Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 318 | 1st November 2013

In this week's edition....

CLINKS TRAINING: monitoring and evaluation

From January, as part of Clinks and NPCs Improving your evidence project, we are offering a free two-day training programme which will provide a comprehensive introduction to monitoring and evaluation and help you to develop an effective strategy for your organisation or project. The training will focus on practical rather than theoretical issues. You will be working in small groups and there will be plenty of opportunities to discuss specific challenges you face. Training venues and dates for 2014 will be announced soon. This training is alongside the 1-1 support we are continuing to offer through our ‘helpline’. In the meantime if you are interested in either of these opportunities find out more here

CLINKS EVENT: supporting people with multiple needs

'Improving support for people with multiple needs' is a MEAM event [9th December, London, from £125] that will bring together those working to tackle substance misuse, mental ill health, homelessness, and offending alongside those with direct experience to explore how to improve the support provided to people with multiple needs. Find out more and book your place here

CLINKS NEWS: creative writing deadline is today

Today is the last working day for entries to be posted in time for the 1st November closing date. If you are working with offenders in prison, please let them know. Entry forms and rules can still be downloaded and copied and are also in the centre of this month’s ‘Inside Time’. Top entries will hear their work broadcast on National Prison Radio and one entrant in each category will receive a specially-commissioned illustration of their work. Any help you are able to give us to encourage and support prisoners to enter will be gratefully received. Find out more here. And if you think your entries may be late, please contact Patrice Lawrence on 020 7248 3538 or Patrice.lawrence@clinks.org

CLINKS BLOG: Will the reforms promote desistance?

In this second blog in our series ‘TR So Far,’ Nicola Drinkwater asks whether the Transforming Rehabilitation agenda is likely to promote the desistance process and examines how success will be measured under the new arrangements, highlighting the importance of intermediate outcomes. Read it and share your thoughts here

CLINKS REQUEST: share your views on prison overdoses

On Tuesday 5th November, Clinks will be representing the VCSE Sector at a workshop to examine what is currently known about the risks and prevalence of drug overdoses amongst prisoners (both in custody, and in the period after release), and current and possible future practice in minimising those risks. We would be very interested in hearing your views and related experience on this. Please email Kate Aldous before Tuesday.

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: tackling rural youth employment

Tomorrow's People have set up 'The Works!', a ten-week programme that helps unemployed young people in isolated rural areas find new opportunities and work. The project is being delivered in Amble and the Scottish Borders, and is currently taking referrals and looking to establish new links. For more information, click here

CLINKS MEMBER'S OFFER: discounted film and design services

Second Shot Productions is a film, theatre and design company based within the walls of HMP & YOI Doncaster. They are a social enterprise providing education, training and employment to serving prisoners, ex-offenders and industry professionals who deliver their services in a range of custodial and non-custodial settings. Artistic Director, Fliss Buckles explains: "As Clinks Members, we would like to offer all Light Lunch readers 50% off film and design services booked by the end of the year - call it an early Christmas gift!" For examples of their work visit www.secondshot.org.uk or get in touch with fliss@secondshot.org.uk for further details, quoting CLINKS13 to receive the discount.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: review into BAME offenders

Baroness Young of Hornsey has commenced her review into improving outcomes for African/Caribbean and Muslim young offenders (18-24 year olds). The first meeting was held on 21st October. An interim report will be produced for the Secretary of State for Justice Chris Grayling MP by the end of December. If you want to contribute an example of good practice with African/Caribbean and Muslim young offenders or anything else you feel the review should look at, you can email Clare Hayes.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: new approach to managing female offenders

The Government has announced a new approach to managing female offenders through the development of a custodial estate that facilitates closeness to home, improved resettlement opportunities and the maintenance of family links. Alongside this announcement they published three documents last week: 'Government response to the Justice Committee’s Second Report of Session 2013-14: Female Offenders'; 'Women’s Custodial Estate Review'; and 'Stocktake of Women’s Services for Offenders in the Community'. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: NOMS Commissioning Intentions published

NOMS have published their latest Commissioning Intentions from 2014 document. It provides the basis for negotiations with providers of offender services as well as aligning NOMS priorities with key co-commissioning partners in other government departments, their agencies and the Welsh Government. For community providers the commissioning priority will be to maintain service delivery as agreed for 2013-14 so far as this is feasible, and ensure effective preparation for the transition of competed services to other providers. For prisons, the focus is on driving cost-effectiveness across the system with a strong, viable public sector provision working alongside a larger, more diverse provision delivered by private, voluntary and third sector partners. Download the Intentions here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Transforming Rehabilitation video interview

Former Chair of Clinks, Rob Allen, spoke to Russell Webster last week and questioned the whole structure of TR and the speed of change. He also believes that even the positive measure of providing support to short term prisoners is likely to result in increased levels of custody. Watch the short (11 minute) video here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Home Office Transforming Rehabilitation event

The Home Office will be providing a briefing [14th November, 10am - 11.30am, London] on Transforming Rehabilitation, victims, criminal justice reforms and implications for the voluntary sector for people who are interested. If you would like an invitation or would be interested in attending a future meeting on these topics, please contact Katie Aston

FUNDING: for young people's start-ups

Virgin StartUp is a new initiative aimed at entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30 who are living in England and looking for help and finance to start a business. The programme offers loans of between £250 and £25,000. The average loan size is expected to be around £5,000. As well as the loan, applicants will receive business support from their local enterprise agency coupled with mentoring to help applicants develop their ideas. Entrepreneurs in England who are aged between 18 years and 30 who are interested in starting a business may apply. New or expanding businesses that are less than a year old are also eligible. Applications may be submitted at any time. Find out more here

FUNDING: to provide opportunities for youth volunteering

The Office for Civil Society is calling for youth and community groups to apply for a share of its £6m Youth Social Action Fund. Charities and social enterprises that provide youth social action opportunities will be able to apply for grants of between £300,000 and £500,000. The fund opened this week and applications must be submitted by 17th November. They will only fund programmes delivering in England with as broad a national coverage as possible, and projects should start in January 2014. Find out more here

FUNDING: for women in need of a break

The Mary Macarthur Trust provides holidays for women in need of a period of rest or holiday by reason of age, poverty, infirmity, disablement or social or economic circumstances. The Trust aims to provide a break needed at a crucial time and provides financial help towards the cost of a holiday. The Trust tries to help as many women as possible every year, therefore the maximum available for any holiday is normally £350. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: prisoners' and offenders' families

'Doing the Right Thing for Prisoners' and Offenders' Families' is an Action for Prisoners' Families event [28th November, London, £120] that will consider the human rights issues faced by prisoners' and offenders' families and how these rights are realised. The keynote speech will be delivered by Shadow Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham MP, who will outline Labour thinking on offenders' families health and care. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: women in the CJS

‘Women: Victims, offenders or survivors?’ is a Greater Manchester Probation Trust event [20th November, Manchester, free] that will explore the position of women in the Criminal Justice System. The forum will feature two speakers: Clive Chatterton, Governor of HMP Styal 2009-2011 and Katie Fraser, Northern Services Manager for Women in Prison. Their perspectives on the imprisonment and the challenges of resettling women, and the role of the voluntary sector in effective responses, will provide a platform for all those attending to engage in a debate on what 'good practice' with women can look like, the issues encountered when working with women in the CJS and the necessary inter-agency relationships. Book your place here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: writing from prison

'Writing from Prison' [6th November, London, £8] will be an evening looking closer at writing entered into the 2013 Koestler Awards and will also feature the work of Clinks Member Only Connect and Not Shut Up magazine. Get your ticket here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Childhood trauma and young people in the criminal justice system' | 19th November, London, free | Details
  • 'Social Enterprise Exchange' | 28th November, London, £125 | Details

PUBLICATION: meeting of BAME-led service providers

BTEG invited members of their BAME CJS Network to a meeting in September 2013 to discuss the current climate and how BTEG could work more effectively with BAME-led members of its network at a time of huge change in the offender management system. Read the meeting notes here

PUBLICATION:  the future of drug and alcohol treatment

'The Third Sector and the Near Future of Drug and Alcohol Treatment' is a new paper from Lifeline that looks at some different ways of having worthwhile discussions about the future of the drug and alcohol treatment field. It assumes that one cannot approach the future in isolation from broader social and economic trends. It is also sensitive to the fact that many senior people in the field are careful about what they discuss in public. It advises that this reticent approach shouldn’t mean, however, that we aren't able to talk about the future at any and every level. Find out more here

RESOURCE: slides from Transforming Rehabilitation workshops

ACEVO, Candour Collaborations and NCVO have published the slides from their regional TR workshops. Download them here

OPPORTUNITY: free professional support

A new voucher scheme is available to organisations providing free services to disadvantaged communities in Sheffield, including: BME people; people with a disability / health issues; carers; young people; and LBGT people. The scheme also supports groups that are user-led or with no paid staff. The voucher can be spent on training courses, professional development, fundraising, payroll services etc. All you need to do is complete a short form to check if you're eligible here

OPPORTUNITY: research into women offenders

Would you like to contribute to practice and policy debates about women offenders by undertaking your own pioneering research? The Griffins Society researches and promotes effective practice in working with women who are in prison or subject to criminal justice interventions in the community. Their Visiting Research Fellowship Programme is now open to applications, and offers a unique opportunity for practitioners (from the public or voluntary sectors) to explore the treatment of women and girls in the Criminal Justice System. Candidates must have inquiring minds, but previous research experience is not necessary as the programme supervisors provide comprehensive academic supervision and support. The deadline for applications is 16th December, find out more here

OPPORTUNITY: contribute to prisoners' families PhD research

Anna Kotova is a PhD student at the University of Oxford, researching the impact of imprisonment on partners of long-term prisoners. She is currently recruiting participants and would like to speak to Light Lunch readers. For more information, email Anna Kotova

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member’s vacancies this week include: 3 x Mentoring co-ordinators with Yorkshire & Humberside Circles of Support [Yorkshire], 2 x Child & Young Person’s Therapists at Foundation [North Yorkshire], and 3 x Project Workers [Lancashire, Kent and Gloucestershire],  Service Manager [Bedford] and a  Corporate Services Director [Oxfordshire] at Langley House Trust. For information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Get three nights all inclusive in Albufeira, Portugal for £139 per person. Deal includes flights from 11 airports. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Two people can stay two weekday nights in Gloucester for £149. Deal includes breakfast and six course tasting menu. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Sign up for a MyWaitrose loyalty card and get a free regular tea or coffee in-store every day. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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