Working with Children

This section contains materials and resources, including interventions, programmes and toolkits that are used by youth justice services with children. The material in this section has been produced by youth justice services in-house or with support from partners.  The materials in this section are not evaluated.  You can find youth justice evaluated materials in the practice-based evaluations area on this site. If you would like to submit a programme, intervention or a way of working with children that works well in your service to the Youth Justice Resource Hub, please complete the submission form.

    ‘What Do Youth See’ art exhibition – North Somerset Youth Justice and Prevention Service (June 2025)

    Published: 07/07/2025

    Summary: An art exhibition arranged for North Somerset Youth Justice and Prevention Service (YJPS) of children expressing their story/who they are. The exhibition takes an ethnographic approach to helping children explore identity and culture. Description: An art exhibition arranged as part of North Somerset YJPS’s child first, youth Board-Reframe, which discussed ways that children could…
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    My Custody Passport form – Southampton Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 07/07/2025

    Summary: Southampton Youth Justice Service (YJS) have created a ‘My Custody Passport’ form. The form provides police with crucial information to help them understand the needs of children they may come into contact. Description: ”My Custody Passport’ is designed to be completed by the child and parent/carer and contain key information about the child. It…
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    Enhanced Case Management by Trusting Hands Gateshead – Gateshead Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 07/07/2025

    Summary: Trusting Hands Gateshead is a multidisciplinary team of mental health practitioners who work collaboratively to support the coordination, integration and delivery of trauma-informed care to children. The Trusting Hands Gateshead Youth Justice Service Pathway focuses on the integration of knowledge, skills and understanding of complex cases through Enhanced Case Management (ECM). Description: Trusting Hands…
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    Discover You – Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 07/07/2025

    Summary: Dorset Combined Youth Justice Service (YJS) set up Discover You, an educational activities programme at Upton Country Park in Dorset. The programme comprises of a range of tasks that support pro-social identity development for children. Description: Dorset Combined YJS have embraced the Child First evidence base and have been working to operationalise this to…
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    Plymouth Artists Together reparation project – Plymouth Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 03/07/2025

    Summary: Plymouth Artists Together is an reparation project working with local artists, art students, and Plymouth Youth Justice Service (YJS), where children assist to transform derelict and vandalised sites into vibrant public art spaces. Description: As part of a reparation project, children were initially tasked with painting over graffiti in the local area. However, this frequently resulted…
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    Understanding the importance of therapeutic interventions to support families experiencing child-to-parent abuse: process evaluation insight from the parallel lives programme

    Published: 03/07/2025

    Study typeEvaluation MethodologyProcess Evaluation PopulationChildren aged 10-17 (both youth justice involved children as well as child victims of crime); Families (including parents and carers); Children aged 10-17 and young adults Area or stage of YJSTargeted prevention; Early intervention; Reoffending OrganisationSwansea University AuthorsDr Gemma Morgan (Swansea University); Dr Joe Janes (Swansea University). FundersMedia Academy Cymru PublishedDecember…
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    Animation video of producing a youth justice plan – Dudley Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 03/07/2025

    Summary Dudley Youth Justice Service (YJS) have made a short video explaining how they produced their 2025-26 YJS plan. Description Every year Dudley YJS has to produce a plan to say what it’s going to do to help children. This year they have produced a plan with help from local young people who they met…
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    Reducing reoffending panel terms of reference and panel template – Westminster Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 27/06/2025

    Summary: A reducing reoffending panel terms of reference and panel template produced by the Westminster Youth Justice Service (YJS). Description: Westminster YJS has shared their reoffending panel terms of reference and panel template for other YJSs to use. The panel focuses on children who are deemed as having a high risk of reoffending. They are discussed…
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    RISK (Reality Is Stabbing Kills) programme – Blaenau Gwent & Caerphilly Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 20/06/2025

    Summary: The RISK (Reality Is Stabbing Kills) programme by Blaenau Gwent & Caerphilly Youth Justice Service (YJS). It aims to reduce the number of children carrying, and using, a knife and/or other offensive weapons. Description: The RISK programme by Blaenau Gwent & Caerphilly YJS is designed to be delivered as a 8 to 12 week…
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    Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy with Newcastle Youth Justice Service (June 2025)

    Published: 16/06/2025

    Summary: A music therapy service established by Nordoff & Robbins at Newcastle Youth Justice Service (YJS). The therapy service works with children known to the YJS, using music as a vehicle for collaboration, development, and connecting to others. It helps children who struggle to express themselves verbally to develop a pro-social identity. Description: In April 2024,…
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