Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 334 | 7th March 2014

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS NEWS: TR Helpline gets off to a flying start!

The Transforming Rehabilitation Helpline launched this week, and we have already had a number of enquiries about a wide range of issues, including: contacting Tiers 1s; developing consortia for bidding; ways of working in partnership; and issues to consider when negotiating with contractors. Some organisations have already been referred for free legal advice. If you need help or advice around subcontracting under the Transforming Rehabilitation programme then you can call the Helpline on 020 3637 0155 from 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday, or email TRHelpline@clinks.org

CLINKS PUBLICATION: can lead providers support organisations that don't engage in TR?

Ellie Cumbo, Clinks policy manager, has written a piece for Serco's Ethos journal that aims to examine how lead providers could support voluntary sector organisations as part of the new criminal justice landscape, especially those working in innovative ways or with the hardest-to-reach offenders. Ellie says: "...including the voluntary sector in delivering public service reform is not just about holistic services and community action. We can also offer exciting innovations that add significantly to the evidence base for what really works. However, piloting new ideas needs support, especially in the context of criminal justice reforms." She also asks how voluntary interventions can find their place in complex supply chains with new financial models. Read the article here

CLINKS OFFER: free membership with Tennyson Insurance

Save 5% on your insurance and get your Clinks membership paid for when you take out a policy with Tennyson Insurance. Tennyson work exclusively with charities and voluntary groups and so they can offer you an excellent service at a great price. Visit the Tennyson website here and quote ‘Clinks’ when you call them.

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new CEO for Restorative Justice Council

The Restorative Justice Council (RJC) announced this week the appointment of Jon Collins, who takes up post as chief executive officer in May 2014. The RJC is the independent third sector membership body providing quality assurance and the national voice for restorative justice. Light Lunch reader Jon has been deputy director of the Police Foundation, an independent policing think tank, since May 2011. Prior to joining the Police Foundation he was director of members Criminal Justice Alliance, a coalition of organisations that works to establish a fairer and more effective criminal justice system, and has previously worked at the Fawcett Society and at Nacro, the crime reduction charity. Find out more about RJC here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new restorative justice project launched

IARS is involved in a two year EU project entitled 'Restorative justice in cases of domestic violence: Best practice examples between increasing mutual understanding and awareness of specific protection needs'. The project is aiming to bring domestic violence under the lens of restorative justice by developing an understanding of how restorative justice can be implemented in complex cases of domestic violence in the best interest of the victims. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: new guidance on spent convictions

Ministry of Justice have published new guidance that provides background information on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA), explains who benefits from it, and sets out rehabilitation periods for offences covered by the Act. It will help you to understand the difference between spent and unspent convictions, and which convictions you need to declare when applying for jobs or insurance. It also explains where exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act exist, when certain spent cautions or convictions must be disclosed. Download it here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: experts required for European events

NOMS is looking for participants with expertise in the field of social inclusion to attend a series of events, themed around 'troubled families'; 'disaffected youth' and 'marginalised in communities', where they will contribute to the reviewing process of collected practices about the inclusion of vulnerable groups into the labour market. 'Troubled families' is 9th - 10th April in London; 'Disaffected youth' is 19th - 20th May in Stockholm; and 'Marginalised in communities' is 11th - 12th June in Athens. Email for details

FUNDING: NOMS voluntary sector grants programme

NOMS is inviting prospective recipients to submit applications for eight grant funding opportunities in the 2014/15 financial period. These are discrete projects with a maximum funding value of £930,000. The activities to be performed under this project span a number of locations within England and Wales. For full details about the funding available and how to apply, read Nathan's blog here

FUNDING: for victims' services in the North East

The Durham police and crime commissioner is inviting bids to build capacity in local organisations supporting victims in Durham and Darlington. Any money would be given as a one off grant and time limited with a clear expectation that learning can be identified and built on. The funding needs to be spent, or at least the costing identified, prior to the end of this financial year. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: can forgiveness repair communities

The Forgiveness Project is holding a series of ten events around the issue of forgiveness. The first event, 'Can forgiveness repair communities?', [17th March, London, £11] follows a screening of the award-winning documentary, ‘Beyond Forgiving’, an inspiring story of an unlikely pair of South Africans brought together post-apartheid. The panel will be chaired by Marina Cantacuzino and will include Imad Karam, the Director of the film and Sue Hanisch, who in 1991 was injured in an IRA bombing at Victoria Station. For more information and to book tickets, click here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: new play exploring mental health and social injustice

'Pests' is a play commissioned by Clean Break [27th March - 3rd May, Royal Court Theatre, London, £6 with code]. Pink loves Rolly. Rolly loves Pink. And Pink loves getting bombed off her face. Sisters from the same nest. Both trapped in a tiny rotting world. Both cuffed to a past that refuses to release them. One wants out. The other needs her in. Trouble is that when you complete each other, you’re nothing on your own. Developed during a series of residencies spent in women’s prison, secure mental health and community settings, Pests is a moving and at times funny play, exploring issues of mental health and social injustice. Light Lunch readers can get tickets for £6, using promo code 'Pests6'. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: reading in prisons

Prison Reading Groups will be hosting a 'Reading in Prisons Day' [13th June, University of Roehampton] that will include panel sessions on Emergent Readers, Poetry, and Reading and Family Life, and opportunities for discussion with other professionals and volunteers working on any aspect of reading in the lives of UK prisoners and ex-offenders. Contact Dustin Frazier for more information

NON-MEMBERS EVENTS AND TRAINING

  • 'Undercover policing and the secret state: The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Second Annual Criminal Justice Lecture' | 25th March, London, £20 | Details

PUBLICATION: offenders with dyslexia

'Releasing the potential of offenders with Dyslexia & related Specific Learning Difficulties' is a new guide for staff working with offenders in custody or the community. It conveys how these widespread conditions affect people in education, training and resettlement, together with some knowledge of which methodologies are most effective. It aims to enable staff and management to help this population tackle their difficulties, value their abilities and develop coping strategies, all of which lead to better chances of rehabilitation. Download it here

OFFENDER HEALTH: learning events

Department of Health delivers a programme of joint voluntary sector learning events that bring together policy leads and voluntary sector organisations, social enterprises, NHS and local authority representatives at key points in the formation and development of policy. If you would like to be added to the mailing list and find out details of future learning events please email vcsmail@dh.gsi.gov.uk

OFFENDER HEALTH: inspection of health services for hard to reach groups

SpeakOut is a national network of more than 80 marginalised and disadvantaged community groups, created to support the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the discharge of its regulatory functions. CQC will shortly be carrying out inspections of acute hospitals, GP and primary care services, community health services, mental health trusts, care homes and the care people receive in their own homes. SpeakOut will be supporting this new programme of inspection and they are seeking community groups with links to hard to reach and marginalised groups of people, including those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act to help. Get involved here

OPPORTUNITY: free playwriting course for ex-prisoners

Synergy Theatre Project is offering places on its free playwriting course for ex-prisoners. Participants will work with a professional playwright, meeting on Wednesday evenings (from 19 March) at the Tricycle Theatre, London. No previous writing experience is necessary. Participants will write a play and see it performed in extract at a rehearsed reading by professional actors. Find out more here

RESOURCE: map of young adult pilot projects

The Transition to Adulthood Alliance (T2A) has produced a new interactive map detailing the location and activities of the six new T2A Pathway projects, which launched earlier this year. The projects all work with young adults at different points in the criminal justice process, and will run for three years in partnership with a range of statutory agencies. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

Member vacancies this week include: a Support Worker with Langley House Trust [Taunton], Office Support at Changing Lives [Gateshead], an Engagement Coordinator, a Project Coordinator and a Sessional Tutor with Back on Track [Manchester], an Inspire Liaison Coordinator with Brighton Women’s Centre [Brighton], a Health and Social Care Manager with Langley House Trust [Wakefield], a New Leaf Volunteer Coordinator with the Thames Valley Partnership [home-based/Thames Valley wide], a Programme Manager [HMP Northumberland] and a Programme Manager [London] with User Voice, a Development Manager with Clean Break [London] and a Team Leader and 4 x Playworkers with Spurgeons [various locations]. For more information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Stay in the quirky 'Bath Arms', Warminster, for £119. The deal includes breakfast, 3 course dinner and a bottle of wine. Details
  • Tip of the week II: 'Two Together' is the first new railcard in 30 years. Two adults, travelling together, can get 1/3 off rail fares, for £27 a year with the code 'TOGETHER10'. Details
  • Tip of the week III: Every March and October it's 'Free Wills Month' for those over 55. This is an opportunity for you to get a free will, drafted by a solicitor, that would normally cost £150. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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Joe Gardham

Clinks

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