Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 863 | 10 January 2025

Light lunch

In this issue...

CLINKS NEWS: New Years Honours

Congratulations from Clinks to all those whose work was recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours List! Here we highlight the charities and voluntary organisations who work to support people in the criminal justice system, and their families, and those who support and advocate for victims of crime:

  • Andrew Keen-Downs – Prison Advice and Care Trust: CBE for services to Prisoners and their Families
  • Samantha Hamber – St. Mungo’s: MBE for services to Tackling Homelessness
  • Jonathan Charlesworth - Educational Action Challenging Homophobia: MBE for services to Education, to Health, to Criminal Justice and to HM Government
  • Soma Sara – Everyone’s Invited: MBE for services to the Eradication of Sexual Abuse Against Women
  • Julie Anne Devey & Carole Gould – Killed Women: OBE for services to the Victims of Domestic Violence and their Families
  • Nicholas Charles Gazzard – Hollie Gazzard Trust: OBE for services to Tackling Violence Against Women
  • Margaret Elizabeth Green DL: OBE for Voluntary Service and services to Prisoner Rehabilitation in London and Hertfordshire
  • Jonathan Compton & Veronica Mary Compton - Chaplaincy Volunteers, HMP Morton Hall: BEM for services to HMPPS.

You can find the full Honours List here

CLINKS EVENTS: Available in January

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? The criminal justice system as a whole can be quite daunting to understand because of both its size and complexity. This three- hour workshop  aims to increase awareness of and provide opportunity for voluntary sector staff and volunteers to explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works. [21 January 2025, 09:30 - 12:30, online, from £75] Find out more and book here

Justice and Women: A New Direction

The Worshipful Company of Weavers, with a tradition of supporting criminal justice charities for over 50 years, is hosting a summit to explore innovative solutions to address the issue of women being sentenced to prison. The event will bring together thought leaders and practitioners to envision a justice system that prioritises effective community interventions over imprisonment.

The summit will serve as a platform to build partnerships, challenge existing approaches, and begin the journey towards transformative change by 2030. [30 January 2025, 10:00 - 16:00, Church House, Westminster, London, SW1P 3NZ, free] For more information, contact events@clinks.org or register here 

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: Join the advisory group

The NCJAA is seeking voluntary sector professionals or freelance art practitioners working in the arts in criminal justice system, to join our Advisory Group. The NCJAA Manager Lou Clark has written a blog post highlighting how the Advisory Group operates and the areas of work you might feed into as a group member.

The Advisory Group provides strategic and operational advice to inform the work of the NCJAA. The group is compiled of those working in the arts in criminal justice, including those with lived experience of the criminal justice system. The group exists to ensure that the NCJAA can always be best informed by those it aims to serve. We are now refreshing the membership of the Advisory Group and we are excited to be recruiting new members through an expression of interest process closing [31 January 2025]

MEMBER FOCUS: Shaw Trust 

Shaw Trust was formed as a charity, in 1982, to ensure people with the most severe disabilities had employment opportunities outside sheltered workshops. Now they are one of the largest national third-sector providers of welfare to work and social care programmes, supporting over 450,000 individuals towards independence.

Their portfolio includes a Work Programme as well as Work Choice contracts to support people with severe health problems or disabilities into work, skills training contracts, and the management of 50 charity shops and social enterprises- which provide many disadvantaged individuals with their first stepping stone towards sustained employment or independence. 

In 2012, Shaw Trust and Careers Development Group (CDG) announced a merger of the two organisations; this blend of two of the UK’s leading employment support charities strengthens their service delivery, and opens up new opportunities. Find out more about Shaw Trust here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Lessons learned from the creation of the Youth Justice Board

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) has published a blog reflecting on key lessons learned from the creation of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), a body that transformed how young people are treated within the criminal justice system. Highlighting its successes, challenges, and the critical role of independence in driving reform, the blog offers insights for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates.

Drawing on interviews with key figures involved in the YJB's formation, the piece emphasises the importance of maintaining a child-first, evidence-based approach and ensuring a balance between accountability and innovation. The lessons outlined provide valuable guidance for current efforts to improve youth justice and for shaping future reform across the criminal justice sector. Read the blog here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Transform Justice podcast

In this episode, hosts Rob and Penelope are joined by Paula Harriott, CEO of Unlock, and Dr Nicola Collett, senior lecturer at De Montfort University. They discuss the reaction to Louise Haigh’s resignation, the reality of living with a criminal record, and the barriers that prevent people with past offences from moving on.
Listen here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: Good Vibrations: Bill Bailey Radio 4 appeal

Good Vibrations delivers communal music-making programmes in prisons and secure hospitals across the UK, primarily using gamelan - a beautiful tuned Indonesian Orchestra. 

To raise money to continue offering their life-changing courses, Good Vibrations Bill Bailey presented the Radio 4 appeal that aired on 5 January and 9 January. Do listen on catch up on the BBC website.

In this appeal, Bill Bailey talked about the power of playing gamelan and the impact of Good Vibrations' work. Visit Good Vibrations

FEATURED MEMBER’S EVENT: Expertise in Ex-Offender support

Join this engaging event to explore effective strategies, share expertise, and build partnerships aimed at supporting ex-offenders to successfully reintegrate into society. Delivered by Jacob and Rik who both have lived experience of the justice system, the day will include practical workshops, inspirational talks, and networking opportunities, providing tools and insights for organisations working in criminal justice.

This event is open to voluntary organisations, policymakers, and practitioners seeking innovative ways to transform the lives of people leaving prison. [28 January 2025, 09:30 - 12:30, online, £90 - £180] Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Society Matters

Housing and Homeless Matters
This engaging course explores the significance of housing. With experienced trainers addressing intricate housing issues, it will enhance your grasp of essential housing matters. [16 January 2025, 10:00 - 16:00, online, £89 + VAT] More info and booking

Getting to Grips with Disability Living Allowance for Children
This four-hour training session supports professionals assisting families with Disability Living Allowance claims. The session covers the complex 40-page application form, increasing the chances of successful claims. [21 January 2025, online, £69 + VAT] More info and booking

Getting to Grips with Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
This course supports individuals and organisations assisting with PIP applications. Learn about key factors influencing assessments and improve clients’ chances of a successful claim. [30 January 2025, 10:00 - 15:00, online, £89 + VAT] More info and booking

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: HMPPS Small Grants Scheme 

HMPPS are piloting a Small Grants Scheme for awarding individual grants (under £10k) to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations operating and registered in the UK.

The scheme has three key aims which contribute to HMPPS aims of protecting the public and reducing reoffending: 

  • improving people’s experience of prison and probation and other rehabilitation activities. 
  • supporting an individual’s rehabilitation and desistance journey; and 
  • to improving our knowledge about what activities work to support people and to encourage rehabilitation and desistance.

Each individual grant will be competed over two weeks. The grants will be available within selected prisons in the north and northeast, northwest, south central and Wales with the first three of these grants now advertised (the final grant will be advertised no later than 20th February 2025). These opportunities are for a voluntary organisation to deliver music and drama activities at HMP Leeds and HMP Hull. The application process is open from [6 January to 19 January 2025]. Up to £10,000 is available per grant.

  • HMP Hull (Music activities): Provide learners with a creative outlet for emotions and promote mindfulness.
  • HMP Hull (Drama workshops): Explore substance misuse triggers through impactful workshops.
  • HMP Leeds (Music talent platform): Support development through rap, songwriting, and live performance.

Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES: 

Housing Interventions Worker with The Forward Trust [£26,339, HMP Parc, Bridgend, full time]; Male Specialist Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£23,619, Padiham, full time]; Community Employment Consultant x 2 with Beating Time [£30,000 - £34,000, one position in London and one in Birmingham, full time]; Prison Facilitator with Shannon Trust [£27,584, HMP Birmingham, part time]; Intervention Worker - Out of Hours with Hestia Housing & Support [£28,082, Acton, full time]; Link Worker (Prisons) with Women in Prison [£29,864, HMP Bronzefield, HMP Downview, and across South London hubs, full time]; Empowerment Advisor with Tomorrow's Women [£23,000, Chester, full time]; Resettlement and Recovery Support Worker with Imagine Independence [£25,624, Liverpool, full time]; Housing Interventions Worker with The Forward Trust [£26,339, based in Newport, Gwent, with work at HMP Usk, HMP Prescoed, and Mandeville House Approved Premises, full time]; Housing Interventions Worker with The Forward Trust [£26,339, based in Swansea, with work at HMP Swansea and Quay House Approved Premises, full time].

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

READS OF THE WEEK:

EXTRA INFORMATION:

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