This week, the youth justice team invited a cross section of participants across our various projects to attend a reflection event. This event was designed to capture the views of participants about the impact they have experienced as a result of attending our different initiatives over the years.
The event was facilitated by Chikodi Lori, Youth Justice Project Development Manager and Jennifer Rodall, Youth Justice Project Development Officer. The session commenced with ground rules and participants were guided towards the central theme of KINDNESS. Participants were encouraged to interact kindly with each other and to desist from being unkind to those in attendance.
The sessions have been inspiring.
Participant feedback
The session commenced with an ice breaker; all attendees were invited to tell the group their names as well as two truths and one lie about themselves. The group then took it in turns to guess which statement was a lie. Given that the event was attended primarily by young men, they sometimes became boisterous and they were allowed to express themselves accordingly.
Participants were encouraged to create a short story titled “my youth justice story”. The young men in attendance were encouraged to think about people they knew who had been involved in criminality or to think from the perspective of a victim of crime. A piece of paper was passed around, and each young person was required to write a sentence in relation to the theme provided. After each person wrote their sentence, they folded it up and passed it onto the next person who wrote their sentence without seeing the writings of the previous person. A copy of the story has been reproduced below:
It has been a good journey. It does pain me to hear that it is coming to an end.
Participant feedback
My Youth Justice Story
“I got chased by a bully with a cane in his hand.
I would like to become an actor.
I got my head cracked open, then stabbed.
Every time I go to town, there’s crime at clock tower.
I was in a club then someone was killed, then the police came. I ran threw the window in order not to be caught.
My man got stabbed.
I was performing at a club, then the police came to check whatsup.”
It’s a bit sad that this project is ending because there’s no where really like it.
Participant feedback
It is noteworthy that although the story was written by different people, it accurately captures the youth justice experience. Participants in the youth justice system are often young people with hopes and dreams, they are people who sometimes happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. These are young people who have seen a lot of terrible things, been through a lot of terrible experiences, and still choose to show up to sessions like those provided by Leicestershire Cares.
It has been a pleasure serving these participants and we will surely miss them. A video reflection will be produced in due course. We would like to extend our gratitude to Ariri Restaurant for delivering a delicious Nigerian meal enjoyed by all.
If you are a business and would like to support our Youth Justice participants by offering mock interviews or other work-related experiences, please get in touch by using the email below. Your time could make a lasting impact.
Youth Justice Project Development Manager
Chikodi Lori
chikodi@leicestershirecares.co.uk
To read about our Power to Change approach, click on the link below:
https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/our-approach/power-to-change/#:~:text=We%20believe%20our%20power%20to,city%20and%20county%20for%20all.
For more information and insight into our Youth Justice Projects click the links below:
https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/news-events-/vipphoenix-careers-and-hoodie-design-day/