Title of Event: Crystal Hearts Awards 2008 and POPS' 20th Anniversary
Date: 9th October 2008
Venue: Radisson Edwardian Manchester Hotel

POPS is delighted to announce that our we are CRYSTAL HEARTS AWARDS 2008 was a huge success. This year our event was that little bit extra special, as we were also celebrating POPS' 20th Anniversary. HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPS !!!

CRYSTAL HEARTS AWARDS 2008 is designed to reward examples of outstanding work being carried out across the Criminal Justice System. The event also aimed to promote community engagement, as we introduced Statutory, Private and Voluntary and Community Sector agencies to one another to enable networking and hopefully encourage future partnerships.

We actively encouraged offenders, their families and others to nominate any individuals/projects/teams/organisations that have positively touched the lives of those in the Criminal Justice System. And we are proud to announce the we received over 60 nominations.

The award winners were…

Connecting Communities Award

This award will go to the individual/team/project/organisation that has enabled various agencies, providing services to offenders and their families, to engage with diverse communities.

Geoff Bagshaw and Ray Green – HMYOI Wetherby

Race and Diversity Award Sponsored by NOMS Yorkshire Area Office

This award will go to the individual/team/project/organisation that has recognized and responded to diversity and met the specific needs of diverse client groups.

Shakeel Meer and Team – HMP Leeds

Positive Partnership Award Sponsored by SERCO HMPYOI Doncaster

This award will go to the partnership agreement that has achieved great success in terms of innovative service delivery/fundraising/profiling/reaching wider client groups.

Erica Blackburn – Mothers Against Violence

We are proud to announce that the POPS and HMP Risley Family Forum received a highly commented certificate under this category.

Family Ties Award - Sponsored by POPS

This award will go to the individual/team/project/organisation that has improved relationships between families and offenders.

Corin Morgan-Armstrong - Parc Supporting Families (PSF)

Rosemary Lister – HMP Everthorpe

We are proud to announce that the HMP Forest Bank Visit Staff and POPS Visitor Centre received a highly commented certificate in this category.

RRAP Award - Sponsored by HMPS North West Area Office

This award will go to the project/initiative that has worked towards meeting the objectives of the Reducing Re-offending Action Plan (RRAP).

Michael Cadmore – HMP Hull

Volunteer of the year Award

This award will go to a Volunteer who has shown great commitment and achievement in a voluntary role.

Valerie Weiher

Meeting the needs of female offenders award

This award will go to individual/team/project/organisation that has most effectively and innovatively worked with female offenders.

Rokaiya Khan - Together Women’s Project (TWP) Yorkshire Humberside

Outstanding work with Young Offenders Award

This award will go to the individual/team/project/organisation that has most effectively and innovatively worked with Young Offenders.

Steve Dunn – HMYOI Northallerton

Outstanding work with Male Offenders Award

This award will go to the individual/team/project/organisation that has most effectively and innovatively worked with Male offenders

Derek Johnson – HMP Manchester

Outstanding work with BME Offenders Award

Individual / team / project / organisation that has most effectively and innovatively worked with BME offenders

Breakthrough Sheffield Multi-ethnic Drugs Service

Long Service and/or overall outstanding achievement Award

This award has been named in memory of Robin Halward CB who passed away in 2006. We wanted to recognise the positive impact he has had both on the Prison Service, with his active and high profile career, and also on POPS, with his role as Board Member.

The award will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated vision, integrity and competency within their area of work for a prolonged period of time. This award recognises that individuals can and do make a difference.

We are proud to announce that this years Long Service and Overall Outstanding Achievement Award went to…

Ian Lockwood CB – HMPS North West Area Manager

We are proud to announce that this year the CRYSTAL HEARTS AWARDS 2008 was sponsored by both North West and Yorkshire and Humberside HMPS Area Offices, SERCO HMP Doncaster, HMP Manchester, Kalyx HMP&YOI Forest Bank, HMPS Race Advisory Action Group, Cheshire Constabulary and GSL Global HMP Wolds.

If you are interested in finding out more about the other shortlisted nomniations and what happened on the night download the programme.

To view all the great photos from the night copy the link below into your browser. http://www.imagicam.co.uk/ To access the POPS photo album enter the word 'POPS' in the relevant box. Download PDF

Title of Event: 'Beyond Conviction...' Conference 2009
Date: 21st May 2009
Venue: Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford

…the story of children and families affected by imprisonment and offending behaviour

National Offender Management Service (NOMS Yorkshire & The Humber), the Government Office of Yorkshire & The Humber (Children and Learners) and Barnardo’s are proud to announce their partnership in delivering the ‘Beyond Conviction…’ Conference May 2009. The conference has been designed to promote an understanding of the issues impacting offenders’ children and families to a broader audience including Health, Education, Children’s Services (including Safeguarding Boards), the VCS and Criminal Justice agencies.

Why you should attend…

Attending this conference is extremely pertinent in light of the analytical findings of the joint DCSF and MOJ Children of Offenders Review and the Social Exclusion Task Force’s second paper on Families at Risk which were both published in 2008.

These papers focus on what can be done to improve outcomes for families experiencing multiple problems and families at risk of doing so. What is most important to agencies that work with children and families is that these papers now acknowledge the importance of addressing the specific needs of offenders’ families.

Some of the specific commitments relating to offenders’ families are:

• To explore ways in which NOMS and children’s services can systematically assess and meet a child’s needs when a parent goes to prison
• Set clear and achievable expectations of offender managers and local partners to improve support for these families facing social exclusion

The Conference will …

Put Children and Families of offenders on the agenda of all agencies that work with Children and Families, with recognition that they are a socially excluded group by: -

• Informing agencies of the number of children involved and to raise their awareness of the impact of having a parent in prison has.
• Addressing issues around information sharing between all agencies e.g. could and should a school be informed that a child has a parent in prison?
• Addressing how agencies should work with Children and Families of offenders, where offenders are serving a community sentence

Ensure Criminal Justice agencies understand the potential impact that working with Children and Families of offenders has on reducing re-offending by: -

• Informing Criminal Justice agencies of the latest research and initiatives which can demonstrate ‘what works’
• Encouraging good practice between prisons and the community with respect to Visitor Centres, Relationship Education and Parenting Programmes
• Highlighting issues around young people in prison (e.g. their parenting and relationships with parents)
• Encouraging offender management to consider family issues in their work

Are you attending the conference? Read on to find out more about the event...

Title: Beyond Conviction Conference

When and Where: 21st May 2009, Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD5 8HW

Registration: 9:00 am

Conference commences: 9:30 am

Hotels to stay at...

Here are a few suggestions for reasonably priced (£85 - £120/room) hotels close to the venue…

Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, 01274 406606

Campanile Hotel, Bradford, 0127 468 36 83

Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield, 01422 375431

Hotel Parking...

The hotel has parking situated on the grounds of the venue. There are approximately 300 spaces available and parking is free of charge to delegates.

Exhibition Stands and Information Tables

Unfortunately exhibition stand space is limited and has already been allocated. We do not have any more space to offer other delegates the opportunity to bring an exhibition stand. However we will have a number of information display tables where delegates can put information leaflets/brochures about their organisations.

How to find out more information…

If you are booked on the event and need more information please download the programme and delegates list to find out more.

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Title of Event: 'Mental Health: Young Black Prisoners Research' Celebration and Dissemination Event
Date: 22nd January 2009
Venue: Chapel, HMYOI Hindley, Gibson Street, Bickershaw, Wigan, WN2 5TH

Put this date in your diary: 09:30 – 13:00, 22nd January 2008, Chapel, HMYOI Hindley

The project was carried out by POPS in conjunction with the Centre of Ethnicity and Health at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) and the National Institute of Mental Health England (NIMHE). The aim of the event is to celebrate the completion of the project, disseminate the final report and also hear from some of the young BME prisoners involved in the project as Peer Researchers.

The research focused on the mental health needs of young BME prisoners in HMYOI Hindley and aimed to: -

• To understand why fewer BME individuals choose to access mental health services in prison.
• Explore the mental health needs of BME prisoners
• Inform future service development in partnership with the statutory sector and other voluntary organisations

If you are interested in learning more about this project and the research findings then attending this event is vital.

The event will be held in the Chapel at HMYOI Hindley, Gibson Street, Bickershaw, Wigan, WN2 5TH between 09:30 – 13:00, 22nd January 2008.

There are limited places available (approximately 30), therefore we are working on a first come first served basis. Please complete the booking form attached and fax/send it back to us at POPS by noon 19th January 2009.

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Title of Event: ‘Families under stress …children at risk’ Conference 2008
Date: 17/04/08
Venue: Lowry Hotel, Manchester, M3 5LH

Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group (POPS) and Barnardo’s are proud to announce our partnership in delivering the ‘Families under stress… children at risk’ Conference in 2008. The conference has been designed to promote the issues for prisoners’ children and families to the wider sector including Health, Education and Children’s Services.

Why should you attend this conference?

Offenders’ families and Children are more likely to: -

• Not have access to the 5 outcomes highlighted in ‘Every Child Matters’
• Live in poverty and depravation
• Suffer from emotional, behavioural and psychological problems
• Experience physical health problems
• Drop out or become excluded from education
• Become an offender

Who should attend this conference?

We believe that everyone who has a remit to work with children and families will have an interest in attending this conference. Delegates from areas such as: -

• Voluntary and Community Sector
• Education, Learning and Skills.
• Health
• Prison
• Probation
• Youth Justice
• Local Authorities
• Department for Children, Schools and Families

What are the conference aims?

• Raise awareness of the impact imprisonment has on children and families
• Highlight the links between imprisonment and the offending behaviour of prisoners’ children
• Promote partnership between agencies that are working with offenders, their children and families
• Give offenders’ children and families a voice
• Showcase the international, national, regional and local perspective and strategy
• Share examples of good practice
• Launch POPS’ Family Link Worker and Family Focused Visits Good Practice Guides

Who will be speaking?

• Right Hon David Hanson MP, Minister of State for the Ministry of Justice
• Marie McLaughin, Deputy North West Regional Offender Manager
• Martin Narey, Chief Executive of Barnardo’s
• Farida Anderson MBE, Chief Executive of Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group (POPS).
• Nazeem Shah gives her perspective of supporting someone in prison.

Who will be facilitating a workshop?

1. It’s a tough time for everyone – Barbardo’s Northern Ireland
2. Power to the people – POPS
3. Children of Offenders – Barnardo’s Mosaic Project
4. Maintaining family contact with foreign national women in prison – FPWP/Hibiscus
5. Young offenders, parents and their families – HMYOI Hindley
6. Family Matters – Inside out and outside in
7. Me ‘n’ my dad – HMP Blakenhurst
8. Research round up – This workshop gives delegates an opportunity to hear about 3 pieces of research that have looked into the needs of offenders’ children and families and also the impact imprisonment has had on them
• From evidence to practice – SCIE
• How to reduce poverty and disadvantage in prisoners’ families – Centre for Crime and Justice Studies
• Parental imprisonment – Barnardo’s Cymru

How do I book a place on the conference?

Fill out a booking form which can be downloaded below. Our rates are Statutory Sector £95 and VCS £85.

What about Bursary Places?

There are a limited number of Bursary places available to service users and/or volunteers. Our steering group will assess all bursary application forms on the 31st March 2008. You will receive a response by the 3rd April 2008

How do I get more information?

Contact the ‘Families under stress... children at risk’ Conference 2008 Events Team via: -

• Email: mail@partnersofprisoners.co.uk, with the subject ‘Families under stress... children at risk’ Conference 2008’
• Tel/Fax: 0161 702 1000
• Post: ‘Families under stress... children at risk’ Conference 2008, c/o POPS, 1079 Rochdale Rd, Blackley, Manchester, M9 8AJ
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