Norwich residents in 'Rough Justice' lobby

Two residents from YMCA Norfolk recently attended a Y Care International event - Rough Justice for Young People? which culminated in a mass lobby of Parliament when they met MP for Norwich South, Charles Clarke.

 

John Richardson and Michael Douglas, residents at YMCA St Giles hostel in Norwich attended the three-day event held at the German YMCA in Lancaster Gate.  Before returning to Norwich, they met Charles Clarke to ask him to support the Y Care International campaign.

 

Over 100 delegates included young people and their support workers from the UK, Ireland, Sierra Leone, Honduras, South Africa, Congo, Bethlehem and Palestine.

 

Delegates attended workshops to hear about young people’s experiences of criminal justice systems across the world.  Many were shocked by the rough treatment and abuse that overseas delegates had experienced in their home countries.  Often this was simply because they are young or because of the clothes they wear.  Street children and homeless young people are often the most vulnerable.

 

The young people also learned how to get their voices heard.  Lord Redesdale, a Liberal Democrat elected member of the House of Lords, ran workshops on how to Lobby Parliament and How to Get My Message Across To My MP?

 

Charles Clarke MP met with the Norwich delegation in the Central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament.  John and Michael discussed their particular concerns which included the imprisoning of young people in adult facilities; lack of social housing for young single males and parental access difficulties for young men with children.  John and Michael asked Mr Clarke if he would be prepared to support the “Rough Justice for Young People?” campaign, which he readily agreed to.

 

John and Michael are involved in campaign activities that will influence the direction of the Y Care International Youth Justice in Action campaign.

 

Y Care believes that this may be the biggest lobby by young people ever of their parliamentary representatives. They were also pleased that the MPs themselves were able to see the young people from their constituencies at such a serious and busy time.

 

At a recent YMCA Youth Justice Seminar at Lambeth Palace, The Archbishop of York, the Rt. Rev John Sentamu, President of the YMCA, said: “The greatest experts when dealing with young people are the young people themselves.  Young people must be at the centre of our understanding so that the system can become more responsive to their needs.”

 

Pictured above are YMCA Norfolk resident John Richardson (left) and Michael Douglas outside the House of Lords.