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

As Black History Month draws to a close, our Policy and Communications Officer Mia Edwards reflects on the historic roots and present-day manifestations of racial disparity in the youth justice system.

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

Our quarterly Members’ Meeting featured a panel on the harms posed to children by stop and search, with an emphasis on strip searching. Panellists were Yolanda Lear, Project Officer at Hackney Account; Dr Ian Joseph, Research Associate at the Open University; and Chris Bath, Chief Executive at the National Appropriate Adult Network.

AYJ comment on HM Inspectorate of Prisons progress report on HMYOI Wetherby and the Keppel unit. The report has highlighted a lack of improvement and continued uncertainty about Keppel’s role

AYJ has responded to the Children’s Rights Alliance for England’s (CRAE) call for evidence on the UK’s adherence to its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The AYJ has responded to the Children’s Rights Alliance for England’s (CRAE) call for written evidence to inform the Civil Society Alternative Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child 2022.

Comment from AYJ Interim Chief Executive Saqib Deshmukh following the publication of HMIP’s thematic review of outcomes for girls in custody.

Saqib Deshmukh, our Interim CEO, shares his thoughts on the AYJ’s present progress and future plans.

The AYJ hosted a meeting between the Ministry of Justice and AYJ members and the Young Advocates, to help the Ministry of Justice advise Ministers about the recommendations in the Independent Care Review.

Find out what we’ve been up to in the month of July!

The AYJ has signed a joint letter calling on Greater Manchester Police, Manchester City Council, and the Independent Advisory Group to retract a discriminatory letter sent to a number of individuals, including children, banning them from entry to the Caribbean Carnival of Manchester due to perceived ‘gang’ affiliations.

This briefing presents the significant challenges for the children’s secure estate that lie ahead in the wake of the pandemic. It examines existing failures pre-pandemic, the significant risk of harm to children in custody as a result of experiences during the pandemic, failures in strategy for the children’s secure estate, and the government projection that the number of children in custody will steeply rise in coming years.

Today, AYJ publishes the third of three policy briefings for our ‘Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Justice’ research project, examining the significant challenges for the children’s secure estate that lie ahead in the wake of the pandemic.

Dr Laura Janes, Youth Justice lawyer and campaigner, discusses the isolation, mental health challenges and loss of essential life experiences and education endured by children in the secure estate during COVID-19.

“I have long been drawn to a career in which I can amplify the voices of those who often go unheard, and facilitate their empowerment as real changemakers in confronting injustice.”

The AYJ is delighted to announce the appointment of Saqib Deshmukh, who will join us as our Interim CEO from July 2022 for 12-months.

On Wednesday 27th April 2022, the AYJ with the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies hosted a hybrid event at Manchester Metropolitan University, to examine the findings of our joint research project exploring the impact of COVID-19 on 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.

Our extensive second reading briefing, examines the impacts of the Bill, identifying where new measures should be added to address missed opportunities; where provisions stand to reverse recent progress in youth justice and must be removed; and where existing proposals should be amended to maximise their positive potential or address unintended negative consequences.