3rd Sector Community Justice Forum
Meeting 2nd Feb. 2017
Present: Susan Morrison (ACVO), Val Vertigans (Policy Co-ordinator , CJ Redesign ACC), Harry Buck ( Aberdeen Foyer), Ini Esu ( Penumbra), Ryan Flett ( Shelter Scotland), Murray Dawson ( shmu), Gary Dawson (SPS), Julia Milne, (Barnardos ), Steve Hughes ( Cyrenians), Colin Barnes ( Turning Point Scotland), Aidan Duncan ( Venture Trust ), Maya Allen & Lauren Frame ( Aberdeen Law Project )Apologies:APEX, SOLD, ADA, GREC, RGU, SACRO, Action for Children, Families Outside, Venture Trust, GREC and Integrate Scotland
Item / Note / Actions / Whom/When
WelcomeIntroductions / Everyone was welcomed to the meeting. Apologies noted. Brief intros done as some more new faces.
Update from Val Vertigans / For the benefit of the newcomers Val gave a brief overview and update of CJ and where we were at. CJOIP ( Community Justice Outcomes Improvement Plan) is now in final draft format . Val is shortly to meet with senior colleagues in ACC to finish it off, prior to it then being presented to the relevant Statutory Partners first, for their ratification. Val confirmed that it will then be sent out to the wider relevant organisations for consideration and input. ACVO happy to host a discussion meeting of 3rd Sector orgs., if required and timing permits. The deadline for completion is the end of March 2017 and this will be a living, working document that provides a framework of how things will be taken forward and not set in stone. Some priorities have emerged
- Young people in Justice System – ‘children are the future’. High quality needs assessment vital.Ensure Pathways are in place
- People directly harmed by crime – decrease in Victim Support referrals due to change in process ( having to ‘ opt-in’)
- Keeping people out of prison - diversion from prosecution, Problem Solving Court, support on liberation, employability
- Staff training and development - more sharing & consistency of knowledge & info.
Governance – by way of support to the LOIP, the Community Planning Aberdeen Board have agreed to the formation of a Community Justice Group, that will report to the CPA Board. The Group willinitially be chaired by Angela Scott, Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council and ACVO will be present at it’s first meeting on Fri 10th March. Val suggested, and it was agreed , that this would be an ideal opportunity for our Forum to present it’s Terms of Reference document by way of formal introduction.
Questionnaire - general discussion and review of 1 page document compiled by Val, per previous forum discussion and feedback. It was agreed to pilot this version for clients/users of services ( those with an Aberdeen postcode only), in the form of a paper copy and for roughly 6 people per organisation ( or more if possible !), with a deadline of 10th March. This is to give Val time to collate info. & results for feedback at our next meeting on 21st March. Further details to come out shortly via separate covering email. The space on the back page of the questionnaire can be used to given more detailed replies if required.
Spotlight on ‘shmu’ by Murray & Gary Dawson / Double presentation on the work and activities of Station House Media Unit - shmu is about “community, media and outcomes “
With approx. 100 volunteers helping out every week , they work in the regeneration areas in the city and are SQA accredited. They are so much more than a radio station ! They use a variety of mediums that are about engaging with people from film to wrapping, from music to the written word. Local magazines which are hand delivered within each regeneration area, share info., news, cover local issues and tackle negative stereotypes. In particular they work with hard to reach groups such as disengaged/excluded school pupils and young offenders. Needs are assessed and outcomes include improved communications skills, team working , confidence building, better self-esteem and actual tangibles such as film material, CDs, articles etc. Review period is for a year following completion of a programme, so thorough evaluation can be done and personal connection maintained.
Gary spoke about Media Access Project (MAP), which is HMP & YOI Grampian based and supports prisoners ( aged 16 – 30 to return into the community, having used media as a unique development platform to address and overcome a range of issues prior to release. They broadcast within the prison and have now just published their first in-house magazine ‘ Way Out’– copies of which were passed around. Gary also talked about how the prisoners had made a 3 minute film about the prison, from within the prison . This came about as a direct result of feedback from families, about what is was actually like inside. Prisoners all have a TV in their cell, which as it is cable means that Powerpoint presentations can be broadcast through them. Please contact direct if you would like more info on this or are interested in promoting your organisation via this.
Susan – Bits and Pieces / Outstanding points from previous minutes . Susan to chase up Sarah Cleary , from Volunteer Edinburgh re their pack on self-disclosure. There was again discussion around the problem re lack of employment opportunities for ex-offenders, which also extended to volunteering. It was agreed that Employability be set as a theme for future meetings. Meanwhile Maya and Lauren , from Aberdeen Law Project , expressed an interest and offered their organisation’s support in researching what has to be disclosed, to whom and when etc . They are happy to link in with others. Susan & Val to provide Maya with contact details for people who they know have done work on this area already. It was acknowledged that this was a complex issue that would take some time, but worth trying !
Reminder re CJVSF Strengthening Engagement Event on Fri. 17th Feb at Beach Ballroom - For more information on the event and to register, please follow this link:
Stephen Adamson from Fife Voluntary Action has been involved in a Pilot Project around providing volunteering opportunities for people who have displayed sexually harmful behaviour. Primarily as a way to improve their employability prospects and/or integration into the local community. For further information, please feel to contact him at tel. 01592 760723.
Scottish Government Newsletter no. 6 - CJ Scotland are looking for ‘lived experience stories ‘. Chair of the CJ Scotland Board, Jean Couper CBE, and Chief Executive, Karyn McCluskey,are keen to use the time between now and1 April 2017to listen tothe experiences of those with lived experience of the criminal justice system, communities and stakeholders. If you wish to send in any invites, please send them to .
NHS Scotland’s Report on Reducing Offending, Reducing Inequalities. It’s rather long, but very well worth reading –see link below.
Reducing Offending, Reducing Inequalities
reading
This also links nicely into a forthcoming Lunch & Learn ACVO is hosting on Tues 7th March 2017, from 12.00 – 13.30. The theme is Health & Wellbeing in Community Justice, with Penny Gillies, Advanced Health Improvement Practitioner, NHS Grampian. For more info and/or to book a place, please see below
ACVO website has a specific section on Community Justice ( under ‘Resources ‘). This contains links to various documents, newsletters etc that are of particular reference and interest to CJ.
Some useful links
National Strategy for Community Justice
Outcomes, Improvement and Performance Framework
Guidance for Local Partners in the New Model for Community Justice
New Model for Community Justice - An Overview
New Model for Community Justice - Frequently Asked Questions
Community Justice Redesign: Scotland -Knowledge Hub
Date, Place& Themes of next meeting. / Next meeting confirmed as being on Tues 21st March at Aberdeen Foyer 10.00 – 12.00, with the themes being of the results of the pilot questionnaire, finalising the Forum’s Terms Of Reference document and Governance–following on from the CJ Group Meeting due to be held on Fri 10th March.
As has been discussed previously but not actually done, dates for meetings for the rest of the year to be a follows
Tues 23rd May from 10.00 – 12.00
Tues 25th July from 10.00 – 12.00
Tues 26th Sept. from 10.00 – 12.00
Tues 21st Nov. from 10.00 – 12.00
Please ‘ save the dates’ - calendar invites to be sent out shortly.
Future themes to include ‘Employability’ ‘Training’ and ‘Motivational Interviewing’