Child Centred Youth Justice (CCYJ) Network

Mission Statement

Children with experience of the Youth Justice System have often been let down by the very institutions and structures that are supposed to protect them. They’re usually not used to being listened to or taken seriously by adults. However, evidence suggests that when supporting children to participate and engage in the decisions made about them, Child Centred Youth Justice practice which align with participation rights is much more effective.

Some challenges with child centred approaches to justice include:

• Many children don’t know they have the right to be heard
• A lack of awareness by Youth Justice professionals that children have this right
• Some children, especially those in custody, are too fearful to speak out.
• Youth Justice Professionals don’t fully understand it means to work in a child centred way or how to implement participation effectively.
• The Youth Justice System is too rigid and does not prioritise participation with children.

To overcome these challenges, the CCYJ network aims to be a collective voice and strategic body, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders working within the youth justice system who are promoting children’s participation rights in youth justice.  We will target (included but not limited to); government departments, funders (of research and programmes), local authorities, charities, community and voluntary sector organisations, in order to influence and integrate children and young people’s participation as a core feature of child centred practice throughout various youth justice processes.

Through strategic meetings, digital platforms, planned events and campaigns, our network aims to be a collective voice, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders working within the youth justice system to fully promote children’s rights in youth justice settings.  

Our purpose is to ensure that child-centred practice and participation rights across the youth justice system are being embedded as core elements of practice, while sharing critical insights to policy makers.

If you are interested in joining our network as a member? Please share some details with us and how you would like to be involved! Join the CCYJ Network