YMCA joins forces with justice board
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has struck an agreement with YMCA England to help provide better support for under-18s leaving custody.
The alliance will be launched at the YMCA's national conference, Growing out of Crime, tomorrow (11 October) and the tie-up will see both organisations publicising and using each other's services.
Roy Maguire, national offender services adviser at YMCA England said the move would formalise work already being carried out by YMCA and youth offending teams across England.
"We will be looking at developing joint bids and proposals for funding opportunities," he said. "We're looking to create a holistic approach for young people who have had experience of the criminal justice system."
The alliance means that when a YMCA has a spare bed, a young person coming out of custody will know and can potentially access it. "This will develop a broader understanding of what youth offending teams are doing and what the YMCA is doing," Maguire said.
Chris Holmes, board member at the YJB, said: "This formalises our commitment to working in partnership to improve outcomes, particularly concerning accommodation provision, for young people who have offended."
