Restorative Practitioners within Bradford Children and Families Trust’s (BCFT) Youth Justice Service welcomed representatives from the Home Office and West Yorkshire Combined Authority on Wednesday, 7 August 2024 to showcase reparation work taking place with children involved in Anti-Social Behaviour and low-level offences, as part of the Immediate Justice Pilot.
BCFT’s Youth Justice Service has been a delivery partner for the Immediate Justice Pilot since May 2023. This latest scheme aims to tackle anti-social behaviour by providing swift interventions for adults and children to help them become a positive force in their communities. The YJS’s team of Restorative Practitioners, in co-operation with the victim of the offence, decide an appropriate form of reparation for the child, based on their circumstances. This could involve repairing damage caused to a victim’s property or belongings, using reparation time to become involved in tending the YJS’s allotment in East Bowling or volunteering at a charity. Enhancing opportunities to contributing positively to community life is a key factor that assists children in understanding harm and impact of anti-social behaviour.
During the visit, Home Office colleagues heard from the team about the direct work that they have undertaken over the last 12 months and the impact that the Immediate Justice Pilot is having on the children and victims alike.
Bradford Children and Families Trust’s Assistant Director for Early Help and Transformation, Susan Claydon said:
“We were delighted to welcome representatives from the Home Office to showcase how our Youth Justice Service has incorporated the Immediate Justice Pilot into our support of children in their neighbourhoods. The pilot has been an important part of tackling Anti-Social Behaviour in Bradford. People in our local communities are supported to feel safe where they live and see a positive resolution when anti-social behaviour has happened.
“The funding that we received to implement this pilot scheme has meant that we have formed partnerships with a range of organisations to offer a variety of ways in which a child can complete their reparation time. Building on the Trust’s partnership approach to support children and families across Bradford to thrive in safe communities, it is vital that these kinds of projects continue, and we are keen to explore how we can sustain this positive progress.”
SusBCFT’s Youth Justice Service received funding from the Mayor of West Yorkshire via the Home Office grant to deliver the Immediate Justice scheme. The pilot is due to end in March 2025. More information about the scheme is available on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority website: Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Immediate Justice – West Yorkshire Combined Authority (westyorks-ca.gov.uk)an Claydon, the Assistant Director for Early Help & Transformation in the Trust said,