Young Voices is a participation and consultation project targeting young people in conflict with the law. The project was formed due to an increasing awareness of and emphasis on children's rights and a number of policy developments that have underpinned the need for strong children's rights protections.

The overall aim of Young Voices is to develop a model of practice, to provide guidelines for consulting with marginalised young people. These young people often suffer multiple forms of exclusion and discrimination, yet feel silenced and powerless to effectively challenge this injustice, with their voice often being the least heard. Yet such young people are often most starkly affected by policy changes or development.

Young Voices is aimed at young people aged 16-21, with experience of criminal justice (e.g. custody, Youth Justice Agency, courts, policing, probation.), who have something to say and wish to see improvements in processes, policies and practices that affect them and their peers. It is the only project of its kind in Northern Ireland, targeting young people who are in conflict with the law. These young people are the least likely to be consulted on issues affecting them and pose the greatest challenge in terms of involving them in democratic processes.



The group has had a number of achievements up till now. These include:

· Participating in a police conference;
· Nominating a group member to the Children and Young Peoples Panel, within OFMDFM;
· Taking part and delivering a presentation at a 3-nation conference on the subject of secure accommodation;
· Participating in a NIO video, "What Works?" - focusing on diversionary programmes and community alternatives to custody;
· Topics that the group has been consulted on include:

- Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) research;
- The Children's strategy;
- The design of a new juvenile justice centre (NIO)
- Anti-Social Behaviour Orders;
- The age of criminal responsibility.

For most of the young people involved, Young Voices is the first time they have been involved in a decision-making process or been asked their views on issues that affect them.



The group meets about once every 4-6weeks in Belfast. This includes a combination of gathering the views of the group on current topics, normally followed by some food and an activity. We are currently developing a Northern Ireland wide strategy for Young Voices, however, and want to establish four Young Voices groups - one in each health board area, together with another based in the Juvenile Justice Centre. The group's programme also involves residentials, with the next of these in February 2005.

For those working in the criminal justice field with young people who could benefit from Young Voices, the process for referral is through contacting the project worker, Mat Crozier. He will then go out to meet with workers and then the young people, to discuss the project, after which they would be invited to a group meeting or activity, if they feel the project would suit them. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact Mat at Include Youth's Belfast office:

Mat Crozier
Young Voices Support and Development Worker

mat@includeyouth.org