Finding Purpose Through Reparative Work: A Reflection on Youth Engagement

By Annmarie Gardner

Immediate Justice and Placement Impact

Working with young people on Red Snapper Managed Service’s Immediate Justice programme in Nottingham has reminded me that behaviour rarely exists in isolation. Behind anti-social behaviour, risk-taking, or disengagement, there is usually a need for belonging, recognition, or purpose. One recent placement reinforced for me how important environment, empathy, and meaningful activity can be in changing the tone of an interaction with a young person.

During a community placement linked to reparative work, I supported a young person who had initially been referred due to anti-social behaviour in a town centre. At the start of the session, it was clear they felt uncomfortable and anxious. The placement environment was far busier than expected, with volunteers from a charity preparing for a large community event. For many professionals, this may not seem significant, but for a young person already entering an unfamiliar setting as part of a justice intervention, the atmosphere could easily have become overwhelming.

What struck me most was how quickly engagement changed once the young person felt included rather than managed.

Instead of focusing purely on completing the required hours, I took time to speak with them away from the larger group and explained the purpose behind the activity taking place around us. Once they understood they were contributing towards something positive for the wider community, rather than simply being “punished”, their attitude shifted noticeably. They agreed to support the volunteers and gradually became more involved in the work being completed.

Throughout the placement, we moved between indoor preparation work and outdoor tasks clearing community spaces. The practical nature of the activities helped create natural conversation without pressure. I often find that some of the most meaningful discussions with young people happen when attention is shared through activity, rather than sitting face-to-face in a formal setting.

As trust developed, the young person spoke openly about some of the risky behaviours linked to their referral. This created an opportunity for a genuine conversation around consequences, identity, and alternative outlets. I tried to explore what interested them about risk and adrenaline in the first place. We discussed healthier pathways that might channel those interests positively, including outdoor activities and potential careers linked to adventure or sports instruction.

Reflecting afterwards, I realised the key learning for me was not about enforcement or compliance. It was about connection.

The presence of other volunteers and charities unintentionally created something incredibly valuable: a sense of shared purpose. The young person was no longer isolated as “someone completing justice work”. They became part of a wider group contributing towards something meaningful. That shift appeared to reduce shame and increase ownership over the work they were doing.

By the end of the placement, their presentation had changed significantly. They were more relaxed, communicative, and engaged with both staff and volunteers. What stayed with me most was how small moments of encouragement and inclusion seemed to create space for reflection in a way that formal conversations alone sometimes cannot.

Best Practice Takeaways

• Young people often engage more positively when reparative work feels meaningful rather than purely punitive.
• Shared activity can reduce barriers and create more natural opportunities for reflective conversation.
• Trauma-informed practice is not always about having the perfect intervention; sometimes it is about creating environments where young people feel safe enough to participate without judgement.
• Language matters. Explaining why a task benefits the community can help develop accountability without reinforcing shame.

This experience has encouraged me to think more carefully about how we frame reparative justice work with young people. If we want behaviour to change long-term, we need to create opportunities where young people can experience value, contribution, and connection — not just consequences.