Youth Offending Unit

Our team provides research, consultancy and training services to youth justice agencies working to tackle youth crime.

We have undertaken a range of research for the Welsh Government examining a series of issues that affect young people in trouble with the law and youth offending teams (YOTs) over the past 15 years. Our work supports the implementation of the All Wales Youth Offending Strategy and its delivery plan. Current research involves examining why some areas of Wales make higher use of custodial sentencing than others and examining participation, as defined by article 12 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child in the youth justice context in Wales. Past research has included investigation of the housing needs of young people who offend and the role of the mental health specialist in YOTs in Wales.

Our staff are represented on a number of Wales-wide groups including:

• Joint Youth Justice Committee for Wales
• Community Justice Voluntary Sector Network
• a group hosted by Save the Children that monitors the implementation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child in Wales.

Contact: Sue Thomas, Policy Development Manager, on 01656 774355 or mobile 07968 315072.

Support into Education and Learning Project (Youth Justice)

This is a three-year partnership project providing intensive education and employment support to young people aged 11-19 who are in the criminal justice system in Wales.

Nacro’s role is to co-ordinate the ‘Support into Education and Learning’ project. The project is delivered with 12 YOTs across the Convergence areas of Wales. Set up with assistance from the European Social Fund, the project is part-funded by the Welsh Government, and forms part of its Reach the Heights ‘First Footholds’ Programme, which targets some of the most disadvantaged young people in Wales.

A significant element of Nacro’s role is monitoring the project and reporting to the Welsh Government on its progress and the outcomes it achieves for young people.

We will also be undertaking research to identify the extent to which YOTs assess and incorporate individual learning needs/styles into their work with young people. The project will investigate the methods used and how the information is used in interventions with young people. We also plan to consult with young people who receive an education assessment and service via the YOT (as part of this project) about the support they have received and how it has met their needs. Additionally, a further aim of this project is to develop gender-sensitive responses to young women both in custody and in the community and to investigate the extent to which this is achieved.

Contact: Catherine Piper, Information and Research Co-ordinator, on 01656 774355.