By Jesse Gillespie
Description: A summary of Peer Power Youth’s recent project, commissioned by The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, which consisted of a series of co-created workshops that offered a space for young people to share their experiences and perspectives on the youth justice system in London.
Peer Power Youth (PPY) is working with The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to co-create a shared vision for the future of London’s youth justice system. This new vision for services aims to tackle system issues and inequalities.
The purpose of this project is to create more effective services for future young people. MOPAC came to PPY for this project as they take a “Child First approach in all of their work with children and young people” and PPY is a youth-led organisation that leads with empathy to build trusting relationships. The young people at Peer Power Youth were excited to be involved in this project as being in a space with commissioners means their voices are being heard whilst making a difference to systems.
“We’re making time for true co-production between professionals and young people”
PPY’s young people, Jack (Senior Youth Engagement Coordinator) and Clarissa (Peer Development Worker) were key to the success of this project. Moreover, MOPAC being the commissioner, meant that there was a buy in from other players within the youth justice setting, including MET Police and Ministry of Justice. These are the players who need to be on board with the co-created vision to influence system change.
There have been 4 sessions in the community with young people, as well as 2 sessions in Young Offenders Institutes to hear from voices with lived experience of London’s youth justice system. In the 4th community session Peer Power Youth were joined by commissioners, which was when the co-created vision was shared.
“I loved the ability to listen to the real-life stories and accounts from the young people, which makes me reflect more about how I can help change the criminal justice system”
The impact that Peer Power Youth hope to have through this project is to create system change, by people with responsibility taking accountability for the youth justice system to reflect on young peoples lived experiences. This enables professionals to focus on how the systems can be improved.
One of Peer Power Youth’s expressions is: “we care for young people, so they can care for themselves, and then for others”. By Young people understanding their rights and advocating for improvements, they can help other young people by improving systems for future generations. Young people don’t want the next generation to go through what they have been through.
The outcome of this project looks at the discussed key themes that appeared consistently throughout the sessions. These themes and shared principles will help underpin the concluded mission statement, before it is presented to all areas of the youth justice system.
“I enjoyed being heard, understood, and talking to authority to make changes”
About Peer Power Youth
Peer Power Youth is a national charity supporting young people aged 13-25, who have dealt with childhood trauma. They have been affected by abuse, exclusion or violence impacting their communities, and have experience in health, youth justice and care services.
The young people that we work with have described themselves as being ‘abandoned by society’. Despite their circumstances, we see their power and potential. We do vital work to support these young people in their journey and improve the youth justice and care services they were once in for the benefit of other young peers. That’s why we focus on both individual change and system change.
Our Individual change work – We offer young people support in training, education, professional experience and promote positive wellbeing.
Our System change work – We work with young people to create real change for others in health, justice and social services.
Keep up with the latest on empathy, co-production and youth-led system change.
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