This second report from the Young Advocates Project presents findings from engagement with 90 children and young people across England and Wales, and focuses on the three priority topics of criminalisation, policing, and intervention and diversion. The aim was to explore the routes into the justice system for young people, as compared to pathways out and away from it.

This is the second report from the Young Advocates Project, which has been co-produced by children and young people with first-hand experience of the youth justice system.

At the end of October, the Young Advocates attended their first residential!

In August, two of the Young Advocates attended a session, led by AYJ member the National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN), to learn about appropriate adults, the training that NAAN provides to its members, and to share their experiences of police custody.

On 25th April 2023, a selection of the Young Advocates attended the first evidence session of the APPG on Children in Police Custody’s Inquiry into Achieving the Rights of Children in Police Custody.

After the success of their first youth-led report, the Young Advocates have been travelling to different areas of England and Wales to schools and secure facilities to conduct a new round of their own first-hand research.

On 15th November, the AYJ team, Leaders Unlocked and one representative from the Young Advocates met with Change Factory. Representatives from Change Factory were visiting London, and other countries, to build an international network for youth justice.

The AYJ hosted a meeting between the Ministry of Justice and AYJ members and the Young Advocates, to help the Ministry of Justice advise Ministers about the recommendations in the Independent Care Review.

The Young Advocates were recently invited to provide insight to press regulator IMPRESS in a consultation workshop to feed into IMPRESS’ proposed changes to their Standards Code and Guidance, ensuring that, in the context of youth justice, the code works to avoid damaging and unjust press coverage of children.

Could you be a Young Advocate for youth justice? The Young Advocates project supports children and young people aged 14-20 with youth justice experience to have a stronger voice on the system by helping them to engage with their peers and shape decision-making for the better. 

This first report from the Young Advocates Project presents findings from engagement with over 120 young people across England and Wales, and focuses on the three priority topics of stereotypes, education and warning signs, and jail (custody). The aim was to identify patterns that run through society, and the education and justice systems overall, to find out what young people feel increases the chance of entering the justice system.

This is the first report from the Young Advocates Project, which has been co-produced by children and young people with first-hand experience of the youth justice system.

The AYJ and Leaders Unlocked Youth Justice Young Advocates record a three-part podcast series interviewing the children and young people at Art Against Knives, focusing on the priority areas of stereotyping, education and warning signs, and jail.

To celebrate the end of the first year of the project, the AYJ and Leaders Unlocked held a showcase to present the amazing work of the Young Advocates.

On Wednesday 26th September, the Alliance for Youth Justice and Leaders Unlocked held a showcase to celebrate the end of the first year of the Young Advocates project.

Recently, our Young Advocates were joined by a very special guest at their meeting - Criminologist, Urban Youth specialist, and community scholar, Craig Pinkney.

AYJ Young Advocates provide feedback to HMI Probation on its 2021-2022 inspections.

Do you know any 14-20 year olds who want to have their say on youth justice? Our Young Advocates are looking to hold one-to-one interviews with 14 - 20 year olds who have personal experience of the youth justice system as part of their peer research to influence positive change in youth justice.

The Damilola Taylor Trust established 7th December as the first national ‘Day of Hope’ on Damilola’s birthday, to celebrate the hopes of young people. This was a perfect opportunity for the Young Advocates to share their inspiring progress in their first presentation to a group of AYJ members and experts from the youth justice sector.

Amania Scott-Samuels, our Policy and Engagement Assistant, shares an exciting update about our Youth Justice Young Advocates project, including priority issues identified for their peer research, how they have already been involved in influencing decision-making and opportunities to get involved.