Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 384 | 27th March 2015

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In this week's edition....

LIGHT LUNCH: no edition next week

There will be no Light Lunch on Friday 3rd April due to the Bank Holiday. The next edition of Light Lunch will be sent to you on Friday 10th April.

CLINKS GUEST BLOG: the benefits of restorative justice

'Restoring justice: understanding the benefits, increasing provision' is a new guest blog from Jon Collins from Restorative Justice Council about a series of information packs designed to help criminal justice professionals to understand the benefits of restorative justice and make greater use of it within their work. Jon says: 'despite this broad agreement that restorative justice works for victims and offenders, too few criminal justice professionals have a firm understanding of what restorative justice involves, at which stages in the criminal justice system it can be used, and how to ensure that it is provided to the highest quality ... The information packs include useful information on the restorative process and frequently asked questions ... and powerful accounts of restorative justice in action.' Read the blog here

CLINKS PROJECT: your experiences of partnership working

We would like to hear from you about your experiences of partnership working between the voluntary sector, statutory criminal justice agencies, and private companies working with ex-offenders, their families, and victims of crime. Join us at one of two half-day group interview sessions [28th April, London and 30th April, York] to help us understand more about the different approaches to cross sector partnerships and arrangements, as well as the contract models, protocols and payment methods used. The information you provide will help the JIVE project to compile a review of current practices with recommendations to be disseminated across Europe. To attend, please register your interest by emailing robert.price@clinks.org

CLINKS VIDEOS: subscribe to our YouTube channel

Our YouTube channel features interviews with the speakers at Clinks' 2015 Annual General Meeting. Dame Anne Owers, Clinks Chair, Ian Poree of NOMS, Rebecca Grattan of MTC Novo, and Baroness Lola Young tell us what they think the Criminal Justice System (CJS) would look like without the voluntary sector; and their key messages for the voluntary sector in 2015. The channel also features a range of short videos covering the legal implications of subcontracting in Transforming Rehabilitation, and interviews with Clive Martin and Fergus McNeill on desistance. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new chief executive announced

Revolving Doors Agency is pleased to announce that Christina Marriott has been appointed as its new Chief Executive. She replaces Dominic Williamson who left Revolving Doors in December after 5 years at the charity. Christina joins from NHS England where she has been the National Lead for Health Inequalities. Christina says “I am very pleased to be joining the Revolving Doors team at this exciting time for the charity. Revolving Doors has a unique vision to end the cycle of crisis and crime by 2025. With ‘multiple needs’ high on the agenda, we need to translate goodwill to impact on the ground, and ensure that people with lived experience shape policies and services that impact on their lives.” Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: research on women's offending

Would you like to contribute to practice and policy debates about women offenders by undertaking your own pioneering research? Applications are being invited for The Griffins Society 'Visiting Research Fellowship Programme', which offers practitioners from the public or voluntary sectors a unique opportunity to contribute to their work to promote effective practice in working with women and girls who are in prison or subject to criminal justice interventions in the community. Previous research experience is not necessary as the programme supervisors provide comprehensive academic supervision and support. The deadline for applications is the 22nd May. For more information and to express an interest, email research@thegriffinssociety.org

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: new website launched

Access2Advice have launched a new website with details of their project and services, feedback from service users and opportunities for employers, organisations and individuals to engage with them. The community interest company aims to offer effective support to disadvantaged members of the local community in Derbyshire, and are passionate about assisting offenders to ‘break the cycle of re-offending’ by offering training and work placements. The website features success stories of three clients, details of how to offer employment opportunities to project participants, and how to volunteer at the organisation. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: PCCs and the voluntary sector working together

The Cabinet Office and Home Office have published 'Police and crime commissioners and civil society', a report exploring some of the ways that civil society organisations and police and crime commissioners (PCCs) work together. It provides examples to illustrate positive working relationships between PCCs and civil society. Whilst some examples indicate a promising start, there is a desire to communicate knowledge better to help further develop future engagement; the report points to Clinks' survey, which sought the views of the voluntary sector, and found that there is a need for clearer, more proactive strategies and more permanent models of engagement. Download the report here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: priorities for the next justice secretary

The first post in Russell Webster's 'If I were Justice Secretary' blog series comes from Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns at Howard League for Penal Reform. The purpose of the blog series is to stimulate a debate about where our Criminal Justice System should be heading. The blog sets out Andrew's three priorities for the new Justice Secretary: curb sentencing inflation, women and children first, and put evidence and justice at the heart of the system. To contribute your priorities for what the justice priorities should be, leave a comment below the blog and follow the conversation on Twitter with #nextGrayling. Read the blog here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: social investment schemes announced

The Government has announced seven new Social Impact Bond (SIBs) investment schemes aiming to support social entrepreneurs on a payment by results basis. SIBs are a form of social investment where private investors provide the capital to address complex social problems. The Youth Engagement Fund will fund four new SIBs, with investment including £1million from the Ministry of Justice. The winning bidders will work with young people including those with behavioural, mental health or wellbeing issues; gang members, ex-offenders and those at risk of offending; in care or are care leavers; and those with experience of the youth justice system. Find out more here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: meeting the needs of women offenders

The House of Commons Justice Committee has published 'Women offenders: follow-up', looking at the steps taken since the recommendations were made in the report 'Women offenders: after the Corston Report' published in July 2013. The report focusses on the governance arrangements driving the agenda, community based service provision for women offenders, funding arrangements for women’s services, the implications for women offenders of the Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) reforms, and the configuration of the female custodial estate. The Committee says it is too early to assess whether the Government's TR reforms, in particular the requirement for new probation providers to take account of these needs, will be sufficient to safeguard the long-term funding of women's centres, which remains haphazard. Download the report here

FUNDING: improving quality of life for Wales' residents

Gwynedd Council Voluntary Development Grant will provide grants of up to £10,000 to support projects that improve the quality of life of Wales' residents. All projects must reflect funding objectives including: promoting volunteering opportunities; reducing deprivation; increasing employment opportunities; and a decrease in anti-social behaviour. Applications for less than £1,000 can be made at any time, and the next closing date for applications over £1,000 is the 31st March. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: investment in workspace and employment projects

The Opportunity Investment Fund is open to applications from small and medium enterprises in Tottenham to enable investment in workspace and employment projects. A total of £3.65 million is available, with no upper or lower limits on what can be awarded to individual projects. As a benchmark, the following amounts can be awarded for specific costs: £1,500 per m/2 of commercial floorspace; and £15,700 per full time job. The fund is predominantly a loan fund, and non-repayable grants are very limited. They are particularly interested in businesses that want to grow, and new industry and activity that will create high quality employment with good opportunities for career progression. The deadline for applications is 10th April. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: tackling digital exclusion

Housing provider Affinity Sutton is offering the Digital Communities Fund for 2015 to support voluntary sector organisations to provide projects which will tackle digital exclusion of their residents across the UK. Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 are available for projects where the primary aim is to support individuals to use the internet to assist them in their everyday lives. They are also able to provide funding for equipment and computer software. The next deadline for applications is 24th April. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: to make a difference to local communities

The Aviva Community Fund is offering grants of up to £25,000 to smaller voluntary and community organisations for projects that will make a real difference to local communities in one of the following categories: Health, disability and wellbeing; Supporting the younger generation; Supporting the older generation; or Community support. All projects will be put forward to a public vote and so are encouraged to widely promote their projects in their local communities. There is an additional set of awards especially for projects submitted by brokers and financial advisers. One hundred 'Helping Hand Prizes' of £500 will also be given out to projects submitted by Aviva customers, Aviva Investors clients, Aviva employees or any insurance brokers or financial advisers that are not successful in receiving one of the main Awards. The deadline for submissions is 24th April. Find out more here

FUNDING: for projects benefitting young people

The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards will fund registered charities and not for profit organisations that are based in areas in the UK where Tesco has stores. Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available to provide practical benefits, such as equipment and resources for projects that directly benefit either health, sustainability or opportunities for young people. Eligible projects include those that provide: involvement in sport and physical activity; education and training programmes which develop key skills; support to vulnerable, disengaged groups and young people in long term unemployment; or local eco initiatives in the community that contribute to global environmental impact. The deadline for applications is 24th April. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: to support older people in the North East

The Kellet Fund is open to applications from voluntary sector organisations in Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and Chester-Le-Street. Grants of up to £30,000 a year are available for up to three years to support projects that enable older people to age actively, and to remain involved in all manner of community activities. The fund’s two priorities are: supporting the active participation of older people in all aspects of community affairs; and providing leisure and learning activities for older people. All proposed projects must also involve older people in their governance, service planning and delivery. The deadline for applications is 28th April. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBER'S EVENT: mental health in prisons

'Mental Health & Learning Disabilities in Prison' is an AMIMB workshop [7th May, Birmingham, from £40] that will discuss the potential contributions of Independent Monitoring Board members in monitoring how the mental health needs of prisoners are met in day to day practice in the current context of NHS commissioning and provision. During the day, attendees are encouraged to discuss their experiences of mental health needs amongst prisoners that have been difficult to resolve. Speakers include Dr Kimmett Edgar, Prison Reform Trust; Dr Adrian Grounds, University of Cambridge; Professor Jenny Shaw, University of Manchester; Professor Geoff Shepherd, Centre for Mental Health; and Ms Jenny Talbot OBE, Prison Reform Trust. Find out more and book your place here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS AND TRAINING

  • 'Evaluation Webinar series' | 30th March to 29th June, free | Details

PUBLICATION: criminal justice during the coalition government

'The coalition years: Criminal justice in the United Kingdom: 2010 to 2015' is a Centre for Crime and Justice Studies report reviewing criminal justice developments during the period of the coalition government. It also identifies the main challenges facing an incoming government in May 2015. The report aims to explain why criminal justice developed in the way that it did, rather than dwelling on the detail of what happened. It concludes that austerity driven reform, and ongoing divergence of criminal justice policy-making, is likely to continue. Download the report here

PUBLICATION: how charities are managing in a downturn

'Managing in the new normal', the report from the latest instalment in PWCs series of ‘Managing in a Downturn’ surveys, has found that the operating environment for charities continues to be a tough one, and charities have had to stretch their resources to the limit in order to meet a rising demand and cope with public spending cuts. Now in its eighth year, the survey collates the views of over 400 senior fundraising and finance professionals in the charity sector. Other findings include 33% of charities identifying public spending cuts as the most important challenge facing the sector; and year on year demand for services has continued, with 70% of charities expecting an increase over the next 12 months and 28% not sufficiently resourced to meet the rising demand. Download the report here (requires free registration)

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

A Fulfilling Lives Engagement Worker and a Data Analyst with Changing Lives [North East], a Group Development Worker with the Well Women Centre [Wakefield], a Trustee with the Prisoners' Advice Service [London], a Night-time Outreach Support Worker with Women in Prison [London], a Trustee with Elizabeth Fry Charity [Reading], a Project Manager with the Prison Reform Trust [London], a Volunteer Support Officer with Sova [Stafford], a number of Caseworkers, Administrators and Trainer Assessors with St Giles Trust [Prison based] and an Assistant Director with Thames Valley Restorative Justice Service [Chilton]. For further information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: A 2-course lunch and aperitif at the 5-star Royal Horseguards Hotel in London is half price at £15. Details
  • Tip of the week II: Tickets to see 'The King's Speech' in Manchester are £11.70 and up for shows Monday to Friday, between 30th March and 3rd April. Details
  • Tip of the week III: A spa package for two people at Grade II-listed Best Western Dower House near Harrogate is only £35. The deal includes afternoon tea. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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