Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 635 | 22nd May 2020

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In this week's edition...

CLINKS NEWS: Covid-19 response grants programme now open

Voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system can apply now for grant funding to support their vital work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Clinks is pleased to be distributing £275,000 on behalf of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice in recognition of the continued challenges presented to voluntary organisations at this time. Organisations with an annual income of less than £500,000 can apply for an average grant size of £3,000 - £5,000. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis - organisations will receive feedback, be told the decision within 10 days, and if successful, receive payment two weeks later. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS BLOG: advocating for further support

In this blog, Clinks CEO Anne Fox explains the background to the Covid-19 response grants, how Clinks is advocating for further support for the voluntary sector and how organisations are responding to Covid-19. The needs of voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system are significant and the impact of the current crisis on organisations and their beneficiaries will be felt long into the future. The Covid-19 response grant programme is an important part of the support the sector needs, but the criteria for these grants and the total sum available means that not everyone in our sector who requires financial support will be able to benefit. Read more here

CLINKS BLOG: how prisons and probation will ease lockdown

This blog, summarising the latest information from the government, looks at how prisons and probation will ease lockdown. In the same way as the government has started to outline its plans for the gradual lifting of the lockdown restrictions, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has also taken the first steps towards informing staff and service users of the likely road ahead. HMPPS has made it clear that the temporary regimes - with most prisoners restricted to their cells for most of the day - are likely to remain largely unchanged in the short-term and that restrictions in prisons will be lifted at a slower pace than in broader society. Read more here

CLINKS BLOG: ECTR for children and young people

This blog gives details from official guidance on the End of Custody Temporary Release (ECTR) scheme for children and young people. In the same fashion as the adult ECTR scheme, children and young people approaching their automatic release date may be considered for ECTR on licence. The aim is to relieve pressures in relation to Covid-19, prevent transmission and protect children and young people, Youth Custody Service staff and the NHS. The blog includes formal eligibility criteria, details on the release process, licence conditions and supervision. Read it here

CLINKS BLOG: Dynamic Framework timelines

The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has set up a special interest group (SIG) on probation, to provide a formal avenue to channel voluntary sector advice to HMPPS, ahead of the planned implementation of a reformed probation model. The first meeting of the SIG brought together voluntary sector leaders with officials to discuss the latest plans and timelines for the Dynamic Framework. The group recommended that the qualification phase for the Dynamic Framework could be launched, but that Clinks and the wider sector must have a clear role in determining voluntary sector readiness before the full call-off competition is conducted. The Ministry of Justice has since announced it will launch the dynamic framework competition in June and market warming materials are now available. The RR3 is a formal advisory group to the government coordinated and chaired by Clinks. Read our blog and a summary note of the meeting here

CLINKS BRIEFING: justice committee

Clinks has continued to submit evidence regularly to Justice Committee on the impact of Covid-19 on voluntary organisations working in criminal justice, including the impact of the pandemic on the finances and sustainability of the sector. The evidence is used to inform the committee’s private meetings and is garnered from a range of sources and activity including: the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group special interest group on Covid-19; Clinks’ bi-weekly survey of voluntary organisations working in criminal justice to track the impact of Covid-19; and regular regional network meetings to collect evidence of the impact of Covid-19 on service delivery and service users from organisations across the country. You can read the latest evidence submitted to the committee here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: pre-court diversion for adults 

This new toolkit from the Centre for Justice Innovation is for practitioners involved in, or considering creating, a pre-court diversion scheme for adults in contact with the criminal justice system. It contains detailed guidance and draws on lessons learnt from up and running schemes such as Pathfinder in Devon and Cornwall and Checkpoint in Durham. This toolkit is also accompanied by a collection of practical resources, which are available for anyone to download here. Download the toolkit here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: human rights and detention during Covid-19

On 30th April the Zahid Mubarek Trust (ZMT) and the Irish Penal Reform Trust co-organised an international webinar: ‘Human Rights & Detention in the time of COVID-19: UK and Ireland’. The seminar included a presentation from Dr Jens Modvig, Chair of the UN Committee against Torture, followed by responses from UN officials: Professor Sir Malcolm Evans, Dr Elina Steinerte and Mark Kelly. The webinar gathered over 65 participants, including monitoring bodies, civil society advocacy groups and academics who shared their expertise during the Q&A section. The event is part of the ZMT’s strategic work on external scrutiny in prisons and will continue throughout the year in partnership with international and national organisations. See some highlights here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: community awards

Nominations are open for the Howard League for Penal Reform Community Awards 2020. These annual awards celebrate the country’s most successful community projects encouraging desistance from crime. They celebrate best practice in diversionary work and champion work in the community that challenges and changes people for the better – be it with children, women, mental health programmes or restorative approaches. The awards recognise projects and organisations whose work and practice is delivered above and beyond normal service delivery. There are eight award categories, and any organisation, group or individual can make nominations, with self-nomination encouraged. The deadline for nominations is 5pm 21st July and winners will be announced on 20th October. See more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: gambling and crime

GamCare has submitted an evidence report on the relationships between gambling and crime to the Howard League Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling. Its report highlights that gambling problems are more likely to affect those in the criminal justice system than people in the wider population, and these problems are often hidden. The report suggests that if a problem is left unaddressed, rehabilitative work in other areas is unlikely to be successful. GamCare offers a range of services to individuals experiencing gambling harm who are in contact with the criminal justice system. This includes access to the National Gambling Helpline, information leaflets and self-help resources. Where possible, it can also offer one to one support, an online GameChange (CBT) course, and other interventions. View the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: probation review - market warming materials

The Ministry of Justice has announced it will launch the dynamic framework competition for rehabilitation and resettlement services as part of the future probation model in June. In advance, an online store of market warming information has been made available to assist potential bidders. The first tranche of information is now available and this will be updated over the next two weeks. To access these materials organisations need to pre-register their interest on the Ministry of Justice esourcing portal (Jaggaer, previously known as Bravo) here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: video calls in prisons

Secure video calls will be introduced to prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs) across England and Wales to maintain vital family contact for people in prison and YOIs during the coronavirus pandemic. Following a successful trial at HMP Berwyn, HMPPS is installing the technology at 10 institutions with a wider rollout in the coming weeks. The measure is part of wider action to preserve family ties after social visits in prisons and YOIs were suspended, to comply with the government’s guidance on controlling the spread of coronavirus and protecting life. The new technology builds on the 2017 Lord Farmer review which found that close bonds between prisoners and family members can significantly reduce their risk of reoffending. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: temporary prison cells

The Rt Hon Lord Keen of Elie QC, spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, in response to a parliamentary question, provided an update on the progress made in creating temporary prison cells. As part of the department’s compartmentalisation strategy to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the prison estate, it is aiming to secure and install up to 2,000 additional cells. The response shows that in addition to bringing the former Medway Secure Training Centre back into operation to hold adult men, the instalment of temporary cells has been agreed for 19 prisons. As of 11th May 2020, 447 of those temporary cells had been installed. In five of the prisons identified for temporary cells, none have yet been created. For more detail, see the full response here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: short scrutiny visits to local prisons

HM Inspector of Prisons (HMIP) has published a report on short scrutiny inspections across three local prisons: HMP Wandsworth, HMP Elmley and HMP Altcourse. Short scrutiny inspections involve only 2-3 inspectors, allowing HMIP to monitor standards in prisons safely during the Covid-19 pandemic. This report details many challenges that Clinks members have experienced, including the impacts of a highly restrictive regime and a lack of family contact for people in prison. All three prisons had seen a slight reduction in the prison population but remained overcrowded as releases through the early release scheme have remained minimal. Despite these challenges, the report praised the leadership in prisons and the strong focus on positive communication with prisoners, who overwhelmingly understood and the reasons for the measures taken. Read more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: funding for domestic abuse and sexual violence support services

The Ministry of Justice has issued guidance on how it is distributing £25 million funding for domestic abuse and sexual violence charities. The funding will be distributed through two separate funds, one through Police and Crime Commissioners and one through the national Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund. This is part of the government’s £76 million emergency charities package to support vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read the full guidance here

FUNDING: government support for charities

The National Lottery Community Fund is distributing funding on behalf of the government to support communities through Covid-19 via the Coronavirus Community Support Fund. £200m is available and will be aimed primarily at small to medium organisations in England. The Fund has two key objectives: to increase community support to vulnerable people affected by the Covid-19 crisis, through the work of civil society organisations; and to reduce temporary closures of essential charities and social enterprises, ensuring services for vulnerable people impacted by Covid-19 have the financial resources to operate. We hope the eligibility criteria in terms of organisation size and definition of vulnerable people will mean that organisations working in the criminal justice system are able to benefit from this fund. Further details on the application process and eligibility criteria will be published alongside the opening of applications at 10am on Friday 22nd May here

FUNDING: domestic abuse and sexual violence

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Northumbria has been asked to distribute £494,000 from the Ministry of Justice to voluntary and community organisations working to support victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence in Northumbria. This fund is to reach those organisations with the greatest need and for this reason the PCC will look to prioritise requests that can clearly demonstrate: an increase in demand for services and an impact on reserves. The fund is available to help provide financial support to organisations to cover costs associated with Covid-19 from the 24th March to 31st October 2020. See more and apply before 2nd June here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: Insights20 festival goes online

The Insights20 team are delighted to announce that, following the postponement of the Insights20 festival, they are launching InsightsOnline [28th May onwards | online | free]. Have a virtual chat with Martin Jones, CEO of the Parole Board; discuss the importance of lived experience in leadership with Nina Champion, Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance; or have a virtual coffee with Peter Dawson, Director of the Prison Reform Trust. If you’d be interested in putting on an event or contributing to a guest blog, the Insights team would love to hear from you at: Insights@justice.gov.uk. Hear first about the latest events by staying tuned on Twitter @hmppsinsights. Tickets for several virtual events are available now. See more here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: policy custody

Join Transform Justice [3rd June | online | free] for the online launch of its report which asks, is police custody for adults overused and lacking scrutiny? The online event will feature a panel of speakers including Dr Anna Pivaty from Maastricht University, Rhona Friedman from Commons Legal, Chris Hampshire from Surrey Police and Penelope Gibbs from Transform Justice. Register here

CLINKS MEMBER’S EVENT: engaging with the media

In this Academy of Social Justice seminar [9th July | online | free], Kieran McCartan, Professor of Criminology will be in conversation with Penelope Gibbs of Transform Justice and former BBC journalist Philippa Budgen about how the public conversation around crime and justice can be reframed and more nuanced. Transform Justice recently published ground-breaking research which showed the need for charities, academics and campaigners to use different language and techniques to inspire more nuanced attitudes about responses to crime. See more and request a place here

CLINKS MEMBERS’ VACANCIES

Vacancies on the jobs board this week include: Stronger Voice Project Co-ordinator with Clinks [London], Deputy Financial Controller with Imagine Independence [Liverpool], Chief Executive Officer with Hibiscus Initiatives [London], HR Advisor – North with Humankind [Bowburn], Community ETE Worker with St. Giles Trust [Lowestoft], Practitioner with The Lucy Faithfull Foundation [Worcestershire or Surrey], Criminal Justice Recovery Worker with EDP Drug & Alcohol Services [Exeter], Manager Kenward Trust Residential Resettlement Service with Kenward Trust [Kent & East Sussex]. For more information about these vacancies, and many more, click here

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EXTRA INFORMATION

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