Julia has a BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Psychology from University of Strathclyde. She has previously worked in research in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at University of Strathclyde as part of the Research Interns @ Strathclyde programme, and has experience of working with children and young people in third sector organisations. Julia has also previously worked in children’s residential care and facilitated therapeutic art groups within a community-based rehabilitation service for people affected by substance use. In her role as Participation and Policy Adviser at CYCJ, Julia supports the development and delivery of CYCJ’s Participation and Engagement Strategy, and helps to foster rights-respecting models of practice throughout the Youth Justice sector. At CYCJ Julia supports children and young people’s participation in various projects including the development of Bairn’s Hoose (Scottish Barnahus) and STARR, Scotland’s only curated space for people with experience of secure care.