Nat Defriend started his career in front-line criminal justice services beginning as a volunteer and developing into a practitioner and manager. His role as a social worker with the Hackney Youth Offending Team has given him a comprehensive understanding of youth justice. He has worked in central government, where he has developed extensive knowledge of policy, systems change, and the link between research and practice advice. After working at the Young Foundation as Director of Communities, Nat is now Development Director at Participatory City in Barking and Dagenham.