Today, AYJ publishes the first of three policy briefings for our ‘Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice’ research project. The briefing presents the significant risk of a surge in the number of children drawn into the youth justice system following the pandemic.

AYJ has supported a consultation response by AYJ members the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) and Just for Kids Law (JfKL), along with many more organisations including our members The Children’s Society, Become, NYAS, and New Horizon Youth Centre.

Join AYJ and the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies on Wednesday 27th April where the findings from the UKRI-funded research project will be presented, hosted at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The new briefing, “We’ve not given up”: Young women surviving the criminal justice system, is released today as part of the Young Women’s Justice Project, with Agenda. The briefing calls on the Ministry of Justice to make urgent reforms, showing that without immediate attention, girls and young women will remain marginalised and locked in a cycle of harm, inequality, and re-offending.

Could you be a Young Advocate for youth justice? The Young Advocates project supports children and young people aged 14-20 with youth justice experience to have a stronger voice on the system by helping them to engage with their peers and shape decision-making for the better. 

Last week marked 5 years since the Youth Custody Improvement Board published their findings and recommendations – but the children’s secure estate continues to be mired in crisis. We explore progress to date in implementing the board’s recommendations and what further action is required.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of February!

This is the first report from the Young Advocates Project, which has been co-produced by children and young people with first-hand experience of the youth justice system.

In her new role, Millie will be leading the development and delivery of AYJ’s programme of policy and parliamentary work and implementing the influencing strategy.

AYJ has responded to the Ministry of Justice’s Prisons Strategy White Paper which sets out the government’s 10-year vision for a reformed prison system.

Today marks 1 year since we launched as the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ)! The AYJ brings together 75 organisations to advocate for and with children to drive positive change in youth justice.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of January!

AYJ’s first Members’ Meeting of 2022 focused on the urgent action required to address the worsening racial disparity in the youth justice system.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of December!

Last week, we hosted a meeting for AYJ Members to meet Alan Webster, who joined the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) as the Head of the Youth Justice Policy Unit earlier this year. Alan is responsible for overseeing the youth justice system’s reform and delivery – from early intervention and diversionary activity through courts, sentencing, custody and resettlement policy.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of November!

Earlier this year, it was announced that Anne Longfield will be leading the Commission on Young Lives, an independent review to examine and identify solutions to transform the outcomes of the most vulnerable children and young people who are at risk of violence and criminalisation, and AYJ has submitted to the Commissions ‘call for evidence’.

As Peers decide which amendments they should table and prioritise pushing to a vote at Report Stage, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the important work Peers have done to raise youth justice issues during Committee Stage.

The AYJ and Leaders Unlocked Youth Justice Young Advocates record a three-part podcast series interviewing the children and young people at Art Against Knives, focusing on the priority areas of stereotyping, education and warning signs, and jail.

Find out what we've been up to in the month of October!