Our team.
We’re from across the country and have a shared passion for change.
This team are experts by experience, engaging with peers in a way that builds rapport and uses their combined knowledge to make recommendations for change. This team has informed reform at the heart of it, and a team of young people who are prepared to share their own experiences.
Nadine
My Name is Nadine and I’m from Sussex. I joined the project from the beginning because I wanted to help be a voice for those that don’t often get listened to. There have been lots of highlights for me, but seeing everyone develop individually but also as a team and being able to give evidence at the Justice Select Committee are my favourite.
Patrick
My name is Patrick and I’m from St Helens. I wanted to be involved with this group because I have a passion for helping people overcome barriers that prevent from fulfilling their potential and to use my own experiences in a positive way. My highlight was attending a workshop session in London after all of the restrictions it was great to see the energy in person.
Kojo
My name is Kojo, I’m from London. I got involved to help people who found themselves in a similar situation to me. I want to give people hope and show them you can live a different life and make a difference. One of my highlights has been participating in developing the resources and getting to have my input.
Fatmata
My name is Fats and I’m from Birmingham. I got involved because I wanted to help make the justice and care system a fairer place using my experiences of both. My highlight has been the opportunities that have come up and working on the Girls project with NHSE and leading the development of the ‘Your guide to the adult estate’ resource.
Donelle
Hi I’m Donnelle and I’m from Leicester. I got involved with YJA because I felt that the criminal justice system doesn’t give young people a fair chance to have a say. My highlight working with YJA is that you have the opportunity to meet everybody because they have their own stories to tell.
Matt
My name is Matt and I’m from Reading. I got involved in because I wanted to help people that desperately need it using my experience as a person who went through care. The highlight of my time has been working on the ‘Your guide to the care system’ resource and meeting lots of other people with the same aspirations as me.
Mo
My name is Mo, I’m from London. I joined because I am passionate about change and racial equality within the justice system. A highlight for me has been the opportunities, the learning and the training.
EJ
My name is EJ, I’m from London. I got involved because as soon as I was introduced to the team I knew it was the safest, welcoming place for me to share my experiences and contribute to a shared goal. A highlight for me, is seeing the team growth and how our skills developed. I also got to help deliver training to probation officers.
Jai
My name is Jai and I’m from London. I wanted to get involved in the project so I could be part of something bigger and something that I know will help make a change. That’s exactly what the Young Justice Advisors do. A highlight for me has been working with a team of young people that actually care about other young people and how many people across the system want to listen to us.
Reuben
My name is Reuben and I’m from London. I wanted to join because I have my own aspirations to create my own project which helps bring the young people of our communities together and give them new opportunities and opportunities. A highlight for me was meeting in person and getting to build as a team after having to do a lot of Zoom meetings.
Kadeem
My name is Kadeem and I’m from London. I got involved with the young justice advisors to learn more about informed reform and use my own experiences to help shape change. A highlight from the project for me was going down to Brighton to interview a success story for the team, there has also been lots of learning for me when listening to other people and their experiences.
Sadia
My name is Sadia and I’m from Leicester. I wanted to join as someone who has faced many disadvantages in life because of my experiences and I knew it was a place where I could share my thoughts and ideas unapologetically. A highlight for me has been feeling listened to and taking part in the research in prisons when we did our peer research.
Karene
My name is karene and I’m from Leicester. I joined the young advisors because I really want to use my experiences to impact positive changes. A highlight for me has been working on the ‘your guide to the adult estate’ resource and getting to take part in recruitment panels.
Sarah
My name is Sarah and I’m from Leeds. I got involved because I am passionate about the initiatives and bringing positive changes using lived experiences. We are committed to promoting the voices of young adults to bring fresh solutions to outdated systems. My personal highlight was interviewing the young adults in HMP Leeds as they offered incredible insights and solutions.
Frankie
My name is Frankie and I’m from Kings Lynn. I got involved because I was mistreated in the justice system many times and I don’t want it happening to other people like me. A highlight for me was when we done our showcase as when I joined I was shy, but in our presentation I was able to talk confidently and openly.
Romaine
My name is Romaine and I’m from Bristol. I wanted to get involved in the Young Justice Advisors to use my experience for positive change and to give a voice to young people who are like me and don’t get heard. A highlight for me has been developing the skills to get me an internship with Leaders Unlocked so I can do more positive work.
Stefan
My name is Stefan, I’m from London. I joined the team because I wanted to be heard and have my experiences listened to. A highlight for me is feeling part of a supportive group and able to help other people in the system
Alilyah
My name is Alilyah and I’m from London. I got involved with the project because I wanted to use my experiences of prison in a positive way. I wanted to turn a negative into a positive and this group has allowed me to do it. A highlight for me has been being part of a supportive group and I’ve learned lots of new skills that has allowed me to have a positive outlook.
Latreece
My name is Latreece and I’m from London. I got involved with the Young Justice Advisors because I felt like it would be a way of expressing myself and my experiences of the justice and care system and also wanted to be able to suggest ways of improving these systems. A highlight for me has been getting to realise my own potential and being able to grow with positive likeminded young people around me.
