Raising Your Game is launching a new film about preparing for court
The court environment is a daunting place for defendants with a learning disability or communication difficulty.
This is something that Raising Your Game staff have learned from working with young people. Their experiences highlighted many issues – “you nod and agree and you think it’s too late to say ‘what did you mean?’”.
They have also found that professionals within the criminal justice system (CJS) need training and resources and support when working with people with a learning disability or communication difficulty who are appearing in court.
To help reduce the impact of these problems, Raising Your Game is launching a film, called Getting ready for court. It offers thoughts and tips on appearing in court. Using the voices of young people on the project and those using Nacro services, the film aims to help both professionals and young people with a learning disability or communication difficulty, aged between 14 and 25, understand their rights and the procedures in the complex court system.
Raising Your Game marketing officer, Katy Palmer, said: “We made sure the young people gave the advice, not just CJS professionals. It’s their stories that make the court room experience more real for viewers.
“Professionals from organisations including the Youth Justice Board and the Prison Reform Trust will be promoting the resource online and using it in their work.”
To register your interest in a copy of the DVD, please email raisingyourgame@mencap.org.uk
