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Clinks Update

Strengthening Probation, Building Confidence

22nd August, York, 11am - 3.30pm

The Ministry of Justice has announced a public consultation on proposals to stabilise the delivery of probation services over the next two years and a longer term strategy for probation services beyond 2020. Clinks’ Jess Mullen has written a blog which takes a close look at the MoJ's proposals and examines how different they truly are to the current system.

As part of the Ministry of Justice market and stakeholder engagement activity for this consultation, Clinks is hosting a series of events for the voluntary sector. The nearest event to the North East will be held in York on 22nd August.

These events will provide an overview of the proposals from the MoJ; opportunities to ask questions and feed in your views to the MoJ and to Clinks' consultation response.

Book your place to have your say here.

NE Criminal Justice Forum

2nd October, Darlington, 1.30pm - 4.30pm

These events allow you to step back from your crucial day-to-day front-line work to see the bigger picture and context in which you are working. The forums will give local and regional organisations the opportunity to hear the latest national developments in criminal justice, and also use their experience to inform Clinks’ national policy work.

Book your place here.

Working or Volunteering in a Prison Training

6th September, Durham, 10am - 4pm, £75

This one day course aims to raise awareness of the prison environment and enable voluntary sector staff and volunteers to have meaningful and professional engagement with prisons, in their shared care of those in custody. This highly participative day led by an experienced trainer covers a wide range of topics. It will combine: theory, individual reflection and practical guidance on working in prison and with prisoners. The course is for voluntary sector staff and volunteers new to the prison environment.

Book your place now.

VONNE Conference: Brexit and the Implications for the NE

18th October, Sunderland, 11am - 4pm

The most significant event in a generation is happening: the UK is leaving the European Union in March 2019, with a transition period following until December 2020.  

This will have significant political, economic, legislative and social implications for UK citizens, businesses and VCSE organisations and their beneficiaries.

VONNE 2018 will give you the opportunity to engage with policy makers and plan and prepare for Brexit, and specifically to:

• Hear the latest updates on the EU Withdrawal Bills and what they mean for the North East
• Discuss and respond to the consultation on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (the domestic replacement for ESIF)
• Understand how VCSEs can support communities through the likely changes and what role devolution could play

Book your place now

Prison Learning and Skills Providers Event 

14th August, HMP Northumberland, 10am - 1pm

Might your organisation potentially be interested in working with prisoners to help them gain confidence/work skills and make appropriate career choices for further learning, employment and/or self-employment after release?
There is an information event for providers who want to find out more about the opportunity to deliver under the Prison Dynamic Purchasing Scheme in one or more of five male prisons in the North East. Delivery is likely to start from 1 April 2019.

Find out more from the event flyer or book your place by emailing JenniferEsther.Carvell@hmps.gsi.gov.uk

Cleveland Police and Crime Plan Consultation Event

13th September, Middlesbrough, 10am - 12noon

The Police and Crime Commissioner would like to invite you to attend an event on 13th September where he will be giving an overview of his draft revised Police and Crime Plan and asking for your thoughts on what we can do collectively to achieve the outcomes set out in the plan. You can read agenda here.

To book your place email pcc@cleveland.pnn.police.uk

House of Commons Speaker at PCC Lecture

29th November, Discovery Museum, Newcastle, 6.30pm

Dame Vera Baird QC has announced that the first Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner’s Lecture will be delivered by the Rt Hon John Bercow MP, who is Speaker of the House of Commons.

Tickets are free, but demand will be high so early application is therefore advisable. Tickets are limited to two per household.

Requests for tickets should be made by email to:enquiries@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk
Please remember to include, name, full address and contact number and the name and address of the other guest who will be attending, if two tickets have been requested.

Hilden Charitable Fund

Average £5,000. VCSE (preference for small community organisations, income less than £500k). Deadline 11th September 2018.

The Hilden Charitable Fund makes grants to projects that address disadvantage and by supporting causes which are less popular. In particular, the Fund wants to support projects that

• address homelessness.
• supports asylum seekers and refugees.
• support community-based initiatives for disadvantaged young people 16–25.
• deal with penal affairs.

The Fund will consider supporting project costs as well as core running costs of organisations.

Click here for more information.

2018/20 Fund for Domestic Abuse

Approx. £100,000. Local Authorities in partnership. Deadline 17th August 2018

The 2018/20 Fund for Domestic Abuse, from the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government, will support proposals for the provision of core support for refuges and other accommodation-based services, helping local areas ensure that no woman is turned away from the support she needs.

Specifically welcomed are bids that demonstrate a need for the type of support proposed locally and that the solution proposed is designed to meet the needs of victims. For example, bids could be for specialist refuge places or for specific groups (i.e. for victims with mental health problems, substance abuse problems, or particular needs of different ethnic communities), or, where this best meets local need, other accommodation-based services with specialist support or other services that enable victims to access this support.

All bids must help deliver the local strategy for domestic abuse provision and provide evidence of local need and gaps in provision in specialist refuge bed-spaces.
The Ministry would expect to provide around £100,000 maximum per individual partnership bid but will consider bids of more than £100,000 that proactively work across a number of local authority boundaries.

Click here for more information. 

Homeless Link Social Investment Fund

£4.5m to invest in the sector over 3 years

Launched in May 2017, the Homeless Link Social Investment Fund has, over three years, £4.5m to invest in charities and social enterprises working to reduce homelessness across England.

The aim is to test and learn where social investment can be most effectively used alongside other forms of funding to improve outcomes. They are looking to support organisations to:

• increase the homelessness sector’s knowledge and experience of social investment
• develop new models for income generation and funding
• improve their long-term sustainability

To find out more arrange to have a chat with Investment Manager, Jaishree Mistry: Jaishree.mistry@homelesslink.org.uk 07505 506378.