To make sure that it’s getting Scotland’s new Vision and Action Plan for Youth Justice right for young people, the Scottish Government has commissioned Youth Justice Voices to develop an engagement strategy.

With the support and training of Youth Justice Voices participation workers, young people will develop a range of tools to gather the views of justice experienced children and young people on what the priority areas for the next two years and beyond should be.  

The 'Youth Justice Visionaries' will run a series of online engagement workshops throughout September, considering key issues such as place of safety, and the extension of the Children’s Hearings System. Existing youth and participation groups and organisations can get in contact with [email protected] to book a session.

A young person involved in the project stated: 
“I think it is important as it’s about young people’s lives so they should be the ones to lead and make decisions about their life including the law. It also makes them feel like people are listening.”

Staf Head of Learning and Development, Pamela Graham commented: 
"The young people of Youth Justice Voices are driving positive change in policy and practice on youth justice issues across Scotland. Staf and CYCJ will continue to support these care and justice-experienced young people to use their voices for change as the Youth Justice Visionaries develop online opportunities for young people to be heard."

How do young people take part?
Youth Justice Visionaries will run these confidential, online, engagement workshops throughout September. We are looking for existing youth and participation groups and organisations currently using Zoom or online platforms to support young people to take part. A topic guide is also available for workers to use with young people in order to gather views on each of the consultations. If you think you know of anyone who would be interested, please get in touch with [email protected] to discuss.

Download the Topic Guide

(Please note responses using the topic guide should be submitted to [email protected] by 30th of September)

An online workshop to hear the views of young people aged 16-25 on extending the Children’s Hearing System will take place on 22^nd September from 1.00pm – 2.00pm on Zoom. This workshop is run in collaboration with Youth Justice Visionaries young people, CELCIS and CYCJ, featuring activities developed and delivered by young people. Free spaces can be booked via the Eventbrite link below - we would encourage workers to share this opportunity with the young people you support.

Book my place

What happens next?
Views captured in these sessions will be presented anonymously to youth justice policy makers. We know that feedback is essential, and the Scottish Government have assured us that they will create a feedback loop and other ways to participate for those who aren’t online (including within HMP&YOI Polmont) based on the Youth Justice Visionaries’ suggestions.

'Youth Justice Voices' is a Scotland-wide participation project, jointly run by Staf and The Centre for Youth and Criminal Justice (CYCJ) and funded by The Life Changes Trust, which seeks to amplify the voices of care and justice experienced young people (aged 16-25) to influence national change.