trauma, and what being ‘trauma-informed’ means
• To understand how knowledge about trauma can make your work easier and safer
• To learn about self-care for you and those you work with.

To find out more, click here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: HMIP Annual Report 2023-24 

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) has published its annual report. The report found men and women spend far too long locked in cells, with overall “woeful” provision of education, training or work. The report also finds a “surge in illicit drug use, self-harm and violence”. The report notes ongoing serious concerns about the provision for children in custody, and increasing unrest in immigration detention. Read the report here 

PUBLICATION: a judicial critique on sentence inflation 

The Howard League have published; Sentence inflation: a judicial critique, a paper signed by former senior judges which outlines how and why prison sentences have increased in recent decades and the impact this has had. The paper calls on the Government to reverse the trend of imposing ever longer sentences; warning that radical solutions are needed to address the acute crisis in prisons.  Read the paper here 

PUBLICATION: Setting the youth justice agenda 

The Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) has published a new briefing urging the Government to take bold action to reimagine youth justice. The AYJ sets out changes new Ministers must prioritise to achieve a safeguarding response to vulnerable children, end racial injustice, and ensure that custody is a last resort. Developed through extensive consultation with the AYJ’s 80 voluntary and community sector members, the briefing highlights the complex interrelationship between vulnerability, victimisation, and involvement in crime. It calls for systemic changes to prevent further harm to children and society, and create a system that promotes social justice and enables all children to reach their full potential. Read the briefing here 

PUBLICATION: Probation Quarterly, issue 33 published

The latest issue of Probation Quarterly includes articles from academics and policymakers on a wide range of topics, including: 

• The evidence underpinning the RNR model
• An interview with Probation Institute Chair, Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe
• The mental health support available for people on probation

You can download the Probation Quaterly for free here

RESOURCE: SDS40 – help for commissioners and service providers 

With releases from custody under the SDS40 policy now underway, Homeless Link have compiled a resource page which will be helpful for commissioners and service providers who are thinking about local protocols and interventions. The page includes links to Clinks' own reports from the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) Special Interest Group (SIG) on Accommodation. View the resource page here 

FEATURED VACANCY: Family Support Worker 

Ormiston Families have opportunities to join their experienced and dedicated Family Services Team as a Family Support Worker [£21,840 FTE, Part-Time, HMP Wayland]. The team works within the visitor's centre at HMP Wayland to provide a personal welcome for first-time and returning visitors, to support them to access the services available to them. The role will provide effective running of the visitor centre, play area and assist on family days to ensure families have a valuable visiting experience. You will have experience dealing with people in a customer-service based role, have excellent communication skills and problem-solving skills, and embrace a non-judgemental work ethic. Find out more and apply by 26 September here

FEATURED VACANCY: Criminal Justice Programme Manager 

Barrow Cadbury Trust are looking for a knowledgeable and experienced Criminal Justice Programme Manager [£53,667, Full-Time, Hybrid London] to join their team. The Criminal Justice programme focuses on young adults in the criminal justice system and on the intersections between racial justice, gender justice and criminal justice. The Transition to Adulthood campaign is at the heart of their criminal justice work and has led to significant improvements in the way the criminal justice system responds to young adults. You will have knowledge of criminal justice, experience of the third sector, and an understanding of how to build a successful campaign for change. Find out more and apply by 3 October here

FEATURED VACANCY: Trustees 

The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund are looking for trustees to join their board [Voluntary, Part-Time, London]. They are a charitable trust that distributes £1m annually in grants to voluntary and community organisations, focused on supporting young people in contact with the criminal justice system, or those highly vulnerable to entering it. The governance of the trust is overseen by a Board of Trustees who meet five times a year and support the paid staff to ensure effective administration. Trustees have a key role in ensuring that the trust complies with charity law and other regulations, striving to achieve best practice. Trustees also play an important role in grant making by reviewing applications and making funding recommendations. Find out more and apply by 7 October here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

UK Operations Director with Restorative Justice for All International Institute CIC [£39,378 - £62,457, Rotherhithe Community Centre, 30 Plough Way, SE16 2LJ, London, full time]; Recovery & Wellbeing Practitioner with Phoenix Futures [£18,430, Cambridgeshire, part time]; Programmes Coordinator/Facilitator with Social Interest Group [£29,500, HMP Lowdham Grange, Nottingham, full time]; Programme Manager, Criminal Justice Programme with Barrow Cadbury Trust [£53,667, Hybrid, Vauxhall London, full time]; Support Assistant (Hub Guide) with The Growth Company [£23,000, HMP Hull/HMP Humber, full time]; Support Worker in Custody (Activity Facilitator) with The Growth Company [£27,500, HMP Hull, full time]; Support Worker in Custody (Activity Facilitator) with The Growth Company [£27,500, HMP Moorland/HMP Lindholme/HMP Hatfield, full time]; Volunteer Peer Advisor with St Giles Trust [North Yorkshire (York, Harrogate, Scarborough, Whitby, Northallerton, Selby, Skipton), voluntary, part time]; Executive Secretary with Imagine Independence [£29,578, Liverpool, full time]; Trustee with The Triangle Trust 1949 Fund [Trustee meetings usually held in central London, voluntary, part time]

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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