Vacancies — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice

Salary: £14.80 per hour (London Living Wage)

Applications close 9am, Friday 10 April.

Apply here: www.ayj.org.uk/vacancies

A poster advertising the new AYJ intern role

We are recruiting a paid Membership Administration Intern to work with us to support our members!

We're particularly keen to hear from people with personal experience of the youth justice system (this could include policing/arrest, youth offending services, courts, custody or alt interventions).

A flyer advertising the AYJ members' meeting on 2 April with guest speaker Alison Clarke. It features a photo of Alison.

Our next AYJ members’ meeting takes place online on 2 April, 12.00–1.30pm. Guest speaker: Alison Clarke, Executive Director of the Youth Custody Service.

We’ll also share polling insights on public attitudes to child imprisonment and wider policy updates.

Register here: luma.com/vc28wx79

A blue background with the words, 'The AYJ is looking for a new Chair'

Could you be the next AYJ Chair?

We’re seeking a collaborative leader, committed to social justice and children’s rights, to provide strategic oversight to our experienced and knowledgeable Board of Trustees.

Deadline: 9am, 16 March 2026.

Details: cello-fox-ymfw.squarespace.com/s/AYJ-Chair-...

AYJ Comment: Foundations for a Modern Youth Justice System: A Step Toward Ambitious Reform?  — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice This AYJ comment responds to the government’s policy statement A Modern Youth Justice System: Foundations Fit for the Future . It welcomes signs of progress while setting out the need for ambitious r...

Today, we have responded to the government’s youth justice policy statement, 'A Modern Youth Justice Service: Foundations Fit for The Future'. We're heartened to see recognition of systemic failure, but the “bold vision” promised must be truly ambitious.

www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...

This image shows the logo of every organisation that supported Amendment 221.

We’re supporting Amendment 221 to put Child Rights Impact Assessments on a statutory footing. Backed by 160 orgs & echoing a key Covid-19 Inquiry recommendation, this is a vital step to ensure children’s rights are considered in decision-making

🔗 bit.ly/4akFft8

Close-up of a brown eye with text about taking the government to court and explaining the reasons behind it.

Tomorrow, we are going to the High Court to challenge the government’s decision to authorise the use of PAVA spray in prisons holding children.

This blogpost explains why: howardleague.org/blog/were-taking-the-gov...

AYJ Comment: Review of child sentencing must be bold to protect children from the harms of imprisonment — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice This AYJ comment piece welcomes the government’s announcement of a dedicated sentencing review for children and calls for the government to take meaningful steps towards meeting children’s distinct ne...

During today's Sentencing Bill debate, Lord Timpson said the government will review youth sentencing, something we have long called for. This represents a vital opportunity to ensure custody is only used as a last resort for children.

Our full statement: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...

It is essential that this ambition is as present in the youth justice system as the adult system, and that organisations led by and for people affected by racial injustice are fully engaged in the delivery of actions to meet the ambition.

A photo of the event with James Timpson MP giving a presentation

Delighted to be at @zahidmubarektrust.bsky.social's 'Race in Prisons' conference today, and hear Prisons Minister JamesTimpson acknowledge the stark race inequality in the youth justice system, and the need for ambitious action to address it.

After hundreds of FairChecks supporters wrote to Lord Chancellor David Lammy calling for fairer criminal records checks, we received a response from Lord Timpson.

🔗Read the full letter here - and join the movement, if you haven't already! fairchecks.org.uk/lord-timpson...

Exploited to exploiter? Preventing the unjust criminalisation of victims of child criminal exploitation in the transition to adulthood — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice The briefing draws from an evidence review ; a consultation session bringing together professionals from the youth and adult criminal justice sector, voluntary and community sector, legal practitio...

This briefing is informed by consultation with legal, voluntary sector, academic, and civil servant sector experts. We’re grateful to all who contributed, and to
@barrowcadbury.bsky.social for their support.

Read the full report: ayj.org.uk/news-content...

A graphic describing what measures we want to see for criminally exploited young people caught up in the justice system.

Safeguarding must come first, joined up across agencies, and beyond a young person’s 18th birthday, so that children and young people are supported into safe and positive futures.

The new CCE offence in the Crime and Policing Bill is a critical opportunity to improve the response for victims but it must be accompanied by statutory guidance and training to address risks of criminalising exploited young adults and promote safeguarding.

A graphic describing the cliff edge faced by exploited young people in the justice system at 18.

At 18, many young people hit a cliff edge:

🔹Support from children’s services stops
🔹Exploitation continues but is less likely to be recognised
🔹Risk of being criminalised rises

Safeguarding must continue into adulthood.

Exploited to exploiter? Preventing the unjust criminalisation of victims of child criminal exploitation in the transition to adulthood — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice Our latest briefing draws from an evidence review ; a consultation session bringing together professionals from the youth and adult criminal justice sector, voluntary and community sector, legal pr...

Our new briefing looks at what happens when exploited children turn 18. Safeguarding often ends, but exploitation continues, risking criminalisation.

With a new CCE offence in the Crime & Policing Bill, safeguards are vital to protect young adults.

www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...

AYJ Comment: Broken trust in YOIs compromising children’s safety and wellbeing — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice AYJ comment on HMI Prisons’ thematic report Building trust, calls for the closure of YOIs highlighting Secure Children’s Homes provide the best environment for building relationships that support chil...

Today’s HMI Prisons report shows how YOIs are failing to build trust between children and staff.

Custody must only ever be a last resort, and when used, must prioritise children's wellbeing. It’s time to close YOIs & invest in Secure Children’s Homes.

Comment piece: www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...

Former inmate at four young offender institutions tells 5 News about life inside UK prisons YouTube video by 5 News

Our CEO, Jess Mullen, featured on C5 News discussing youth custody.

There wasn’t space for everything we shared — but here’s the key point:

The MoJ must commit to closing YOIs & STCs, and set out a long-term vision where custody is a last resort for children.

🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qMb...

A photo of Jess Mullen with the text, 'The View, reflections and updates from AYJ CEO Jess Mullen' underneath.

NEW: The View — reflections and updates from our CEO Jess Mullen.

It’s been a busy start to 2025:
• Joint statement opposing PAVA in the children’s secure estate
• Members’ meeting with Sir Nic Dakin MP
• Published 'Adultifying Youth Custody'
And more to come.

🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...

Youth justice experts condemn government decision to introduce PAVA spray in children’s prisons — AYJ, Alliance for Youth Justice The Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ), along with 37 other organisations and individuals working in youth justice, have joined forces to condemn the government’s decision to introduce PAVA spray for us...

The decision to arm YOI staff with PAVA spray is dangerous, unjustified, and risks deepening disparities already in the system. 37 orgs agree: the answer is not more force—it’s more support. Custody must be a last resort.

Read the full statement here:
🔗 www.ayj.org.uk/news-content...

We had a productive members' meeting with the Minister for Youth Justice @nicdakinmp.bsky.social yesterday.

Thank you to everybody who attended and brought their questions!