Orielle Taylor is an experienced youth work professional with over 20 years’ expertise in safeguarding, youth justice, and children’s rights.
As Participation Lead at the Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice (CYCJ), she leads the national Participation Strategy, embedding rights-based and trauma-informed approaches across Scotland’s youth justice landscape. Orielle is passionate about creating meaningful participation pathways and co-leadership opportunities that enable young people to influence policy, practice, and system reform.
Previously, Orielle was Senior Development Officer for YouthLink Scotland, delivering the No Knives, Better Lives programme and leading on Health and Wellbeing in Youth Work. In these roles, she advanced strategic projects, policy development, and professional learning to strengthen workforce capacity and promote inclusion and wellbeing across the youth sector.
Her career also includes national and local government roles, including a secondment to the Scottish Government’s Community Safety Unit, where she contributed to national policy and guidance. A former Children’s Panel Member and trained Restorative Justice Worker, Orielle brings a grounded understanding of the Children’s Hearings System and early intervention in youth justice.
She is committed to creating a Scotland where young people are safe, heard, and empowered, embedding participation and rights at the heart of justice reform.