"I recently completed my first month with Staf, having joined in September to lead on Youth Justice Voices (YJV) North East in my role as Youth Development Worker.

My first few weeks in this post have been a brilliant and exciting learning experience. I have come into this job having worked for the most part as a Community Artist on a variety of different projects across Glasgow and Scotland. Alongside my work with Staf, I co-lead Polmont Youth Theatre in HMPYOI Polmont and work with the Citizens Theatre. A real focus of my work has been within the field of criminal justice and with young people with care experience, so when I saw this role, having been a supporter of the YJV project from afar, I jumped at the opportunity to be involved.

Over the past four weeks, I have been reading, watching, listening and exploring. From policy, the UNCRC and young people being rights holders, a youth work approach and the wider YJV project (amongst many other things). I’ve spent some time with the Youth Just Us steering group and loved meeting the young people involved. I’ve felt very welcomed by them and I’ve already learned from them about how we talk about the project, what they’ve been doing and what they would like to do in the future.

We recently spent some of the afternoon at The Sound Lab’s 25th birthday celebrations. There was live music, workshops and some great conversation. The Sound Lab and Staf most recently worked together when Steg G delivered some MC masterclasses. It’s been a great start to life with the Staf and YJV team.

The YJV North East group first met and began working together nearly 18 months ago, in February 2023. Chris, who I have taken over from, wrote this after the first session. After a busy first year, we’ve taken some time to reflect and think about our future. The group has continued to meet online, but we’re going to start meeting regularly and continue contributing to the aims of YJV.

Over the next few weeks and months, we are really excited to start meeting more regularly and we want to spread the news that we’re looking for new young people to join our Steering Group. If you’re reading this and have any questions, or think you or someone you know might be a good person to be involved, please get in touch with me."

On Wednesday 4 December, we are holding a drop-in info session in Aberdeen city centre. This is an opportunity for young people, those working with young people, and those interested in hearing more, to meet Jack and Youth Justice Voices North East team. Please register your interest in our free event - YJV North East drop-in info session.

Youth Justice Voices is a Scotland-wide participation project, jointly run by Staf and The Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ). Youth Justice Voices North East is part our national network, which seeks to amplify the voices of care and justice experienced young people (aged 16-25) to influence national change.