Staf and CYCJ’s Scotland-wide participation project, Youth Justice Voices, is delighted to announce an exciting new collaboration with Articulate Cultural Trust and Scottish artist Scott Lang (Slang).

The Youth Justice Voices project, funded by The Life Changes Trust, seeks to amplify the voices of care and justice experienced young people (aged 16-25) to influence national change. The steering group, ‘Youth Just Us’ have already made a great impact, including sharing their views on the Independent Care Review, UNCRC Incorporation, and Disclosure (Scotland) Bill – in the process engaging with Scottish Government Ministers such as Maree Todd MSPP and John Swinney MSP.

This new collaboration will host eight creative workshops, led by Articulate Cultural Trust and Scott Lang, once a week in central Glasgow. Project participants will explore identity through various art forms: using spray paint, stencil, photo montages and more to express what being care and justice experienced means to them. The workshops will culminate in an exhibition showcasing the work created by the group.

For those interested, a time to meet in a space that you feel comfortable can be arranged. Young people participating can bring a worker along to the sessions if they would like, and travel expenses will be covered. Spaces are limited – and no previous art experience is required.

Contact Ruth Kerracher, Youth Justice Participation Worker, on [email protected] or 07940 068 343 to register your interest or for further information.  

Articulate Cultural Trust’s work in the visual and performing arts and the creative industries is designed to build confidence and self-esteem, help with team-work and problem solving as well as explore the world, our communities and our relationships in safe and imaginative ways.

Find out more about Articulate Cultural Trust

Scott Lang is a Glaswegian artist who still lives and works in the city. Having grown up in one of Glasgow’s housing schemes, he uses spray paint, stencils and photomontage to explore the intrinsic link between this and his own sense of identity. His work deals with themes such as cultural identity, the oppressive brutalist architecture prevalent in the city's schemes, stereotypes and gang culture.

Find out more about Scott Lang

To read more about the work of Youth Just Us, and the broader Youth Justice Voices project to date, you can view our project blog series here.