YJB lauds work with female offenders

The comments followed a visit by YJB chair Frances Done, chief executive Lin Hinnigan and seven board members to the East Midlands to meet the region’s YOT workers.

The two-day visit included looking in detail at the work of Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire’s YOTs to support girls in the criminal justice system.

“The work by Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County to create specific programmes for girls is ahead of its time,” said Done.

“What can happen when you have boys and girls together is that the issues of the boys can dominate as there are far more of them.

“What happens in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is that they are treated separately through a programme that girls in the criminal justice system have also helped develop.

“This has a strong focus on building self-esteem and provides them with a safe environment where they feel able to speak freely.”

The YJB officials also met with the charity Business in the Community to discuss the role local businesses can play in supporting young people at risk of criminality.

This involved hearing about the organisation’s Rise programme, which offers young offenders in the region the chance to undertake a two-day preparation for work programme and a two-week work experience placement.

“For certain young people who have decided that they do not want to be involved in the criminal justice system anymore this is the perfect opportunity for them at exactly the right time,” said Done.

The other YOTs involved in the visits were Derby City, Derbyshire, Leicester City, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.