A new book ‘A Chance for Change’ explores the important topic of what fair justice could mean for children and young people, through a collection of thought-provoking essays and creative reflections.
Published by the charity Diagrama Foundation, with funding from the Monument Fellowship, it is hoped that ‘A Chance for Change’ will open important dialogue about fair justice for children and young people.
The foreword by John Bird, Baron Bird MBE, who has empathy and understanding for the content of the book because of his experiences in the system from the age of 10 says, “The work of Diagrama Foundation excites me, because it tries to build that tranquillity around young people; so that they can begin to be transformed by the work done around them, and which they also do on themselves.”
Having visited the Fundacion Diagrama juvenile centres in Spain with David McGuire, the Chief Executive of Diagrama Foundation, Lord Bird was moved to write about his visit in the Big Issue (dated 27 May-02 June), “What attracted me was the success rate in reforming young people. Some 80% returned to society using methods that would appal Westminster: here we are lucky if we get 30%. I could recognise some of the methods used in Spain – purposeful activity and involvement in schooling and work – from my own young offending days.”
With a successful blueprint for alternative juvenile detention in Spain, which has flipped youth recidivism rates Diagrama is delighted to publish ‘A Chance for Change’.
David McGuire, Chief Executive, Diagrama Foundation said, “Our Monument Fellowship book is aimed at anyone who works with, or supports, children and young people in the justice system and anybody who makes or influences policy and practice in this area. We wanted ‘A Chance for Change’ to explain the impact that their work has on children and young people and inform them about emerging practices and new ideas. We are delighted that The Lord Bird agreed to write the foreword and we hope the compelling submissions encourage discussion to bring about positive and lasting change to deliver fair justice for children and young people.”
‘A Chance for Change’ is the 5th book in the Monument Fellowship series.
To order a copy of ‘A Chance for Change’ visit – www.amazon.co.uk/dp/191702617X
Notes to Editors
- Publisher : Diagrama Foundation (9 July 2024)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 288 pages
- ISBN-10 : 191702617X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1917026178
- Dimensions : 14.81 x 1.65 x 21.01 cm
- Price : £8.99
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/191702617X
Diagrama Foundation is a member of the International Juvenile Justice Observatory’s European Council for Juvenile Justice with more than 80 other members from all over Europe.
www.diagramafoundation.org.uk/international-juvenile-justice-observatory
About David McGuire
Advocate for better custodial care for youth offenders, David McGuire, the Chief Executive of Diagrama foundation has seen firsthand the success of the Spanish ‘re-education’ system that he implemented with the charity Fundacion Diagrama. Now CEO of Diagrama Foundation, the UK arm of the charity, Mr McGuire tirelessly campaigns for changes and improvements to youth custody.
David’s submission ‘A System Transformed’: reflections on 30 years of change in the Spanish youth justice system, can be read from page 185 of A Change for Change
About the Monument Fellowship
Diagrama Foundation is one of eight members of The Monument Fellowship, funded by the Woolbeding Charity who work together to make a sustained, cumulative, and transformative change to the journey of individuals through our justice system.
The Fellowship’s programme to publish a series of books, about improving the justice system culminates with the Diagrama Foundation book, which addresses the question “What could fair justice mean for children and young people?”
About Diagrama Foundation
Diagrama Foundation is a Kent based charity that supports vulnerable children, young people, and adults to live their best life.
Diagrama has a Supported Living Service across Bromley, three homes for adults with learning disabilities in Orpington, an eight-bed care home for adults with learning disabilities in West Sussex a fifty-bed care home for the elderly with nursing and dementia needs in Essex, and a fostering and adoption service in the southeast.
- The Supported Living Service, cares for 35 adults with learning disabilities, in nine homes across Bromley helping them to develop skills and confidence to live in their own house either on their own or with others.
- At Cabrini House in Orpington the charity promotes the development of core skills for 23 adults with learning disabilities so that they can lead independent lives integrated within their community.
- Duckyls Farm in West Sussex, a care home for eight residents with learning disabilities, joined the charity care provider in February 2023.
- The team at their nursing and dementia care home, Edensor Care Centre in Clacton on Sea, support vulnerable residents to live life to the full.
- Diagrama’s adoption and fostering service cares for children in London, Kent, East and West Sussex, Berkshire and Surrey.
Many vulnerable children and adults don’t get the support they need to develop their true potential, but the Diagrama team know that when someone has time and belief invested in them, they come alive, because that investment has made them feel valued and worthy.
