Watch, Act, Listen – Artivism is ready for launch
As Artivism, the collaborative art project between Youth Justice Voices, Articulate Cultural Trust and local artist Scott Lang, prepares to launch, Ruth Kerracher explains why this is such an important moment for the young people involved. This year has been challenging for Youth Justice Voices, with children and young people feeling increasingly isolated during lockdown […]
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“Not cut out for prison”: Depriving children of their childhood
On World Children’s Day 2020, Claire Lightowler (Director of CYCJ) and Bruce Adamson (Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland) have written a joint blog to raise awareness of the increasing number of children in remand in Scotland – and why we must act quickly to develop alternative provisions if we are to fulfil our international […]
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Child Criminal Exploitation – the time to act is now
With the publication of the first ever report to address Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in Scotland, child criminal exploitation is on the agenda right now – but is enough being done? Fiona Dyer doesn’t think so, and is calling for Scotland to take action now to prevent further exploitation from happening. The Home Office defines […]
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Empowering young people to lead change
During August and September 2020, several members of Youth Just Us, the steering group driving the Staf/CYCJ Youth Justice Voices project, became Youth Justice Visionaries. The young people worked with Staf and CYCJ participation workers to develop online activities and a topic guide for workers – commissioned on behalf of the Scottish Government to carry […]
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Breaking the cycle
‘You can’t and won’t put me in a box because of something that happened to me that was completely out of my control.’ For Care Experienced Week 2020, Bella explains why she’s determined to challenge misconceptions about the care system, to create a better future for others. My husband and me have been very lucky […]
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Securing better futures
October 8, 2020 marks a very important moment for children and young people who experience secure care. That’s because it’s the day the Secure Care Pathway and Standards will be launched in Scotland’s five secure care centres, celebrating the hard work, creativity and passion that children in these centres put into helping to shape this […]
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Supporting Secure Care in East Ayrshire
The recently published Secure Care Pathway and Standards Scotland have received a rapturous welcome – but what will they look like in practice? We’ve been reaching out to services and local authorities to help them prepare for the introduction of the Standards, with tailored workshops. Angelene Moan of East Ayrshire Council shares how her team […]
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Scotland – time for open hearts and minds
Today marks the launch of the Secure Care Pathway and Standards Scotland. These Standards have been three years in the making after a series of recommendations from the Secure Care National Project. The project identified the need for a specific set of standards for Scotland’s most restrictive form of care for our children. In late […]
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Language is the key to understanding
Guest blogger Kelly Howard tells us why New Zealand’s use of a communication assistant at Family Group Conferences is helping it meet the needs of young people accused of committing crime. In New Zealand, there is a focus on low level responses to offending by young people. This means keeping young people out of court […]
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