In our latest comment, we respond to the inspection of HMYOI Feltham A, where violence remains the highest of any prison, and children face long lock-ups and disrupted education. Despite small improvements at the institution, we warn that these findings reflect a wider crisis in safety across the youth estate.

AYJ comment on removal of children from Oasis Restore secure school, highlighting serious safety failings and warning against transfers to unsafe YOIs and STCs, reiterating calls for custody to be a last resort and delivered only in small, local, welfare-based settings with high standards of care and safety.

AYJ comment on urgent notification for Oakhill STC and inspection of HMYOI Werrington, warning of institutional failure across the youth secure estate and calling for STCs and YOIs to be replaced with small, local, Child First environments rooted in care, wellbeing and safety.

In this blog, we speak to Zahbia Yousuf at Maslaha — a grassroots organisation new to AYJ membership. Maslaha work to challenge the root causes of Islamophobia. Zahbia reflects on how the education system fails to meet the needs of racialised young people, the importance of creative, culturally responsive spaces, and why change must be shaped by those most affected.

AYJ comment on HMI Prisons’ thematic report Building trust, calls for the closure of YOIs highlighting Secure Children’s Homes provide the best environment for building relationships that support children in custody’s wellbeing and safety and enable them to fulfil their potential.

The AYJ shares our position on the recent Independent Sentencing Review by David Gauke. We ask that the Government now considers how best to protect children from the harms of imprisonment. 

AYJ CEO, Jess Mullen, writes to update our members and partners — reflecting on what we’ve been working on together so far this year and looking ahead to what’s coming up next.

In this blog, Gess Aird, the CEO of Kinetic Youth speaks to the rich history of youth work in the UK and outlines how those methodologies inform the important work Kinetic do with children and young people caught up in the secure estate.

In this blog, Laura Janes, from AYJ member the Youth Practitioners’ Association, asks what it will take to create a well-resourced secure estate that caters to the distinct needs of children and young adults.

The AYJ shares our position after the government recently stated vulnerable girls sentenced to youth custody will no longer be placed in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs).

In this analysis piece, John Drew CBE, AYJ board member and former CEO of the YJB, reflects on the decision to change the age young people transition to the adult estate from 18 to 19.

AYJ comment on HMI Prisons’ reports Children in Custody 2023-24 and Feltham A YOI Independent Review of Progress

AYJ CEO Jess Mullen reflects on the importance of this year’s Black History Month theme ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ for Black and racially minoritised children in, or at risk of involvement in, the youth justice system

AYJ comment on HMI Prisons’ progress review on the separation of children in Young Offender Institutions

Our statement following racist riots across the UK and subsequent arrests, including of a significant number of children

A deeply concerning inspection report on conditions in Feltham YOI demonstrates the urgent need for youth custody reform. The newly announced Crime and Policing Bill is a crucial opportunity to keep children out of the failing secure estate

AYJ comment on HMI Prisons’ inspection report on Wetherby Young Offender Institution (YOI)

AYJ comment on HMI Prisons’ annual Children in Custody report and an inspection report on Werrington YOI, exposing deeply concerning conditions within the secure estate for children

A new policy framework sets out that staff in the children’s secure estate are no longer permitted to use techniques to restrain children which deliberately cause pain.

Over 30 organisations working with & on behalf of children and young adults in criminal justice system have called on Youth Justice Minister Damian Hinds to act over the appalling treatment of children in the secure estate.