Clinks Light Lunch | Issue 386 | 17th April 2015

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In this week's edition....

CLINKS SURVEY: impact in the North East

It has been 18 months since Clinks and VONNE formed a partnership to support the voluntary sector working in criminal justice in the North East and we are pleased to announce that we have secured resources to continue the project until March 2016. To enable us to review the impact of our work over the past 18 months, we would be grateful if those based in the North East could complete this short 10 minute survey to help us shape the services we provide over the coming year. The deadline for responses is the 30th April. Respond to the survey here

ARTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE NEWS: creative methods in offender research

In the latest post on the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice’s blog, Lucy Terry from Revolving Doors Agency discusses using creative methods in research with offenders. The post looks at their recent report, ‘A Good Life: Exploring what matters to people facing multiple and complex needs,’ and how they use ‘collage as inquiry’ to explore their research question. Participants were asked to create collages representing their ‘good life,’ using arts materials, before talking through the different aspects of their good life with researchers, using their collages as the basis of the discussion. Read the post here

CLINKS MEMBER'S NEWS: support and advice in the South West

Community Advice and Support Services (CASS), operating at Plymouth, Truro and Bodmin Magistrates Courts, is pleased to announce it has launched as an independent charity. CASSplus will continue to deliver problem solving and supported sign-posting to people attending magistrate court settings. Clients are mainly, though not exclusively, offenders and their families. The drop-in service is able to offer volunteer opportunities at each locality. Visit their new website here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: criminal justice policies

Political parties have this week been launching their manifestos in the run up to the 2015 general election. Criminal Justice Alliance has put together summaries of the criminal justice policies described in each manifesto. Read the summaries here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: if I were justice secretary

The latest post in Russell Webster's 'If I were Justice Secretary' blog series comes from Ellie Cumbo, a justice policy researcher and writer with experience of working in both victim and offender charities. She sets out what her priorities would be as justice secretary: no more prosecuting victims who deny their abuse; treat children as children; and rights for offenders' families. Read the blog post here

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: national IOM conference

The Home Office has published 'Integrated Offender Management (IOM): meeting future challenges', the report of the 2015 National Conference held in February. Themes which emerged during the conference included the role that IOM can play in helping to prevent the onset, or escalation, of problematic criminal careers and how local IOM approaches will need to adapt to changes in the delivery landscape, including the Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) reforms. At the conference, Nathan Dick, Clinks' Head of Policy and Communications, spoke about the role of the voluntary sector in IOM, the potential impact of TR, and the current state of the voluntary sector. The conference report, presenters' slides and workshop presentations, along with further information about IOM, can be found here

FUNDING: 'criteria free' grants

The Golden Bottle Trust and the Bulldog Trust Funding Initiative's first round of funding has been launched today. The 'criteria-free' grant-making scheme aims to provide small to medium sized charitable organisations with the chance to access funding of between £1,000 and £30,000 without a complicated and time consuming application process. The funding is to enable charities to take a step forward in their development and do something they were not able to do before. The number of applications accepted for each round of funding is limited to 300 to ensure each one receives sufficient attention, so it is recommended that applications are sent in as close to the opening of the round as possible. Find out more here

FUNDING: community safety in the North East

Durham's police and crime commissioner has launched a £150,000 Community Safety Fund for projects aimed at reducing the incidence of crime and improving community confidence and safety. Charitable voluntary and community sector organisations in County Durham and Darlington are eligible to apply for funding to support projects that reduce: the impact of domestic abuse in all its forms, the impact of hate crime, and violence against women and girls; improve engagement with local communities, and road safety; tackle anti-social behaviour, and the harm caused by alcohol and drugs; and support victims of crime. Small grants of up to £2,500, and general grants of up to £20,000 are available. The deadline for applications is 20th May. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: to benefit communities in Manchester

Voluntary and community groups can apply for grants of up to £1,000 from the One Manchester Community Fund to support projects taking place in Ardwick, Beswick, Clayton, Fallowfield, Gorton, Hulme, Levenshulme, Longsight, Miles Platting, Moss Side, Openshaw, Rusholme, and Whalley Range. Projects should be able to demonstrate a new solution to solve a social problem and evidence benefit to the community. Projects must also fall under at least one of the following categories: Youth; Social Enterprise; Health and Wellbeing; Recycling and Pride of Place; Financial or Digital Inclusion; Culture or Sport; and Community Cohesion. The deadline for applications is 31st May. Find out more and apply here

FUNDING: loan-grants for start-ups

The Asda Foundation and Social Investment Business (SIB) have launched the First Steps Enterprise Fund for community enterprises looking to take on their first loan to help them move forward from the start-up stage. Loan-grant packages of between £20,000 and £30,000 (10% will be a grant) are available to charities and social enterprises in the North West of England (Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside) and South West of England (Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall) to help them grow their services and become more sustainable. The loan needs to be repaid within four years at 5%. Proposals must be able to explain how their project addresses the needs of the community and how it will tackle underlying issues to deliver benefits to the community. Eligible organisations will have been operating for longer than one year but less than three years. The deadline for applications is 26th June 2015. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: engaging offenders

Reflex are hosting 'Offender engagement skills' training [30th April, Halesowen, £75] that aims to provide participants with an introduction to a number of communication and engagement techniques which will assist them on the front-line of face-to-face delivery. The training day will include material on understanding an offender's journey through the Criminal Justice System, the reflective practitioner, managing power and control imbalances, active listening skills, the 'Cycle of Change', motivational interviewing, Socratic questioning, and dealing with resistance. Find out more here

CLINKS MEMBER'S TRAINING: criminal record disclosure

Are you up to date with the laws and good practice on disclosing criminal records to employers and others? After running a sold-out session earlier this month, Unlock, a charity for people with convictions, is running its next 'Criminal record disclosure training' [24th June, London]. Giving accurate and good quality advice to people with convictions will help them to increase their chances of finding and keeping a job. The training covers a range of issues, including how to work out if/when convictions become spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, what comes back on DBS checks, and how to support individuals to properly equip themselves when applying for work and possibly needing to disclose their criminal record. Find out more, and book your place, here

NON-MEMBERS' EVENTS & TRAINING

  • 'Crime prevention in Wales - next steps for organisation, strategy and community safety' | 14th July, Cardiff, £210 | Details

SURVEY: your views on evidence and evaluation

NPC are running a short survey on the voluntary sector's experiences and views on evidence and evaluation in criminal justice. This survey will help them to assess what organisations are currently doing to improve on, or monitor their impact through, research and evaluation. The survey should only take a few minutes and your answers will remain strictly confidential to NPC. Respond to the survey here

RESOURCE: explaining restorative justice to victims

'Let Me Explain' is a new toolkit for providers of restorative justice services that helps you communicate the concept of restorative justice to victims of crime and those close to them. "The tool kit is filled with advice and materials that you can use to get information about restorative justice into the right hands, at the right time." Download the toolkit (free registration required) here

PUBLICATION: the implications of public sector commissioning

NPC have published 'Times of Change: Briefing on public sector commissioning', which explains the rapid changes in public sector commissioning and the potential implications for funders, and also provides discussion points to facilitate important conversations within organisations. The report points out that many charitable organisations are struggling to navigate the quickly shifting landscape, and are disadvantaged in comparison to large commercial organisations in terms of their capacity and resources. NPC's Sally Bagwell says "In the last ten years we have seen a seismic shift in the way public services are delivered. National and local commissioners give out charity contracts worth far more than ever before, and the sector has changed accordingly." Download the report here

PUBLICATION: gang-involved young people

Beyond Youth Custody's new report, 'Gang involved young people – custody and beyond', examines how knowledge about the specific needs of gang-involved young people, and the factors relating to desistance from gang-related crime, can inform effective practice with current and former gang-involved young people during their time in custody and beyond. The report is based on a review of current research, and testimonies from young people and those working with them in custody and the community. The full report and practitioners' guide can be downloaded here

AWARDS: recognising volunteers in Wales

Do you know of an inspirational individual or group that has made a real difference to their area or to the lives of others? The Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards aim to recognise and reward groups and individuals in Wales who have made an outstanding contribution to their community. There are six categories for nominations: adult (25 years and over), young volunteer (under 25 years), 'green' volunteer (individual of any age who volunteers with an environmental organisation or project), trustee, groups (two or more individuals, whether as an informal group or a formally constituted organisation), and international (for individuals who have volunteered with international partners/organisations in Wales). Nominations must be received by 22nd April. Find out more and nominate here

FEATURED JOB VACANCY: Ixion Justice Division

Following significant contract wins, Ixion is recruiting for a number of positions within their newly established Justice Division, and within their key custodial delivery partner Pact. Working on contracts across the West Midlands and South East of England you will be contributing to the delivery of a key European Social Funded ‘social inclusion’ contract under round 3 of NOMS ESF Co-financing organisation’s national programme. The key positions that Ixion are looking to secure are: Regional Development Managers; Regional Managers; Performance and Supply Chain Managers; Senior Case Managers (custody & community); Community Case Managers; Custodial Case Managers (working with Pact); Office Administrators; Quality Assurance & Data Integrity Assistants. The closing date for applications is 30th April 2015. Find out more and apply here

CLINKS MEMBERS' VACANCIES

A Chief Executive with the Well Women Centre [Wakefield], Restorative Justice Practitioners, Development Managers and a Hub Coordinator with Thames Valley Restorative Justice Service [Chilton], a Project Worker with Nacro [Newbury], a Restorative Justice Coordinator with Why Me? [London], a Services Manager with Sova [London], Circles Volunteers with Circles South West [South West England], a Hostel Support Assistant and a Support Worker with Foundation [Tameside], a Trustee with Working Chance [London], a Support Worker and Senior Support Worker with Changing Lives [Newcastle] and Volunteer Mentors with Hibiscus Initiatives [London]. For further information about these vacancies and many more, click here

TIPS OF THE WEEK

  • Tip of the week I: Fly to Catalonia on May bank holiday, and stay for three nights at a beachfront hotel on the Costa Brava for £169 per person. Deal includes flights, transfers, and daily breakfast and dinner. Details
  • Tip of the week II: A vintage afternoon tea for two in Harrogate is only £16.95 from 1st May until 30th June. Details
  • Tip of the week III: EE customers can get a 'free' portable smartphone charger (worth £20) just by texting to get a code (costs 35p) and showing it in store. Details

EXTRA INFORMATION

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