Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 674 | 5th March 2021

Light Lunch

In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: Chris Stacey

Christopher Stacey has joined the Clinks team as Director of Support and Development. He leads Clinks' work to provide effective support to voluntary organisations working in criminal justice and developing programmes which seek to provide solutions to challenges the voluntary sector faces. He oversees Clinks' membership, events, area-based support and thematic networks. Chris is passionate about the role of the voluntary sector in both supporting and advocating for people involved in the criminal justice system. Prior to joining Clinks, Chris was the co-director of Unlock for 8 years. Chris has been enjoying meeting and talking to Clinks members as part of his new role. You can contact Chris through our website here

CLINKS BLOG: care after custody

In this guest blog, Kate Morrissey introduces the RECONNECT service and explains how it was developed in consultation with people with lived experience and voluntary sector organisations. Kate Morrissey is the National Implementation Lead for RECONNECT, which is NHS England’s care after custody service. RECONNECT starts working with people before they leave prison, where they will have access to a RECONNECT worker, and helps them to make the transition to community-based services that will provide the health and care support that they need. The first RECONNECT services went live in January 2020, and are currently available in 11 live pathfinder sites. The aim is to have 100% geographical coverage by April 2024. Read more here

NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARTS ALLIANCE NEWS: survey

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) 2021 survey is now open - take the survey and let us know what you think. We know access to arts and creative activity for people in contact with the criminal justice system has never been more vital. The survey is a chance for you to share the important work you do and to let us know how we can support it. The survey should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete and will be used to inform and improve the practical support we provide to our network and our influencing work with key government officials and decision-makers. The deadline for completing the survey is Tuesday 30th March. Take the survey here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: remote legal assistance

Fair Trials, the National Appropriate Adult Network and Transform Justice have published a report calling for an end to remote legal assistance in police custody due to problems with its use during the Covid-19 pandemic. The report found that remote assistance has too often had a negative impact on children and vulnerable adults detained in custody, and that safeguards around its use were not working. The charities call for a return to in-person legal assistance in the police station, with immediate effect for children and vulnerable adults and as soon as possible for all suspects. Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: preventing a tidal wave of homelessness

Changing Lives has called for government action to prevent a tidal wave of homelessness once the evictions ban is lifted. Speaking ahead of the budget announcement on 3rd March, Chief Executive Stephen Bell, said “The government have been quite good at putting rescue packages in place during the pandemic. They urgently need to put one in place for the rental sector because all their efforts in this area so far have amounted to little more than delaying tactics.” Read more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: family work and youth justice

HM Inspectorate of Probation has published its second Academic Insights paper of 2021, with Professor Chris Trotter highlighting the collaborative family work approach in youth justice. This follows last month’s paper in which Professor John Pitts highlighted how County Lines operations have developed and evolved over recent years, with focus given to multi-agency responses involving probation and youth offending services. Both papers can be accessed here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: experts’ guide to lockdown

Geese Theatre Company has created a digital presentation called Lockdown - The Experts' Guide, which can be used as a resource to support individuals in community and secure settings who may be experiencing isolation. It is the result of Geese Theatre Company’s project ‘Reach In Out’ which ran from September-December 2020 and was designed to explore participants' stories of resilience, and share the strategies they developed to manage lockdown. The presentation is a combination of direct creative contributions from participants and scenes created and performed by Geese Theatre Company, based on ideas and experiences shared by contributors. Watch the full digital presentation here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: knowledge exchange

The Butler Trust has launched the Knowledge Exchange: a place for people working in prisons, probation and youth justice services to find, and share, resources, guidance and examples of notable practice relevant to their roles. There are currently over 200 entries on the site including: How can we reduce tensions, conflict and violence in prison by the Prison Reform Trust, based on a consultation with over 1000 prisoners, family members and staff; The Youth Justice Board Resource Hub – including training materials, research and guidance, and an effective practice library; and Trauma informed work with people in contact with the criminal justice system – a review of the evidence relating to trauma-informed practice in England and Wales, published by Clinks. Find more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: the pandemic and mental health

Since June 2020, the Centre for Mental Health has been giving people a platform to share their accounts of the pandemic, and write about the impact it’s had on their mental health through its ‘A Year in Our Lives’ project. There’s just one month left to send in submissions of up to 2,000 words on how Covid-19 and the sudden changes to our lives have affected your mental health. The impact of the pandemic has not been felt equally across the population, and the Centre for Mental Health is especially keen to hear from people from racialised communities and people whose stories are not heard so often. Submissions are open until the end of March 2021. Find out more and contribute here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: sharing worries and concerns with prisons

Pact is continuing to update and improve the new Prisoners’ Families Helpline website with useful content and resources. This week the ‘Worries and Concerns’ page has been added to the site and families can now select a prison to identify the relevant numbers to contact with their concern. Having all the Safer Custody and switchboard numbers in one place will considerably help families to share their worries and concerns with establishments. Amongst many other changes to the site, Pact has also updated the ‘Useful Links’ which includes details of voluntary organisations supporting people in contact with the criminal justice system. See more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: secure video calls policy

The Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service have published policy guidance for prison staff on secure social video calls. The Policy Framework is an interim policy which sets out the rules and guidance for staff in all prisons and young offender institutions to help them to offer secure social video calling during the Covid-19 pandemic. Social video calling offers prisoners and young people another way of communicating with family and friends whilst physical social visits are reduced and they operate alongside, not as a replacement for, face-to-face social visits. Read the policy here

FUNDING: South Yorkshire

Grants up to £7,500 are available from the South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Grant Scheme to non-profit organisations in South Yorkshire for activities that give communities the opportunity to tackle issues of concern, break down barriers and encourage partnership working in an effort to make them a safer place to live. Organisations and charities, including community groups and activity centres, in South Yorkshire are eligible to apply. The deadline for applications is 31st March. Find more information on funding priorities and details of how to apply here

FUNDING: complex social issues

Small and local charities with a yearly income of £25,000 to £1 million who are helping people experiencing complex social issues can now apply for a two-year unrestricted grant of £50,000 from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales. Alongside unrestricted funding, successful charities will be supported by one of the Foundation’s regional managers, who will work with them to access a wide range of organisational development support to help meet identified needs. There is no deadline - applications for funding will remain open throughout the year. Check your eligibility and details for how to apply here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: whole VAWG services approach

Advance is holding a national knowledge-sharing event on developing, commissioning and delivering integrated Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) services [11th March, online, free]. The webinar will be based on the Angelou Partnership’s innovative ‘best-practice’ model which aims to improve access to services and outcomes for survivors of violence and abuse. The webinar will be chaired by Niki Scordi, CEO of Advance and the keynote speaker will be Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Find out more and book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: sexual exploitation

Join the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) and the STAGE partners - A Way Out, Basis Leeds, Changing Lives, GROW, Together Women and WomenCentre - to hear about their experiences of working together on the STAGE project, an initiative supporting women across the North East who have been groomed for sexual exploitation [18th March, online, free]. The discussion will be facilitated by IVAR, and will explore some of the broader learning regarding the challenges and opportunities of collaboration and partnership working between larger and smaller charities. A full report on the project is also available. Find out more and register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: racial disproportionality

Join the Centre for Justice Innovation at the launch event of the new research report Racial disproportionality in youth diversion [30th March, online, free]. Consisting of interviews with practitioners and young people, this research takes an in-depth look at the unequal playing field that exists for young people in the youth justice system, and their participation in diversion schemes. At the online event, the report’s authors will introduce the research findings, followed by a panel discussion with: Keith Fraser, Chair of the Youth Justice Board; Francesca Fadda-Archibald from Young Hackney and Sophie Wainwright from The Traveller Movement. Book here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: recall

The Probation Institute is hosting a research event focused on recall [30th March, online, free] with speakers including: Dr Matt Cracknell from Middlesex University presenting his research on post sentence supervision, Resettlement of Short Sentenced Prisoners; Kate Parsons from National Probation Service presenting her research for the Sir Graham Smith Award Rebuilding Trust After Recall; and David Miners and Laura Burgoine from HMI Probation speaking about their recent thematic inspection report, Thematic review of probation recall, culture and practice. The Probation Institute has also invited contributions from people with lived experience through Revolving Doors Agency. Find out more and register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S TRAINING: legal action workshops

EQUAL is partnering with civil liberties organisation, Liberty, to launch a series of legal action workshops specifically for organisations working with black, Asian, Muslim and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities [29th March – 1st April with further dates to be announced, online, free]. The expert-led workshops will run across 4 days, helping to develop participants’ confidence in using various legal and strategic tools to reduce disproportionality and bring about long-term systemic change. Whilst phase one of the workshops will provide attendees with an introduction to legal action, phase two will involve applying the learning from phase one to effect a strategic systemic change. On completion of workshops, attendees will be invited to form part of a working group. Find out more and register interest here

FEATURED VACANCY: Specialist Support Co-ordinator

Recycling Lives is looking for a Specialist Support Co-ordinator [£30,000, Preston, full time] to support and advise participants and their families in relation to substance misuse, mental health, and other related issues that may be a barrier to gaining or sustaining their employment in the community and in custody. You will be expected to liaise with statutory and voluntary services to work collaboratively in promoting independent living, and to identify suitable solutions and resources. You will have an understanding of drug and alcohol issues and experience of working within criminal justice or a related field and experience of supporting and advising participants with complex and/or multiple barriers to success. Find out more and apply by 5th April here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Young People’s Team Manager with Doorway Women’s Service [Norwich], Support Worker with Humankind [Durham], Data Analyst with PLIAS Resettlement [Brent], Learning Disabilities Support Worker with Imagine Independence [Liverpool], Bluebird Service Advocate with Women in Prison [London], Registered Care Manager with Langely House Trust [Lancaster], Through the Gates Mentor and Social Impact Officer with Redemption Roasters [London], Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer with St Giles Trust [London], Peer Support Coordinator with Together for Mental Wellbeing [London], Community Diversity and Inclusion Practitioner with ISCRE [HMP Highpoint], Interim Communications, Public Affairs and Policy Manager with Magistrates Association [home based], Restorative Justice and Family Practitioner with Make Amends [Plymouth and Torbay]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • £10 off your first two orders with UberEats. Details
  • A5 personalised hardcover photobook. £1.99. Details
  • Home exercise bike. £79.99. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

 

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