Lunch and Learn: Capacity, participation and rights (Online presentation with breakout session discussions)

Summary:

For the first time, CYCJ is hosting an online ‘lunch and learn’ session, where delegates can hear from experts, ask questions and discuss important topics with colleagues across the sector. Following on from the National Youth Justice conference 2026, CYCJ has invited three of day 2’s panellists for a deeper dive into the discussion from their panel session, “Capacity, participation and rights”.

Dr Tracy Kirk, James Hamilton and Katy Nisbet will give updates to the presentations they gave at the conference, and delegates will have the opportunity to ask them questions before connecting with colleagues for more in depth breakout session discussions.

This session is ideal for those who are working in the following areas:

• Children and young people in conflict with the law
• Children's rights
• Supporting speech, language and communication needs
• Supporting neurodiversity and neurodevelopmental differences

Participation is encouraged throughout this event and so only the inputs from presenters will be recorded. Delegates will be able to ask questions directly to presenters and participation within breakout sessions will be a core benefit to attending this event.

This session is free to attend and pre-registration is essential, so please sign up to attend. Your information gathered during the sign up process will only be used to communicate with you about this event. If you would like to regularly hear from CYCJ about our other work, please click here to sign up to our eBulletin.

If you have any questions about this session, please contact katya.allcott@strath.ac.uk

Speakers:

James Hamilton is Principal Speech and Language Therapist Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. James is a Speech and Language Therapist working with young people with complex mental health needs. With 20 years’ clinical experience, he has a background in autism diagnosis, and has worked in community and in-patient mental health settings. James was among the first SLT’s in the UK to be embedded in an eating disorder service, in the Connect ED team in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Dr Tracy Kirk is a Lecturer in Child and Family Law at the University of Stirling. Her research focuses on children’s rights, youth justice, and the incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots law. She is particularly interested in the concept of evolving capacities and how it challenges fixed, age-based assumptions in legal systems.

Katy Nisbet is Head of Legal Policy at Clan Childlaw, a charity that actively supports children and young people to take ownership of their rights. Katy’s role is to create change in law and policy at National and Local Government level, both by influencing policy makers and challenging law and practice through strategic litigation. She does this with the aim of improving the implementation of the rights of children and young people in Scotland.

Relevant links:

• Section 3: Child and Human rights, our responsibilities
• Section 6: Speech, Language and Communication Needs in Youth Justice
• Section 18: Brain development and neurodiversity

Important Info:

This session will be not be recorded. Cameras and microphones will be enabled for all participants, including attendees, speakers, and organisers. You will have the option to turn off your camera and microphone at any time. There will be an opportunity at the end to ask any questions. Slides will be shared with registered attendees after the session. 

Please do not use any recording equipment, including those that are AI assisted. During the Q&A delegates will be able to use the raise hand function and our chair Karen Suszek will invite you to unmute and ask your question.

All registered attendees will be contacted with teams link 24 hours before each session. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact cycj@strath.ac.uk.

To keep up to date on all CYCJ events you can sign up for our monthly e-bulletin here - http://eepurl.com/dvyBuv