Grief, loss and Talking Hope
In this first guest post for the University of Strathclyde based Talking Hope project, Norrie Clark, service manager for Stepdown – a residential care service that helps to manage transitions for young people leaving secure care – discusses his findings and how they can relate to experiences of hope for both practitioners and the young […]
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Raising the participation game at St Mary’s Kenmure
St Mary’s Kenmure used CYCJ’s recent webinar with Professor Laura Lundy as an opportunity to raise awareness of participation amongst the team (and also have some fun!). Elaine Hamilton and Ian Nisbet tell us more… Within St Mary’s Kenmure (SMK), we as a Leadership team have been looking at ways in which we can progress […]
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Breaking the links between poverty and offending
‘Poverty is real and standards of living are likely to fall further.’ As Scotland’s Child Poverty Delivery Plan is launched, Maureen Roberts reflects on why it’s more important than ever to break the links between deprivation and offending behaviour. Since being seconded to CYCJ in 2021, I’ve been amazed at the breadth of consultation requests […]
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Why we’re empowering young people to take the lead
CYCJ is a partner host for the National Leadership Network, a new initiative that will empower care experienced young people to become leaders in their community. Ross Gibson reflects on the real meaning of leadership – and why taking a collaborative approach can lead to ‘something even greater’. Leaders are everywhere; in politics, work, sport, groups, […]
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Staying safe and secure online
The impact of COVID-19 has seen many organisations adapting to the flexibility of working from home and the workplace. This brings new challenges, including the safety and security of staff, data and organisational compliance when it comes to remote online working. In this guest blog for Cyber Scotland Week, Scott Tees stresses the importance of […]
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Falling through the gaps
“Never once do I remember someone saying to me ‘what’s going on for you Hannah? How do you feel?” Multiple failures by the systems meant to support her led to Hannah Snow experiencing turmoil and trauma from an early age. Here, she shares how she’s working on healing herself so that she can be in […]
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Opening up about Participation
As CYCJ launches ‘Just The Right Space’, its new accessible website that was co-produced with young people, Charlotte Morris reflects on the process of participation, and why keeping an open mind is key… Before I joined CYCJ, I was invited to attend a team meeting. Two long hours later I emerged, utterly bamboozled by the […]
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Taking a leap of faith
“Bold, brave…or just plain bonkers?” As she joins CYCJ as Practice Development Advisor for Secure Care, Ruby Whitelaw ponders new challenges, and what happens when you step outside of your comfort zone. After 25 years of working in residential childcare I was pondering my next challenge, as throughout my career I’ve pushed myself to learn, […]
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Beneath the surface
Looking back at her teenage years, Alice (not her real name) reflects on the hurt she experienced and the missed opportunities to do things differently. I was 13 the first time the police pinned me down on the ground, handcuffed me and put me in the back of a police van. I was 14 the […]
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