Access to prisons for the TRIF research is proceeding despite delays. Of the ten prisons where data is being gathered: Access has been agreed and dates for visits is in the process of being set up for four prisons and initial contact has been made with a further three.
The prisons that are participating have been very enthusiastic about the project. The contact people have made it clear that the research will fill an important gap for them in identifying what they should be doing differently in offering prisoners from Minority Ethnic groups support, advice, and community links, prior to release.
The team of research assistants has been active in interviewing service providers in the community. Three DOMs have also been interviewed as have ex-offenders in the community.
Organisations who work with families are being approached to help to find family members who might be interested in participating. Interviews are scheduled with senior probation managers and probation staff in the regions as permission has been granted by DOMs to approach five probation trusts.
The prison interviews and evidence gathered from probation staff and service providers will be completed by the end of August. Interviews with offenders and ex-offenders in the community will finish by 21 September. The first draft of the final report will be submitted in October.
A presentation on the emerging findings will be presented to a seminar on September 20 at the Institute of Minerals. The seminar will include a discussion with practitioners and policy-makers about the concerns that have arisen through the preliminary evidence from prisons.
The final report will incorporate the literature review, as it usefully sets the context for the evidence we will present.
Hopefully you are enjoying reading your Equality Ebulletin; the increase in subscribers would certainly suggest it’s becoming a popular ebulletin.
To help us monitor it’s impact, and to ensure we keep improving it, please could you take a couple of minutes of your time to respond to our quick survey. It consists of 5 multiple choice questions, so shouldn’t take long. - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GSTJ2P8
Thanks! And we hope you find this latest issue of benefit to you and your work.
CLINKS NEWS: new Chair announced
Clinks is delighted to announce the appointment of Dame Anne Owers OBE as our new Chair. She will take up the post in January 2011. Anne is prominent across the Criminal Justice System of England & Wales for her role as HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (2001-2010) and as a committed human rights campaigner. Read the full story at Clinks Press Releases
CLINKS NEWS: new website launched
We have now launched our new website, where you’ll find everything you need to know about Clinks and our work in supporting the VCS working with offenders. The new site features new staff profiles, better publications section, a search facility, the ability to become a member and subscribe to our ebulletins online, and an organic links section. Make sure you add us to your favourites at: www.clinks.org
CLINKS NEWS: Clinks on Twitter
Clinks are on Twitter! You can follow us @Clinks_Tweets, where we’ll continue our role of keeping you informed and up to speed with developments affecting the VCS in the Criminal Justice System. Even if you don’t use Twitter, you can view our Tweets at: www.twitter.com/Clinks_Tweets
Black History Month is in October, and celebrates the history of black people in our society. This years festivities includes music, theatre, writing and, of course, lots of food! You can find out more about Black History Month and what’s happening in your locality at: http://www.blackhistorymonth2010.co.uk/
You'll now be able to pick up your FREE copy of Keep The Faith Magazine, the UK's leading publication on the black community from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrison stores across the UK. You can also download the latest edition at: http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1ot7j/KeepTheFaithissue59/resources/index.htm
Black Southwest Network (BSWN) in conjunction with Runnymede Trust hosted a lively debate in Bristol on the 7th of July 2010 around race equality in the Southwest. You can view the reports at: http://www.bswn.org.uk/living-together-debating-race-equality-in-the-south-west
The Voice4Change England Policy Team have a new quarterly policy update for you, to help highlight the key issues for BAME Voluntary and Community Sector, emerging policy trends, developments, consultations and publications as well as provide a perspective on the organisations key policy priority areas. Read the August Policy Update
Runnymede 360°, a new national network connecting aspiring and established leaders in race equality, is now open for applications. They are looking for the most passionate thinkers and agents in race equality from all sectors and backgrounds. Runnymede 360° will be holding interviews in Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Glasgow in September and October 2010. For more details on how to apply visit Runnymede
CLINKS EVENT: Payment by Results seminar
'Payment by results: What does it mean for voluntary organisations working with offenders?' is a free morning seminar [14th September, London] which will provide an opportunity to explore and discuss payment by results, how is applies to work with offenders, the potential implications for the Sector, and how it might be used to best effect. Book your place here
Equality, Fairness and the Big Society
Will you be at the Party Conferences this year? Voice4Change England is planning an unmissable event on the 2010 fringe calendar on Equality, Fairness and the Big Society. The event will examine the crucial need to build a fair and equal Big Society and the role the voluntary and community sector can play in doing that. If you would like to attend or are interested in learning more, please contact their Policy & Parliamentary Officer, Jemma Grieve on 020 7843 6128.
Pathways to Permanence for Black, Asian and Mixed Ethnicity Children examines the care pathways of minority-ethnic children in three authorities in England. It considers possible differences in decision-making and outcomes for them, in comparison with white children, especially in relation to permanence. It raises key questions about how ethnicity and culture are reflected in social work practice, especially with regard to making permanent placements for minority-ethnic children.
'Current responses to youth racially motivated offending' examines the prevalence of racially motivated offending (RMO) among young people, and youth justice system responses to it. The majority of provision is multifaceted but also ad hoc, and does not address the evidence on the causes of RMO. The multiplicity of causes needs to be reflected in the interventions designed to tackle it.
In 2009 Local Government Improvement and Development (formerly the IDeA) commissioned a light touch mapping of leadership development and career progression for Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) managers in local government. The study provided an overview of key high profile national leadership programmes in the public sector. The research also outlined key actions for both Local Government Improvement and Development and local authorities, in order to facilitate a more representative workforce from middle to senior management. It suggested various approaches to improve the evidence base on BAME management and leadership development. The full recommendations are set out in the following report: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=21855480
'Saving Beyond the High Street' is a Runnymede Trust report that says Bangladeshi, Caribbean, and Chinese people were less likely to engage with formal or mainstream financial institutions than the white population, often because they lacked trust in banks and were reluctant to get into debt. Informal community savings schemes were becoming a popular alternative for some ethnic groups.
UK Grants Programme – Young People
Closes 17 September 2010
Charities, social enterprises and community groups in the UK can apply for the UK Grants Programme 2009-2012, administered by Comic Relief, which aims to tackle social injustice by helping people make lasting and positive changes in their lives and their communities. The current grant on offer is likely between £25,000 and £40,000 and will help charities, social enterprises and community groups, work with vulnerable young people between 11 and 25. Find out more about the UK Grants Programme
Ongoing in 2010
Sheffield City Council is offering grants up to £30,000 to voluntary and community organisations to promote stronger communities in Sheffield. The scheme is designed to support local groups whose activities promote stronger communities and encourage communities to engage with their city, locality and neighbourhoods. To qualify you would have to be a volunteer-led voluntary or community group with an annual income less than £30,000 working for the benefit of their local communities in Sheffield. Find out More
September 2010
Black Training & Enterprise Group are offering small grants, supported by Communities and Local Government. The Reach Programme’s Community Engagement Project will award grants of £500 to 40 groups hosting events to benefit 13-25 year old black men. Eligible activities may include educational workshops and lectures from one of the 46 male volunteers selected to help provide motivation to young black men looking for educational or professional advice. Apply Now!
Bursary to learn how to diversify your income streams
Only Connect is a bursary scheme is managed by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and sponsored by Triodos Bank. The programme aims to support voluntary and community organisations that want to generate income by trading goods and services. This can include pursuing a new trading idea, learning about the delivery of public services under contract or using a loan to increase the capacity of their organisation to do either of these options. A bursary is available for the organisation to visit another organisation that has gone down this route. More on Only Connect
CLINKS TRAINING: Volunteering in Prison
Does your organisation work with offenders? Do you have staff or volunteers who go into prisons? Would you like the opportunity to learn how to support and train staff and volunteers working with offenders? Volunteering in Prison is a one day training course [24th November, London, £110 Clinks Members] aimed at those who provide rehabilitation services in prison, or support staff or volunteers who do. Book your place at: Clinks Training
Calling all BAME Community Development Workers!
30 September 2010 (London)
If you are a community development worker, a community activist or volunteer in a community organisation or network working with BAME organisations and communities, this is a brilliant opportunity to help us shape bespoke training courses that can help you do your job better. Voice4Change England and the Federation of Community Development Learning are hosting a half day workshop on 30 September 2010 at NCVYS in London
- To identify training needs and skills of paid or unpaid workers who support small groups and networks
- To explore barriers to accessing training
- To assess Community Development Skills
If you are interested in booking a place, or know someone who might, please contact Nandini Das on 020 7843 6131 or visit our website to download the booking form. Book Now | More about the Workshop
Race and the Criminal Justice System
The Ministry of Justice’s 'Race and the criminal justice system' reports statistical information on the representation of black and minority ethnic groups as suspects, offenders and victims within the criminal justice system and on employees within criminal justice agencies.
The data presented in the report suggests that there have been some developments since the 2007/08 publication of these statistics for example, in clear-up rates of racially or religiously aggravated offences. However, some substantial differences continue to exist in the experiences of people from BAME groups compared with people from a White background. http://www.justice.gov.uk/raceandcjs.htm
Asylum and Refugee Populations
The Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR) has published new guides that focus on key asylum and refugee populations in the UK. They provide a summary of the population's history of settlement in the UK, the issues that face this population, demographic data, country of origin information, and existing resources and projects. Using plain language and an easily-navigable structure but drawing on academic principles of literature reviewing, the guides aim to make research findings and statistical data accessible to a wider audience. They have currently published guides on Afghans in the UK, and Zimbabweans in the UK. Download them at: http://www.icar.org.uk/12705/population-guides/icar-population-guides-introduction.htm l
New findings show how the government’s vision of a big society already exists in many local communities. Compact Voice has published a unique map, showing the difference local partnerships have made across the country. The map highlights 15 “green-flagged” areas where using the Compact has delivered real benefits to transform the lives of people and groups in the community. Further local areas will be highlighted in the future with the map updated as additional examples are gathered and Compact Voice encourages local groups to contact them about their own local area. http://www.compactvoice.org.uk/map
Lemos & Crane have a whole section of their BMEActionNet website dedicated to providing analysis on working with vulnerable people from BAME communities who have mental health problems. Some reports have sections that are relevant to people from particular ethnic, cultural or religious groups. These include African and Caribbean people, Central and East Asian people, Eastern European people, Gypsies and Travellers, Irish people, Refugees and asylum seekers and South Asian people. http://www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/bmeactionnet/index.php?id=207128&emailid=64801
The BME VCS Programme for Yorkshire and the Humber
The BME VCS Programme for Yorkshire and the Humber aims to support the development of a regional BAME voice; improve management and leadership of BAME infrastructure organisations; increase information, intelligence & connection between BAME VCOs and generalist infrastructure; increase BAME groups engagement with service providers; encourage positive engagement between local authorities, regional agencies and BAME VCS. If your organisation is keen to strengthen the BAME VCS and work with the sector visit: http://www.bme.org.uk/about-us/
Guide to Help Prepare for Collaboration or Merger
A guide to help organisations get ready for working in collaboration has been produced by the community organisations body Bassac. 'Getting ready for collaboration: Learning from experience' aims to help with all forms of collaboration, from sharing information and developing a common policy response to mergers.
NEP equality impact assessment guide now available!
Equality Action - an equality and equality impact assessment guide for the voluntary and community sector - is now available from the National Equality Partnership (NEP). This practical and innovative guide offers a set of tools, techniques, case studies and best practice resources for second tier voluntary and community sector organisations. The guide aims to help develop effective equality audits and equality impact assessments (EIAs). Hard copies are now available from NEP and the pdf can be downloaded here.
Latin American Women's Aid secures Big Lottery grant
Latin American Women's Aid has won a three year grant from the Big Lottery Fund which will enable the organisation to provide a full-time advice and advocacy service to Latin American women in London experiencing domestic violence. The organisation is now offering advice services over the telephone and by appointment. For more information you can go to their website: www.lawadv.org.uk
Tailoring volunteer services in a multi-faith society
A guide for Volunteer Centres and others providing expertise on volunteering aims to help them with developing support in a multi-faith society. Produced by Volunteer Network Centre Newham, 'Let's Connect with Faith' can be downloaded (pdf, 2.3MB) via Improving Support website http://www.improvingsupport.org.uk/volunteering or direct.