THE Lt-Governor, Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, and Lady Corder were given an insight into the work of the Child Youth and Community Tribunal during their visit to the group’s St Martin’s headquarters.

They spoke to chair of the children’s convenor and tribunal board, Gill Couch, deputy children’s convenor James Ovenden, CYCT president David Raines and deputy president Jane Betley.

The couple heard how the tribunal was established in 2010 and offers children and young people in need or in trouble the chance to have their case heard outside of a court environment.

Prior to its formation, many young people who found themselves in trouble could have ended up in the Juvenile Court.
Since the CYCT started, the number of sittings of the Juvenile Court has decreased from one a week to about one a month, said Mr Ovenden. CYCT’s key purpose was to be inclusive, allowing both the child and the family to have a say in a setting that was less formal than a court room, although still regarded as a legal forum. ‘We give them an opportunity to learn from their mistakes,’ he said. ‘Our whole remit is to prevent repeat offending.’

Not all youngsters are referred to the tribunal, such as repeat offenders and those involved in motoring offences who may still appear in the Juvenile Court.

Sir Ian and Lady Corder also spent time during their visit with some of the islanders who sit on the tribunal. There are currently 40 in all, several of whom were onhand to talk about their role. Lady Corder expressed admiration for the volunteers and said experiencing some of the traumatic stories they encounter must be very hard.

Sir Ian said afterwards that he thought the CYCT had taken a ‘sophisticated’ approach to the issue, which had been carefully thought through beforehand. ‘A lot of effort has been put into tailoring it quite precisely into what Guernsey and Alderney needs. ‘The approach taken was inclusive and positive, focusing on early intervention and making sure that everybody had a voice, he said. He was impressed at the flexibility of the referral process, which could come from a professional, or the family, or even the children themselves.

Given that it was now ‘a mature process’, Sir Ian thought it would benefit from greater awareness: ‘I think it’s important that there is a wider awareness of what is on offer here, so it’s not frightening to people in need. ‘It’s a source of help to people. ‘I would like to see its profile gently raised across the community.’