Ministry of Justice: Social Clubs

(asked on 1st March 2022) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will provide a list of (a) professional staff networks and (b) social clubs operating within his Department; and if he will provide the (i) budgets and (ii) FTE staff time allocated to each group within each of the last three years.


Answered by
James Cartlidge Portrait
James Cartlidge
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
This question was answered on 10th March 2022

Provide a list of (a) professional staff networks operating within his Department

MoJ corporate information pages about Equality and Diversity Equality and diversity - Ministry of Justice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) provide details of most of the MoJ professional staff networks, offering support and advice to employees and senior leadership, which cover race, disability, gender, LGBTQI, faith, carers, job sharers, menopause, EU nationals, and parents. MoJ faith and belief networks include Christianity, Islam and Humanism. There is also a frontline staff network.

MoJ also has communities of staff taking on advocacy and support roles including Race Ambassadors, a forum for those experiencing domestic violence, Bullying and Harassment Advisors, Mental Health Allies, a Green Group and People Champions.

The larger MoJ Agencies including HMCTS, HMPPS, LAA and OPG have local subsidiaries of the main MoJ wide networks and staff communities.

Provide a list of (b) social clubs operating within MoJ

There is currently one recognised Social Club, JURA - the Justice Recreation Association - JURA Justice, that is open to all MoJ Staff, Agencies and ALBs. Members pay a subscription and is run by a team of volunteers.

Provide the (i) budgets allocated to each group within each of the last three years.

For cross MoJ staff networks, a notional, collective budget was accessible:

  • 2021-22 - £10,000.00
  • 2020-21 - £10,000.00
  • 2019-2020 - £0

Provide (ii) FTE staff time allocated to each group within each of the last three years.

As part of our central MoJ Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing department, FTE 37.5 hours per week central support is provided to build the capability of our MoJ Staff Networks. Since 2020, MoJ Staff Network Chair Holders are permitted 8 hours per week allocated time in recognition of the work spent supporting networks as a corporate contribution. Where there is more than one chair, this time is allocated between them. Our agencies have adapted the same or similar approach.

Staff allocated time for agency networks is largely in line apart from within HMPPS where the staff network leads are full-time roles FTE 37.5 hours a week.

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