Influencing Policy

Through our policy work we promote the rights and best interests of marginalised young people living in Northern Ireland.

We seek to advocate, influence and inform law, policy and practice development to bring about positive changes in the lives of young people in need or at risk.

Our two key priority areas are youth justice and youth employability.

All work in these areas is informed by evidence drawn from a strong practitioner base through our Give and Take Scheme and Practitioner Forum.

Also shaping all of our work is the direct views and experiences of young people not in education, employment or training or with experience of the criminal justice system. Many of these views are captured through our Young Voices project, which consults with young people from across Northern Ireland.

By capturing these views we are able to produce well-informed and researched publications, including briefing papers, submissions to public consultations, young people's submissions, a Youth Justice Manifesto, and a Youth Justice Background Paper.

The policy team engages directly with key stakeholders to inform, influence, challenge and advocate with and on behalf of young people in need or at risk. These include elected representatives, civil servants, practitioners, communities, media, academics, children's rights and human rights oversight bodies and colleagues from the NGO sector.

All of Include Youth's policy work is grounded on international and domestic human rights and children's rights standards, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.