5 Key Takeaways from the National Youth Justice Conference 2024
As the dust settles on the National Youth Justice Conference 2024, we’re excited to share five key insights from this year’s event. The National Youth Justice Conference is the Scottish Government’s flagship event for youth justice practitioners, hosted in partnership with the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and the National Youth Justice […]
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Reimagining The Promise
We talk about Keeping The Promise – but what does this actually look like, when working with children and young people in conflict with the law? CYCJ’s Director Fiona Dyer shares why and how CYCJ has changed its approach to be part of the change demanded by the findings of the Independent Care Review. Keeping […]
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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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Change is in the air…
“There’s something in the air…but we’ve got to keep going.” The words of defence lawyer Iain Smith could not have been more appropriate for this year’s rights-themed National Youth Justice Conference, at which he was a speaker. Charlotte Morris looks back at an event that saw delegates and speakers unite in a powerful desire for […]
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‘Walking the walk’ – Participation and Engagement at CYCJ
Change is happening in Scotland’s care and justice systems – and increasingly, this is being driven by children and young people. As CYCJ publishes its first Participation and Engagement Strategy, Ross Gibson explains why we decided to ‘cede power to those who knows what works’ and encourages others to do the same. Over the past […]
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Celebrating an anniversary – and a new look – for Youth Just Us
Youth Just Us – the dynamic steering group behind the Youth Justice Voices participation project that is creatively influencing change in Scotland’s care and justice systems – are celebrating their two year anniversary with the launch of a new logo. Here Ruth Kerracher, who’s led the project from inception to success, tells us why she’s […]
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Co-producing a rights-respecting resource
To help understanding of how we can support children in conflict with the law to understand their legal rights following the UNCRC incorporation, CYCJ has teamed up with Staf and Youth Justice Voices to co-produce a resource with children and young people. Ross Gibson explains what’s involved – and why we need your help to […]
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