AYJ Monthly Newsletter: June 2023
AYJ
News
EXPERT SEMINAR: Racial injustice and the transition to adulthood
The AYJ hosted an Expert Seminar to gather evidence for our thematic focus of Racial Injustice for our project exploring the experiences of young people transitioning into adulthood whilst in contact with the justice system. We held discussions with practitioners, policy professionals, researchers and other subject matter experts, to shed light on the experiences of racially minoritised young people in transition, and to develop recommendations for change.
ENGAGEMENT:
AYJ Policy Manager Millie Harris presented to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) Voluntary, Community Sector Liaison Group (VCSLG); Transition 2 Adulthood (T2A) Alliance; and South and West Yorkshire Resettlement Consortium Strategic Group, the findings from our Evidence Review exploring the policy context and existing evidence for our project on young people in transition in the justice system.
AYJ Interim CEO Saqib Deshmukh and Policy Manager Millie Harris had their quarterly meeting with Alan Webster, Director of Youth Justice at the Ministry of Justice, and their quarterly meeting with Ed Cornmell, Executive Director of the Youth Custody Service (YCS).
AYJ Policy and Communications Officer Mia Edwards attended the Workforce Development Council’s quarterly meeting.
Millie and Mia visited the Youth to Adult transition to adulthood pilot hub in Newham, a “community-based holistic service” for 18-25 year olds on probation and 17 year olds transitioning from Youth Justice Services.
AYJ
Views
EVIDENCE SESSION: Young Advocates speak to APPG on Children in Police Custody
A selection of the Young Advocates attended the first evidence session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Children in Police Custody’s Inquiry into Achieving the Rights of Children in Police Custody. Read more on their discussions about their experiences, views and ideas for change surrounding strip search and police custody here.
BLOG: AYJ Policy Manager Millie Harris reflects on damning UNCRC report
Responding to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s report on the UK’s performance on it’s international obligations on children’s rights, Millie highlights how the Committee's recommendations “demonstrate not just inaction since the UK was last examined 7 years ago, but a number of growing threats to children’s rights”; she also speaks with the Mirror about the UN’s concluding observations. The Daily Mirror also reports on the report “blasting UK for failing to tackle 'persistent' child discrimination”, and Children’s rights Alliance for England (CRAE) reports on the coalition of children’s charities “calling on the UK government to urgently put children at the heart of its agenda”. Louise King, Director of CRAE, comments for CYPNow.