In March 2010, M & E Consulting were commissioned by Clinks to carry out an impact assessment of its work. The aims of the impact assessment were to assess the difference that Clinks’ services make and whether it is providing the services its stakeholders want and need. The impact assessment involved a broad survey of voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) on Clinks’ database as well as a series of in-depth telephone interviews with stakeholders who had been selected by Clinks for their knowledge of the sector. The response was very positive, and we will publish the finished piece in the coming weeks. For now, we would like to thank everyone who participated in the interviews.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice announced

It has been announced that Crispin Blunt is new Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice. Within this brief he has responsibility for Prisons and Probation. You can read more about the ministerial team on the Ministry of Justice website and you can find out more about Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate on the they work for you website.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: New Cabinet snapshot

The Guardian online have produced a special page dedicated to the new Cabinet providing information on gender, education, ethnicity, party, age, previous experience and more. You can read all about the cabinet here on the Guardian Website (source: www.csas.org.uk).

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: New Minister for Civil Society

Nick Hurd has been announced as the Minister for Civil Society; responsible for charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations in the Cabinet Office. Nick Hurd, MP for Ruislip – Northwood, now heads up the Office for Civil Society in the Cabinet Office which officially replaces the Office for the Third Sector (OTS). Speaking alongside the Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude he announced that Government policy would focus, firstly, on making it easier to run charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations, secondly on getting more resources into the sector thereby strengthening its independence and resilience, and finally, making it easier for sector organisations to work with the State. To read the press release go here: Cabinet Office

FUNDING: to increase youth volunteering

SITA Trust has launched a new fund to support volunteering opportunities for young people. The Young Person's Volunteering Fund has been created to assist young people aged 14-25 to volunteer their time to create or enhance facilities that can be enjoyed by the wider community. Grants of up to £10,000 are available for each project undertaken. Projects must take place within a SITA Trust 'funding zone'. A funding zone is anywhere within a three mile radius of a qualifying SITA UK waste processing location. The deadline is 4th June; a location postcode checker and application form is provided on the SITA Trust website.

FUNDING: NOMS ESF programme

NOMS issued the first Invitation To Tender (ITT) on Friday 14^th May on the new Ministry of Justice eSourcing portal, Emptoris. Further information, including a list of prospective Prime Providers, a contact database listing contacts, and information on regional NOMS ESF events are all available on the Ministry of Justice Procurement website.

FUNDING: NOMS ESF subcontractors in Yorkshire & Humberside

SOVA has qualified to apply as a Prime Contractor in Yorkshire and Humberside and is inviting potential subcontractors to submit their Expression of Interest for the Provision of Services to Improve the Employer Prospects of Offenders under the ESF Operational Programme 2. SOVA are looking for a range of innovative provision to meet the service specification with a sub-programme focus on (a) older offenders i.e. those over 50 and (b)Islamist based extremists with a particular focus on West Yorkshire where between 7 and 15 TACT offenders are under supervision at any one time. Please complete the expression of interest form on the SOVA Website

FUNDING: for Criminal Justice work

The Hilden Charitable Fund awards grants to projects supporting causes less likely to attract public funding. The Fund's current funding priorities are homelessness, asylum seekers and refugees, community-based initiatives for young people aged 16-25, and penal affairs. Preference is given to charities with an income of less than £200,000 per year. Grants are rarely given to well-funded national charities, as funding is directed largely at supporting work at a community level. The deadline for applications is the first week in September 2010 at: Hilden Charitable Fund

FUNDING: Young people’s ETE

The Russell Investments Charitable Fund aims to support local voluntary or community groups that need funding for a project focusing on young people and education, employment and training. Grants of up to £5,000 are available for London organisations with an income of less than £150,000. The deadline for applications is 2^nd July at: CCF (foot of page)

PUBLICATION: The role of the third sector in work with offenders

The Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) has published a paper on the role of voluntary and community based organisations working with offenders with a specific focus on the experiences of these charities in working and surviving within the Criminal Justice System. This paper lists their findings having talked to a range of service providers on their current experiences and perceived future challenges for the sector. Download at: TSRC

PUBLICATION: Police expenditure

'Police expenditure 1999-2009' is the first independent study of police authority spending over the last decade, and found that police expenditure grew in real terms from £9.83 billion in 1998/1999 to £14.55 billion in 2008/2009. The report is the first in a three part series of briefings on criminal justice spending. Download at: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies

PUBLICATION: healthcare needs of the homeless

'Healthcare for Single Homeless People' is a recent study that examined the health needs and relative healthcare costs of people who were homeless or living in certain types of insecure or short-term accommodation. This group used around four times more acute hospital services than the general population. For inpatient costs, the figure rose to eight times when the client group was compared with the general population aged 16-64. The most common reasons for admission include toxicity, alcohol, drugs, and mental health problems. Download at: DoH

PUBLICATION: on young people in the CJS

Young offenders don’t often generate much sympathy. With stories in the media everyday of teenage stabbings and gang warfare, many members of the public see youth offending as spiralling out of control. But in reality it is only a small number of young people who are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime. 'Trial and Error' is a New Philanthropy Capital publication that looks at young people in the Criminal Justice System and highlights some of the innovative and promising ways that charities are helping young people to stay out of trouble. Download at: NPC

PUBLICATION: tackling health inequalities

'The social determinants of health and the role of local government' is a collection of articles assessing what local government can do to tackle the social conditions that lead to health inequalities. The publication builds on the recent Marmot Review report 'Fair Society, Healthy Lives', and some of the articles are deliberately challenging and provocative. Download at: IDeA

EVENT: A home and a job – the Third Sector contribution to PSA16

This is a one day event [June & July, London, Free] sponsored by the Department of Health and organised by Sitra, a membership organisation providing policy influence through their expertise, best practice knowledge, training and consultancy in the housing support and care sector. The event, focused on the London region, will bring together strategic and operational staff to learn more about PSA16 (Public Service Agreement on Socially Excluded Adults) as well as presentations from Department of Health, Cabinet Office and voluntary sector colleagues. Details and booking at: Sitra

EVENT: leading through times of change

'Leading your charity through a time of change' is a one-day conference [9^th June, London, £145] designed to help trustees (especially chairs and treasurers), chief executives and finance directors to tackle the strategic challenges which will face charities. Speakers include the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for the third sector; Dame Suzi Leather, Chair of the Charity Commission, on managing change; and Tim Smit, inspirational founder of the Eden Project in Cornwall, on generating earned income. Details and bookings at: Action Planning

EVENT: to develop entrepreneurial skills

Doug Richard’s School for Startups is hosting 'Low Cost, Fast Growth Marketing', an event [10^th June, Ipswich, £10]. This seminar explores advanced online marketing tactics: the essential lessons that every entrepreneur needs to understand. This event is for any entrepreneurs in Suffolk or Essex. Full details and bookings at: School for Startups

EVENT: Transitions to Adulthood – YSS conference

This conference organised by YSS (www.yss.org.uk), a social inclusion charity for young people, is set to explore current thinking, best practice and policy regarding the period of life when young people emerge into adulthood [16th July, Worcester, £50]. The conference aims to recognise young adults as a specific group within society and to stimulate fresh thinking about how to meet the needs of vulnerable young adults undergoing this transition. Speakers include HRH The Princess Royal and representatives from YSS, Barrow Cadbury Trust, Catch22, Revolving Doors Agency, Young People in Focus and Oxford University. This conference is part of the national campaign Transitions to Adulthood (www.t2a.org.uk) led by the Barrow Cadbury Trust. For enquiries please contact Gabriele Huth on 01299 252330 or email TransitionsConference@yss.org.uk.

EVENT: children and young people in need

'Thinking Positive: Helping children and young people most in need fulfil their potential' is a series of seminars [16^th June, London & 24^th June, Leeds] which aims to bring together expertise from across the children's sector to identify key issues facing children and young people most in need. Speakers include leading experts from Young Minds, Barnardos, The Communication Trust, NCB and NCB's Life Routes programme, Duke of Edinburgh Awards and Northamptonshire's Black and Ethnic Minority Resources Service. Thinking Positive is of interest to anyone working with, or managing those who work with, children and young people who are most in need. This includes (but is not exclusive to) children and young people who are in contact with the youth justice system, in care or in supported housing. Find out more and book your place at: NCB

SEMINARS: for charity leaders

With austere times beckoning it is the duty of Chief Executives, Trustees, Chairs, Financial Officers and other senior managers of charities to operate as effectively as possible. Charity Business are running workshop style seminars that look at the latest financial management strategies, examining all aspects of accounting and bookkeeping, running trading arms, latest accountancy techniques, making the most of volunteers, maximising resources and the application of financial management information in the decision making process. Find out more and book your place at: Charity Business

TRAINING: work with vulnerable people

Everybody Matters is a training provider that aims to help enable you to seek, engage and work with hard to reach, vulnerable and disadvantaged people. The training offers a series of practical and empowering training modules to meet these challenges and enable people to extend service reach for the benefit of the service user, provider and purchaser. This is especially relevant for people working with priority groups such as lone parents, prisoners’ families, the homeless, asylum seekers, teenage parents, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, people living with disabilities, victims of domestic violence. Find out more at: Everybody Matters

RESOURCE: for employers

From 1st October 2010, the adult minimum wage rate starts at age 21 rather than 22 and there is a new minimum wage for apprentices. The adult rate will be £5.93 per hour, with £4.92 per hour for 18 to 20 year olds and £3.64 per hour for 16 to 17 year olds. Find out more at: DirectGov

RESOURCE: to improve IT skills

Microsoft has launched the Britain Works Initiative, which aims to help 500,000 people into employment by giving them access to vital IT skills. Any registered UK charity with an employability programme can apply to become a partner, free of charge, and gain access to a variety of benefits to enable them to help their beneficiaries into employment through IT skilling. Details at: Microsoft

OPPORTUNITY: to save money on everyday items

Charities Buying Group enables small charities and voluntary organisations to benefit from lower prices on everyday supplies. The company buys products on behalf of your organisation and, because of the volume, can attract larger discounts on stationery, hotels, food and vehicle hire. It's free to join at: Charities Buying Group

OPPORTUNITY: for graduates

Fastlaners is an intensive, engaging and challenging two week training programme for graduates who are seeking work. Fastlaners has been developed to prepare graduates and enable you to make the crucial transition from education to graduate employment. At present, university students are offered little or no assistance in bridging the gap between education and employment and there is little emphasis on soft skills such as confidence and workplace/job know-how. Find out more about this free opportunity at: FastLaners

OPPORTUNITY: to undertake an overseas project

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust awards Travelling Fellowships to British citizens aged 18 and above on 31 December 2010 who are resident in the UK, to cover the costs of an overseas project lasting between four and twelve weeks. Categories of interest to Light Lunch readers include Citizen and Civil Society, and Social Services. The Trust will consider applications in support of projects that will bring real benefit to the applicant as an individual and will enable positive benefit to their community or field of interest. The deadline for applications is 5^th October, details at: http://www.wcmt.org.uk/

CLINKS MEMBER’S NEWS: New Stonham project and staff vacancies

Stonham is a provider of housing and support for vulnerable people, supporting over 20,000 people every year. They have recently won the Government-funded contract to run the BASS programme, which Stonham will start running on 18th June. BASS provides private rented accommodation in the community to defendants and released offenders who are otherwise without an acceptable address, or do not have enough support to live independently. Stonham are looking for experienced staff to work in BASS – particularly in the east of England, London and Wales. For more information, go to www.basscharacters.co.uk.

CLINKS MEMBER’S VACANCIES

St Giles Trust is advertising for three posts both full and part-time to help offenders and disadvantaged people through support, advocacy and employment services. The vacancies include an administrative role (Ref: ADM-02), housing caseworker (Ref: CWB-03) and resettlement broker (Ref: REB-03). For further details of all roles and application packs visit the St Giles Trust Website and email queries and applications to recruitment@stgilestrust.org.uk quoting the relevant reference number. Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 1^st June. Revolving Doors Agency is a charity working across England to change systems and improve services for people with multiple problems including poor mental health who are in contact with the criminal justice system. They are looking for a Communications and Fundraising Manager. For further details and an application pack visit the Revolving Doors Website.Closing date for applications is Monday 7^th June 2010 and interviews will be held on Monday 28^th June 2010.

Date Published:

21/05/2010

Source:

Clinks