Exploring the Youth Justice System: an introduction for Arts Practitioners

Arts Council England (ACE) in partnership with the Youth Justice Board (YJB) is offering 300 arts practitioners the opportunity to participate in an innovative professional development programme for those who want to work with young people in the youth justice system. 

The programme combines a supported open learning element ( Exploring the Youth Justice System: an Introduction) and two participatory workshops.  The detail of each of the two programme components is provided below. It's an introductory course so relevant for artists with an interest in this area and limited experience as well as those with more experience.

Exploring the Youth Justice System

The supported open learning element of the programme introduces participants to the youth justice system, covering the following content areas:

• A brief history of the youth justice system
• The young people involved
• Organisations involved in the youth justice system
• Processes and themes
• The context of 'Every Child Matters' and 'Rights to Action'
• The principles of effective practice

To support their learning, those participating will be provided with:

• A short guide with summary information, learning activities and details for accessing the associated website
• A website with resources, learning activities, and links to key sites, study and career advice, including links to relevant information relevant to artists and arts organisations working in or wanting to work in the field of youth justice
• Interactive learning and diagnostic tests providing feedback on what they have learned
• A copy of the text 'Effective Practice in Youth Justice' (Stephenson, Giller and Brown, 2007)

Workshops:

There will be two full day workshops, the first at the start of the programme and the second one month later.  These workshops will enhance the open learning element, giving participants the opportunity to consider the implications for working through the arts with children and young people at risk of offending and re-offending.  The workshops will be highly interactive, combining group discussion, investigation and role play.  Case studies and DVD material will also give participants a taste of the current contexts in which the arts are used to work with children and young people at risk of offending and re-offending.  Additionally, the workshops will give participants a useful forum to network with colleagues and the opportunity to acquire a copy of one Arts Enrichment Pack.

The content for the workshops includes.

• The Young People
• Working in partnership
• Working with young people at risk of offending through the arts
• Engagement and Participation
• PLUS Enrichment Materials
• Managing behaviour
• Planning
• Supporting learning
• Recognising Achievement
• Involving parents/carers
• Signposting for Progression
• Evaluation, data collection, monitoring and recording

The dates for the workshops are as follows, venues TBC.
West Midlands: 18th March and 22nd April

If you are interested in a free place on this programme please contact your regional Arts Council office for an application form:

West Midlands: Demelza Jones - demelza.jones@artscouncil.org.uk


For any enquiries please contact: Paul_Martin_DST@ecotec.co.uk

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