“These are our weans.”
That powerful reminder, shared by Nicole Savage, echoed throughout the 2025 National Youth Justice Conference. This blog explores how listening, learning, and language shape the future of youth justice.
📣Read the blog here: buff.ly/8bxhroy
#CYCJ #YJConf25 #Listening
💡Read the blog here: buff.ly/8bxhroy
#CYCJ #YJConf25 #YouthJustice #Compassion #Change #Connection
“We have to listen to children and young people themselves”
This year’s National Youth Justice Conference made one thing clear: real change starts with listening. Here’s how that message resonated across every session.
👉For further insight on this, read the blog here: buff.ly/8bxhroy
#YJConf25
What a brilliant 2 days at the #yjconf25. Thank you to everyone who presented, workshop hosts; esp the Wise Men, stall holders, chairs and to everyone who came to the conference 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Big shout out to team @CYCJScotland for all their hard work in making it such a success 🫶
“We’ve taken the child’s journey as the lens consistently”
Fiona Steel perfectly sums up #YJConf25 as we finish up the day’s sessions.
Thank you to everyone for your brilliant contributions and to all delegates for coming and joining us for such important conversations.
Following on from another fantastic Q&A session with insightful questions from delegates, we heard about the Scottish Government’s plans, looking ahead to future activity, including on Reimagining Secure Care.
Than you Brian Taylor for your contribution to Day 2 of #YJConf25
Pamela talked us through the final part of “wee Craig’s” story where she explained how restorative justice can positively impact upon children in conflict with the law to finalise our last panel of #YJConf25
These lightning talks took our delegates through a fictional story of “wee Craig” - where our speakers explain a series of different scenarios that can happen when a child comes into conflict with the law.
Another fantastic contribution to #YJConf25 Day 2
We kicked off our afternoon session of #YJConf25 Day 2 with lightning talks from Youth Link Scotland Development Worker Orielle Taylor, and two members of our Practice Team Ross Gibson and Pamela Morrison.
A fantastic Q&A session with our panel who unpacked several themes and issues we’ve been discussing across the morning.
Thank you to everyone for a fantastic morning of Day 2 of #YJConf25
We kick off our Day 2 panel of #YJConf25 with a presentation from CYCJ practice development advisor Donna McEwan who takes us through the legal and policy context tackling the criminal exploitation of children.
A fantastic performance at #YJConf25 from Creative Change Collective - sharing a case study about a young person’s experience of being criminally exploited.
They work with those with lived experience of the justice system - learn more about their work by following them on socials.
Day 2 #YJConf25 keynote speaker Dr Grace Robison tells us the story of a young person’s experience of being criminally exploited and explores the examples of good and bad practice throughout this experience.
We are very grateful for Grace’s excellent contribution to our conference.
We’re off for Day 2 of #YJConf25 - our Deputy Director Ranald McTaggart introduces our Day 2 Chair, Fiona Steel who will be guiding us through today’s programme.
Welcome to everyone joining us today, we’re looking forward to a fantastic programme of speakers!
We're here at #YJConf25 @cycjscotland.bsky.social!
Come and say hello to our fantastic team and help us celebrate our 25th birthday like Jimmy, Tom and Dan.
🎉🥳🪩
#includem25 #transforminglives #charity
Andrew Gillies standing at a lectern
Andrew Gillies from North Lanarkshire council illustrates how they are managing risk through relationships as we move forward with implementation of the Care and Justice Act.
“We need to ask, have we got the right partners round the table for this young person?”
#YJConf25
Neil Hunter standing at a lectern
Next up we’re hearing from Neil Hunter from SCRA what is developing for the children’s reporter as a result of the Care and Justice Act.
“I think we can make a massive difference for children and young people in Scotland.”
#YJConf25
Elliot Jackson standing at a lectern
Elliot Jackson from Children’s Hearings Scotland kicks off the discussions on children’s hearings by providing us with context, insight into complexities and the future of the CHS.
#YJConf25
Kicking off our afternoon session of #YJConf25 we’re hearing from a fabulous panel of speakers - focusing on children’s hearings, risk, protection and meeting the needs of the older child - Elliot Jackson, Neil Hunter and Andrew Gillies. They bring vast experience to the session this afternoon.
Stuart Allardyce standing in front of a lectern
Our next speaker is Stuart Allardyce who is providing insight into how contextual safeguarding applies to the prevention of harmful sexual behaviour.
“Contextual safeguarding is about our duties to children and young people.”
#YJConf25
Nicole Savage standing at a lectern in front of the NYJAG banner
Next up we’re hearing from Nicole Savage with her response to Professor Carlene Firmin’s keynote address - further discussing contextual safeguarding and her work to embed this in North Lanarkshire council.
“We need to remember that [young people] are our weans.”
#YJConf25
A PowerPoint slide of a video of Natalie Don-Innes
Thank you to @nataliedon-innes.bsky.social who has sent in her message to delegates to #YJConf25 - she shares her message about the progress we have made collectively in strengthening children’s rights, safeguarding and progressing the Promise Bill.
Professor Carlene Firmin standing at a lectern
We’re delighted to hear next from @carlenefirmin.bsky.social who will be guiding us through Scotland’s road to contextual safeguarding - a concept that involves targeting the social conditions where harm occurs. Thank you to Carlene for delivering this year’s Day 1 keynote address.
#YJConf25
Delighted to have everyone here for the @cycjscotland.bsky.social National Youth Justice Conference 2025 at the University of Stirling. Exciting days ahead 🌟 #YJConf25
John Trainer standing at a lectern standing in front of the NYJAG banner
Welcome to all delegates from @fionadyer.bsky.social to Day 1 of #YJConf25 introducing today’s Chair John Trainer who will be guiding us through today’s programme.
A group of people standing in a conservatory
Welcome to all our delegates for Day 1 of #YJConf25 - we are looking forward to a fabulous day of networking, speakers and workshops throughout the day. Follow along with #YJConf25 for insights across the conference!
On Day 2 of #YJConf25 CYCJ Practice Development Advisor Ross Gibson will be contributing to the afternoon lightning talks and panel discussion. Ross will share insights from his experience leading the Advancing Whole System Approach Implementation Group.
On Day 2 of #YJConf25 CYCJ Practice Development Advisor Pamela Morrison will be contributing to the afternoon lightning talks and panel discussion. Pamela will bring her wealth of experience in social work, the third sector and restorative justice to this session.
Joining us on Day 2 of #YJConf25, Orielle Taylor from YouthLink Scotland will be participating in Lightning Talks and a Panel Discussion.
We look forward to hearing her insights from 15 years experience in policy, youth justice and children’s rights.
Here’s a reminder of who will be joining us at the marketing stalls at #YJConf25!
Delegates will be able to connect with them during networking breaks to learn more about what they do!
