Criminal Justice Forum Event
Wednesday 10th July, 10am - 3pm, Dryden Centre, Gateshead

Come along to hear the latest local and national developments in criminal justice, and use your experiences to inform Clinks’ national policy work. The forums 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 forum will provide an update from the Clink's policy team and there will also be an opportunity to hear the challenges and opportunities facing voluntary sector organisation's from across the North East. You can read about the last forum on my blog.

The forum is free to attend for Clinks members so why not use this as an opportunity to join too.

Clinks State of the Sector Survey
Closing date: 5th July

This survey aims to get a picture of the current challenges facing voluntary sector organisations working with people in contact with the criminal justice system and/or their families in England and Wales. We will use the survey to inform the range of support Clinks provides to voluntary organisations and how we work with others including government departments and agencies, funders and donors.

It would be great to get as many organisations from the North East as possible to complete the survey to support the Development Officer with her work.

Probation Reform Announcements

The Ministry of Justice has published the response to its consultation on the future of probation services. In a blog, Policy Manager Nicola Drinkwater has highlighted five things voluntary organisations in the criminal justice system need to know. Anne Fox, Chief Executive Officer, said "It is extremely welcome to see the Ministry of Justice accept our recommendations to simplify probation and reconsider contracting out. This is a real opportunity to ensure the effective use of resources towards getting people the support they need to stop offending and lead fulfilling lives, with voluntary organisations delivering vital support alongside well-funded services.” 

May has felt like a very short month with bank holidays and long weekends but it has not stopped it being filled with some exciting days. Clinks held its annual conference in London which provided a great opportunity to hear about projects from across the Country; the MoJ has published it's response to its consultation on the future of probation services; and MEAM held a number of learning hubs to discuss how to improve mental health provision for people facing multiple disadvantage.

I have also managed to catch up with some of our members to find out what challenges and opportunities they are currently facing.

Dame Vera Baird appointed as New Vicitims Commissioner

Dame Vera Baird has been appointed the new Victims’ Commissioner and will take over the role from Baroness Newlove in mid-June 2019.

Dame Vera’s responsibilities will include promoting the interests of victims and witnesses, ensuring that their voices are heard and holding government to account on delivery of its commitments.

“I am delighted to be appointed Victims’ Commissioner, it is an honour to have the chance to work with victims and witnesses to ensure that their voices are heard everywhere it matters. I will be very sad to leave my role as a Police and Crime Commissioner and my super staff, and all we achieved together with Northumbria Police. This new role will help me to build on my experience of victim and witness needs that I gained as a PCC and when I was in government.”

Richard Lewis takes up role as Chief Constable of Cleveland Police

Richard, a Welsh speaker from Carmarthenshire, joined Dyfed Powys Police in 2000 and worked as a uniformed police officer across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.

He worked his way up the ranks, serving as the Head of Professional Standards and as Assistant Chief Constable before being appointed as Temporary Deputy Chief Constable.

In 2010 Mr Lewis spent six months on prestigious educational programme Fulbright at Pennsylvania State University and New York Police Department, where he studied the community impact of deaths following police contact. He is currently studying for a PhD in covert policing.

Dealing with Local Authorities in the context of Homelessness
Wednesday 5th June, 10am - 3pm, Byker Community Centre

This training will help you understand the basic rights of people who are homeless and the duties of local authorities towards addressing homelessness. The session will develop your understanding of the process around homelessness applications and aid you in identifying strategies for addressing cases of homelessness, including supporting individuals through relevant administrative processes.

Please note that this is not technical legal training but rather a basic overview of strategies needed to deal with local authorities in the context of homelessness. The workshop is aimed at frontline workers or intermediaries working with people who may face homelessness, but are not themselves housing advisors or caseworkers.

Wellcome Foundation - Public Engagement Fund
Deadline: 9th July 2019

The Public Engagement Fund is open to individuals and organisations (commercial and not-for-profit). Projects must focus on health, although this doesn’t need to be the organisation’s main focus or core activity. Applicants can be working in the arts, culture, entertainment media, heritage, leisure, education, research, informal learning, social enterprise, non-profit and community sectors, or other fields. The Foundation are especially interested in work that promotes diversity and inclusion, and engages people and communities who are affected by social and economic disadvantage.

The Foundation is looking for creative approaches to engage the public. Projects should do at least one of the following:
• Empower people by helping them to access, use, respond to, and/or participate in health research and innovation.
• Improve health research by making it more people-centred, to better understand people’s experiences and draw on that knowledge.
• Help people to value and think critically about science, health research, innovation and the role these play in society.

Projects can innovate or try new ways of working, develop an existing activity or learn from a successful engagement activity and replicate it with a new audience.
o may face homelessness, but are not themselves housing advisors or caseworkers.

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