We’re delighted to announce that this week’s edition has broken the 4,000 recipients mark! 4,041 people working with offenders and their families have received today’s edition of Light Lunch, making it a great place to advertise your events, publications and resources.

CLINKS NEWS: guides launched

Clinks has published a series of guides designed to support organisations in their day-to-day work with offenders. Targeted at those who involve volunteers, or provide mentoring and befriending services to offenders and ex-offenders, these guides are designed to support any organisation whether they are established or just setting up. The guides are available to download, free of charge, at: Clinks Volunteering Guides. Clinks Members can get free hard copies on request. Email your Clinks membership number to Joe Gardham.

CLINKS TRAINING: Volunteering with Offenders

There are still places on 'Volunteering with Offenders in the Community', a 2-day modular ‘train the trainers’ course [10^th & 11^th February, York, from £64] designed to support the training of staff and volunteers in the Voluntary and Community Sector who are working with offenders in the community. We will explore some of the issues faced by volunteers, and the organisations that manage them. This is a really popular course, and will be the last time we offer this course for a while. It often sells out quickly, so book your place at: Clinks Training

CLINKS MEMBERS EVENT: Vetting & Barring forum

Clinks and Action for Prisoners Families (APF) are holding a joint forum [25^th February, London, Free] for its members to look at the issues presented by the new Vetting and Barring legislation. Speakers from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Ministry of Justice and voluntary organisations will discuss the new scheme and the implications for VCS organisations working with offenders and their families. Speakers will answer questions and queries that members may have. This free event is on a first-come, first-served basis for Clinks and APF members. To register your interest, email Sophie

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: The Role of the Prison Officer

The government has published it's response to the Justice Select Committee report on the role of the prison officer. The response finds that overcrowding, staff shortages and the high incidence of prisoners with unaddressed mental health, drug or alcohol problems mean the system is constantly at crisis point, leaving little or no time to build productive relationships with prisoners. It goes on to say that the Government’s policies on 1,500 place prisons, clustering and Workforce Modernisation are likely to further deskill the prison officer’s role to that of a warder, and reducing the ratio of officers to prisoners in pursuit of short-term economic savings will damage long-term re-offending rates, creating more victims, more fear of crime and all the social and financial damage that arises from criminality. Download at: MoJ

FUNDING: to work with young people

Barrow Cadbury Trust want to support groups that take a long term view about working with disadvantaged young people, recognising that change may take time and that improving life chances can take many forms. Your project should include ideas that will reduce the risk of disadvantaged young people being involved in criminal activity. You can only apply for this programme if your project is based in Birmingham or the Black Country (Wolverhampton, Dudley, West Bromwich, Smethwick, Sandwell). Details at: Barrow Cadbury Trust

FUNDING: supporting disadvantaged families

The Frank Buttle Trust provide grants for household goods (appliances, beds etc.) to disadvantaged families; private and boarding school fees for challenging children; and grants to students and trainees for further education courses who otherwise would enter adult life without adequate qualifications or training for work. Full details and how to apply at: The Frank Buttle Trust

FUNDING: to employ a young apprentice

Employers in England who are able to offer a job opportunity to an unemployed young person aged 16 or 17 are invited to apply for a £2,500 Apprenticeship grant. The National Apprenticeship Service particularly wants to support small and medium-sized employers interested in employing an apprentice for the first time, or wishing to employ an additional apprentice over their traditional level of recruitment. Only available to the end of March at: NAS

FUNDING: for learning and skills providers

The Learning and Skills Improvement Service's (LSIS) Flexibility and Innovation Fund aims to promote and support innovative projects that have the potential to yield significant improvements in learning and skills sector practice or performance. The Fund is only open to organisations in England whose primary function is as a provider of further education and training. Applications are welcomed on a broad range of topics/themes and ideas. The deadline for applications is 19^th February 2010. Details at: Excellence Gateway

AWARDS: for tackling poverty and social breakdown

Nominations have just opened across the UK for the annual Centre for Social Justice Awards 2010. The awards reward organisations tackling social breakdown and changing lives in a local area. Organisations of all sizes can apply for the £10,000 prize, and you don't have to be a registered charity. The deadline for applications is 22^nd February 2010. Apply at: CSJ Awards

EVENT: getting your voice heard

'Getting your voice heard: How to influence policies that affect you and your community' is a Y&H Regional Forum event [23^rd February, Leeds] for small groups and grassroots organisations in West Yorkshire. Primarily aimed at BME, Refugee, Rural and Faith groups, though all other groups are welcome to join. The event aims to help groups understand the importance of policy and the effect that it can have on organisations and communities. It will include practical workshops on influencing policy to improve the communities in which they live. More info at: Y & H Regional Forum

EVENT: young people’s health services

'You're Welcome: Young people, health services and the Role of the Voluntary Sector' is a series of free events in London, Birmingham, Leeds, and Newcastle. The You're Welcome quality criteria are a set of criteria against which organisations who deliver health services can prove they are young-people friendly. These free half-day events are designed specifically for voluntary and community sector organisations to introduce and explain the You're Welcome quality criteria. Book your free place at: NCB

EVENT: Social Enterprise conference

The Ministry of Justice are holding a Social Enterprise Conference [4^th March, London, Free] that aims to promote understanding of social enterprises and raise awareness of opportunities to staff across the Criminal Justice System. The conference features speakers, workshops and case studies. Request a booking form from thirdsector@justice.gsi.gov.uk

SEMINAR: supporting women offenders

Do you work with women (ex)offenders? Would you like to share your ideas and learn from others? Women in Prison are hosting a series of 'Practice Seminars' giving you the chance to have a focussed discussion on a particular issue with other professionals working with women (ex)offenders. The first seminar [28^th January, London] will focus on accessing mental health support for women (ex)offenders . Future topics include employment, BME and Young Women. Book at: Women in Prison

PUBLICATION: research reports on women in the CJS

The Griffins Society have recently published three new research reports from the Griffins Research Fellowships Programme. They are: 'An evaluation of The Freedom Programme; a prison support programme for women who have experienced domestic violence', 'Is Attachment Theory and the Concept of a ‘Secure Base’ relevant to supporting women during the process of resettlement? ', and 'Double invisibility – Recalled and female, and forgotten in the Criminal Justice System?’ Read them at: The Griffins Society

OPPORTUNITY: bursary for leaders

Are you a current leader in the cultural field, running a project or organisation that has a social benefit? Are you thinking about setting up a cultural organisation that uses your creative and entrepreneurial skills to benefit a community of need? If so the School for Social Entrepreneurs have fully funded bursaries available for emerging and mid-career cultural leaders. The deadline for applications is 15^th February, visit: Cultural Leadership Programme

OPPORTUNITY: free venue

ART SAVES LIVES have a space available, in London, from the 5^th to the 28^th February. If you're a charity, community group or arts based organisation and you want to hold a fundraising event or put on a show, the space is available free of charge! Please get in touch with Cat

OPPORTUNITY: essay competition

The Howard League for Penal Reform are running an essay competition for undergraduate students based at a university in the UK. The topic of the essay is "Why Prisons Don't Work", and the 1,000 word entry will be judged by Eric Allison, the prisons correspondent for the Guardian newspaper. Submission deadline is 30^th April. Full details at: Howard League

OPPORTUNITY: criminal convictions and employment

Unlock are looking for people with minor convictions who are having (or have had) difficulties gaining employment. This is part of a radio programme, and can be anonymous if required. If you're interested email chris.stacey@unlock.org.uk with 1. Your current employment situation, 2. The past conviction(s) that you have, 3. The difficulties that you have had gaining employment, 4. Whether you would be happy to speak on the radio programme.

MEMBER VACANCIES

Clinks is considering advertising member vacancies in Light Lunch. If you have any objections to this, please feedback to Joe Gardham. The latest member vacancies, including St Giles Trust, Action Acton, Prisoner’s Education Trust, pact and Clean Break can be found at: Clinks Member's Vacancies

TIPS OF THE WEEK…

TIP OF THE WEEK I: Work in London? Get free desktop computers if your organisation benefits Westminster residents, and free office furniture if your organisation works in Southwark.

TIP OF THE WEEK II: Get a free eye test. Grab a copy of Tesco's free January/February in-store magazine then use the voucher inside at 114 Tesco opticians across England & Wales.

TIP OF THE WEEK III: 50% off your food bill at Pizza Express, La Tasca, and Slug and Lettuce. And get 40% off at Yo! Sushi.

TIP OF THE WEEK IV: East Midlands Trains have a sale on all trains to and from London, starting at £5. Use the Best Fare Finder at: East Midlands Trains

TIP OF THE WEEK V:Loads of special offers for Valentines trips away at: Travelzoo

Date Published:

22/01/2010

Source:

Clinks