Caroline Liggins, Criminal Defence Solicitor and Chair of the Youth Practitioners’ Association, reflects upon developments since her AYJ blog post, published back in July 2020, on the impact of COVID-19 on children in the youth justice system.

Young people and professionals alike have often highlighted the challenge of the ‘cliff-edge’ facing young people as they turn 18 – and much has been done in recent years to address this in certain parts of the system. Services for those with special educational needs and disabilities are available for many – though by no means all – until the age of 25…

My experiences as both a practitioner and a researcher provide insight and understanding of the representational and structural barriers that affect young Black women and girls before and during transition through the justice system…

Many children in care do not come into conflict with the law, and do well despite serious failings in our systems. Whilst over 60% of children are looked after in England principally due to ‘abuse or neglect’, just 1% of children enter care specifically because of their own behaviour, despite popular perceptions continuing to link care experience with trouble…

The importance of planning in helping girls to transition effectively from supervision by a youth offending service (YOS) to the National Probation Service (NPS) when a girl reaches 18 years of age, cannot be underestimated. Seldom is a girl with a YOS for such as short period that such planning cannot be achieved…

Millie Hall, Communications Assistant at the Alliance for Youth Justice, speaks to Andy Peaden, Director at The Skill Mill - one of AYJ’s newest members!

As her final week with us draws to a close, Amania Scott-Samuels, our Policy and Engagement Assistant, shares reflections on some of the things she has learned in her time at the AYJ.

Get to know our Board Member - Lesley Tregear of the Association of Youth Offending Team Managers.

Get to know one of our newest Board Members - Hannah Couchman, Barrister at Rights of Women.

Get to know one of our newest Board Members, Gavin McKenna, Founder of Reach Every Generation.

Get to know the Deputy Chair of the AYJ - Gess Aird, Director of KINETIC.

Get to know the Chair of the AYJ - Hannah Smithson!

Millie Hall, Communications Assistant at the Alliance for Youth Justice, speaks to Craig Pinkney, Founder of SOLVE: The Centre for Youth Violence and Conflict - one of AYJ’s newest members!

AYJ Director, Pippa Goodfellow, reflects on the process of relaunching as the Alliance of Youth Justice (AYJ). She outlines the reasons for revisiting and refreshing the organisation’s purpose, activities and objectives - to lay strong foundations to achieve greater engagement and impact in the future.

Our Director Pippa Goodfellow writes to wish our members, partners and colleagues a Happy New Year, reflecting on our work together through 2020 and looking ahead to plans for 2021.

“Girls and young women are in a particularly unique position in the criminal justice system. As a minority due to both their age and gender, they are consistently overlooked in a system predominantly designed for men and understanding around the needs and requirements of girls and young women is frequently neglected in research, policy and practice.

“From schools closing to social isolation, there is no question that children in England are being severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Children involved with the youth justice system are facing unique challenges at this trying time, including some being locked up for nearly 23 hours a day in detention training centres.

“Hello everyone! I’m Millie, the new Communications Assistant at the SCYJ. I am joining the SCYJ out of my dedication to holistically support vulnerable young people facing adversity, and also to help address the gross overrepresentation of BAME children and young people in the youth justice system (YJS).

“I have always been keen to bridge gaps between underrepresented groups and those making the decisions that have such a significant impact on their lives. Growing up in Brixton and seeing many of those close to me affected by the criminal justice system (CJS) led me to study Criminology at university.