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. At the AYJ, we welcome that the MoJ has not included the children’s secure estate in its strategy for prisons. However, we also recognise that a comprehensive, long-term vision for the children’s secure estate is desperately needed and long overdue.

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!

At the AYJ, six principles for youth justice policy underpin our way of working. We have used these as a framework for our response to the Commission’s call for evidence which focuses on children in, or at risk of involvement in, the justice system. Thank you to all AYJ members who took the time to support our submission.

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!

AYJ Communications Officer Millie Hall visits AYJ Associate Member Luke Billingham to find out more about his wide-reaching work within the youth justice sector. Read for a whistle-stop tour of some of Luke’s key interests including tackling serious violence, the significance of sport cages, and also his motivations.

Comment from AYJ Director Pippa Goodfellow following the announcement that Ofsted, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, and the Care Quality Commission has triggered the Urgent Notification process for Oakhill Secure Training Centre.

Ahead of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill House of Lords Committee Stage, beginning 20th October 2021, the AYJ hosted a briefing meeting for Peers in the House of Lords, AYJ members and others in the youth justice sector, examining the impacts of the Bill on children in or at risk of involvement in the youth justice system.

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

To celebrate the end of the first year of the project, the AYJ and Leaders Unlocked held a showcase to present the amazing work of the Young Advocates.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has published its report on the sentencing and remand of children and young people as part of its legislative scrutiny of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Bill.

On Wednesday 26th September, the Alliance for Youth Justice and Leaders Unlocked held a showcase to celebrate the end of the first year of the Young Advocates project.