It’s been another busy month for the steering group of Youth Justice Voices, our joint project with the Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice. Made up of young people aged 16 to 25 who have care and justice experience, they have dropped the labels and called themselves Youth Just Us.

The group have been meeting on Monday evenings from 5-7pm in Glasgow since April 2019. It’s already been a great opportunity for the young people to exercise their participation rights as they begin to shape and lead the work of the project. The group will also be supported to develop and devise activities which will help us to capture the views of their peers.

They’re always looking for more young people to get involved – it’s a great opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities and enables them to creatively share their experiences.

Here’s what they’ve been up to in recent weeks:

Some of Youth Just Us @StafScot @CYCJScotland enjoying a fun night of bowling.

Email: [email protected] for more info pic.twitter.com/vSgJSBFt2t

— Ruth Kerracher (@Ruth_Kerracher) July 2, 2019

Youth Justice Voices 🙌🏽

“Youth Just Us” members enjoyed a social night at Lazer Tag.

Here are some sweaty after pictures 😅✌️

📧 [email protected] for more info

Session 6
Monday 3rd June
5-7pm
Glasgow@StafScot @CYCJScotland pic.twitter.com/u7Y7U7eb0c

— Ruth Kerracher (@Ruth_Kerracher) May 30, 2019

As well as having fun they have also been hard at work. Planning and presenting at the National Youth Justice Conference, submitting questions to Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf and the Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd on the day.

Great hearing the group so confident and knowledgeable about making the justice system more care experience considerate. On to the confrence @pammie1320 @CYCJScotland 😀 https://t.co/FSqtt647Ad

— kevin lafferty (@kevinlafferty2) June 10, 2019

🙌A snippet from @kevinlafferty2 lightening talk at the #YJConf19. Kev is a peer leader with Youth Just Us @StafScot @CYCJScotland. This is a national project for care & justice experienced young people (16-25).

Next session: Monday 8th July, 5-7pm Glasgow

📩[email protected] https://t.co/suHDCPliuW

— Ruth Kerracher (@Ruth_Kerracher) June 26, 2019

They’ve also been getting creative and envisioning what they want to achieve in the future.

Great night with “Youth Just Us” @StafScot @CYCJScotland. Here are some of the groups visions for the future. @kevinlafferty2 @ross_acg_gibson pic.twitter.com/w0iIcwsW9q

— Ruth Kerracher (@Ruth_Kerracher) June 10, 2019

And planning how they will take their actions forward too.

“Youth Just Us” welcomed new members last night. They also played some questionable icebreakers 🤣 & are making lots of plans for the project.

If you’re 16-25 with care & justice experience then join @StafScot & @CYCJScotland national project Youth Justice Voices. pic.twitter.com/PehbzgZP3P

— Ruth Kerracher (@Ruth_Kerracher) June 4, 2019

What’s next?
The group continue to meet on a weekly basis. They will be participating in the Independent Care Review, UNCRC incorporation consultation and sharing their views on the new Disclosure Bill.  The group are also working towards gaining a Community Achievement Award through Glasgow Kelvin College.

 

Get Involved
If you want to join or find out more about the project you can contact [email protected]. The next session is on Monday the 22^nd of July. The project covers travel costs and young people are welcome to bring a worker.

Follow us on Twitter for all the latest information: @Ruth_Kerracher  @CYCJScotland @StafScot ‏

 

Youth Justice Voices: With funding from the Life Changes Trust, Staf have embarked on a new joint project, with the Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice, to ensure that the voice of care and justice-experienced young people are amplified in the justice system and heard by corporate parents, policymakers, senior managers and The Scottish Government. Find out more here.