Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 856 | 01 November 2024

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: Budget 2024 - Key Impacts on Criminal Justice Voluntary Sector

This Wednesday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out the new Government's budget, following July's General Election. This set out the Ministry of Justice's budget for 2025-26. along with the budgets of other government departments. The Budget also set out a number of other measures that are likely to impact the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. These included increases to employer's National Insurance contributions, increases to the minimum wage, inflation-based increases to working age benefits, and a change to Universal Credit to reduce the amount of a household's payment that can be deducted as debt repayments. You can read more about these measures and what they mean for the sector, and the people they support in our Autumn Budget 2024 blog post.

CLINKS NEWS: DPS & vetting – an update on current engagement and current challenges

In our rolling update blog, Clinks CEO, Anne Fox, provides subsequent updates on the vetting decision making and policy frameworks. Anne also provides further updates on vetting for people with lived experience and complex case panels.

The blog also features information on the Clinks’ work addressing ongoing concerns over the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), which affects funding for smaller organisations. Anne emphasises Clinks’ engagement with statutory bodies to advocate for solutions and improve communication on commissioning activities. Clinks is committed to supporting voluntary organisations and welcomes input from the sector. If there are other issues you feel we are not keeping you up to date on, please drop us a line and we can add these updates into our blog and event schedule. Read the blog here

CLINKS EVENT: Ministry of Justice roundtable events

We are seeking organisations to join our voluntary sector roundtable groups advising the Ministry of Justice (moJ) and His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Participants will be chosen on a first come, first served basis, and we will ensure a geographic spread of representation, as well as involvement from women’s organisations and organisations led by and for racially minoritised people. 

MoJ roundtable on purposeful activity in prisons

This event will take place online in the first week of December, the exact date will be confirmed following the feedback we recieve via the expressions of interest. The deadline for expressions of interest is [8 November]. Find out more and complete the expression of interest here

MoJ advisory group on developing a national peer mentoring framework

The first meeting will be held online in the first week of December (with exact date to be confirmed). There will then be follow up meetings in January, March, May, June and August. Each meeting will be an hour long.

The deadline for expressions of interest is [8 November]. Find out more and complete the expression of interest form here

CLINKS EVENT: multi-agency collaboration software showcase

Discover how to save time and resources while enhancing partner engagement to improve interactions with offenders and victims. This software streamlines operations by replacing manual referral processes, eliminating Excel tracking, and improving feedback efficiency.

Join us and Make Time Count [12 November, 9:00 - 10:00, online free] as we showcase the service provider and multi-agency collaboration platform. On the Make Time Count platform, justice agencies and service providers can seamlessly collaborate to provide more support through:

  • One-click referrals: Browse your ecosystem of service providers & refer users in a few clicks
  • User feedback: Receive 360 feedback on user progress & engagement
  • Progress Updates: Live status updates and comments for your referrals
  • Information sharing: Share documents and user information

See the future of multi-agency collaboration in action. Space is limited, so register here today

MEMBER FOCUS: Insaafi CIC

Insaafi CIC seeks to create opportunities, change and justice, developing creative solutions to the issues that we and our communities experience through project management and consultancy services. Insaafi CIC seeks to develop greater awareness, skill sharing and employment, that facillitates historical legacies and encourages inter-generational learning. 

They are keen to develop creative solutions to address the issues of discrimination and injustice, a lack of understanding about shared histories and hidden narratives. They look to increase awareness through 0training sessions and events, including performances and shows across England and Wales. Find out more about Insaafi CIC here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: New research on support for prisoners’ families

A new study involving nearly 300 fathers in prison published this week by Public Health Wales and Bangor University sheds light on how ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences’ (ACEs) are passed down through the generations. Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) has shared the research showing the urgent need for greater support for children and families of prisoners. The findings recommend policies to help minimise the impact of parental imprisonment on children, focusing on better access to resources and services to strengthen family bonds and reduce reoffending. Pact urges policymakers to prioritise these recommendations to support family connections and improve outcomes for children affected by imprisonment. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: 'Changing Tunes' concert

Join Changing Tunes for their annual concert and inspiring performances from ex-prison residents [2 November, 19:30, Bristol, £0 - £10 & 16 November, Birmingham, £0 - £11.50]. The concert features original songs and covers and performers will be playing alongside the Musicians-in-Residence. You will get to hear some moving testimonials as well as words from CEO, David Jones. Tickets for both concerts are available via Changing Tunes' website.

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT:

In this webinar, [14 November, 10.30 - 12:00, online, free with the option to donate] Food Matters will be sharing inspiring examples of organisations and projects that have been undertaking transformative work in prisons through food, looking at best practice within prisons across the UK. Join for insightful discussion with pioneers in prison food initiatives—from professional training restaurants to multi-prison health and wellbeing programmes. Learn how they navigated the prison system, their key takeaways, and practical advice for starting similar projects. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Right care - right person

Right Care Right Person (RCRP) is an approach to ensure that people with health and mental health needs are responded to by the right agency, with the right skills, training, and experience.

In this seminar [4 December, online, free] Wayne Nash, RCRP Project Manager for the National Police Chiefs Council,  will discuss the objective of the national RCRP team and the policing approach to understanding and addressing non-policing demand to improve service delivery.

During his talk Wayne will share the approach policing are taking at a national level to support forces implementing RCRP, together with the challenges around this. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: how the CCRC investigates cases

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is the official body set up to investigate miscarriages of justice. They are currently offering free, 1 hour, online information sessions to all charities and volunteer groups who support people with convictions. The sessions will focus on how the CCRC investigates cases from people who were convicted and sentenced in magistrates’ courts and youth courts, and what they can do to help, if they believe someone has been wrongly convicted and wrongly sentenced. The purpose of these sessions is so charities and volunteer groups can confidently know when to signpost the CCRC’s free service, and to give volunteer groups an opportunity to ask the CCRC any questions. If you are interested in one of the CCRC’s free online sessions, please email the CCRC at outreach@ccrc.gov.uk. They have a range of dates/times available.

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: Trauma Informed Team Leadership Programme 2025

Applications are now open for One Small Thing's Trauma Informed Team Leadership Programme 2025! The programme provides an opportunity to explore the theory and concepts of trauma informed team leadership and provides an opportunity to receive support from peers. The programme explores:

- What trauma informed team leadership is
- How to create psychological safety and why it’s important in leading a team
- An introduction to Humble Inquiry and how it can support trauma informed leadership

The Programme consists of an in-person training day in Oxford (Thursday 06 February 2025) and six online Action Learning Sets (February - July 2025), providing a unique opportunity to collaborate with peers to solve challenges faced when leading a team. The cost is £800+VAT per person.

Applications are open until [29 November]. Find out more and apply here. Questions can be sent to training@onesmallthing.org.uk

RESOURCE: for children visiting prison

Ormiston Families has produced two videos to help children learn about visiting prison and to answer their questions about what life is really like in prison. The latter features interviews with an ex-prisoner, governor and member of our Prisoner Family Services team with the questions coming from the young people with work with. Watch the videos here

FEATURED VACANCY: Resettlement and Support Manager  

Elizabeth Fry Charity is seeking a self-motivated, committed individual who has a genuine desire to support women to rebuild their lives and join our team as our Resettlement and Support Manager [£35,653 - £39,494, part time 34hrs per week, Reading]. You will need the ability to manage complex behaviours’ and to deal with people who may be in a difficult personal or emotional situation. Strong communication, influencing and reasoning skills and the ability to build effective working relationships. The ability to demonstrate an understanding of the issues surrounding women and their pathways to offending. [Find out more and apply by 22nd November here]. 

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES:

Prison Facilitator / Library Assistant with Shannon Trust [£27,584, HMP Ashfield, full time]; Prison Link Worker with The Forward Trust [£25,154 - £30,742, hybrid London (covering HMP Highdown and HMP/YOI Feltham- B side), full time]; Lived Experience Co-Ordinator with The Forward Trust [£25,154, North London Area, full time]; Recovery Navigator with The Forward Trust [£25,154 - £30,742, Richmond, Hounslow, Wimbledon, Wandsworth, full time]; Recovery Navigator with The Forward Trust [£25,154 - £30,742, Stratford, Ilford, Hornchurch (North East London - Cluster 4), full time]; ICT Delivery Manager with Nacro [£40,000, Birmingham, full time]; D&R Team Leader with The Forward Trust [£30,082 - £36,766, North East London (predominantly Hackney and Tower Hamlets PDU), full time]; Recovery Navigator with The Forward Trust [£25,154 - £30,742, NW London - Ealing, Uxbridge, Willesden, Hammersmith Fulham, full time]; Prison Facilitator with Shannon Trust [£27,584, HMP Bristol, part time]; Volunteer & Work Experience Coordinator with Odd Arts [£24,960, Manchester, part time].

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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