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All Party Parliamentary Group for Conflict Issues and Leap Confronting Conflict call for urgent action to prevent youth violence

Wednesday 9th December 2009

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues (APPGCI) and Leap Confronting Conflict (Leap), today called for urgent action to transform the culture of youth violence in the UK and position it as the leading conflict prevention country in Europe. Charity of the Year, Leap Confronting Conflict has been training young people in the skills they need to tackle and prevent violence for over two decades.

The APPGCI event, ‘Conflict Prevention – In our Schools, On our Streets’, brought together over 70 policy makers, police, partners, MPs, business leaders and educationalists from across the country to highlight the critical role that young people can play in embedding a culture of conflict prevention in the UK.

Chaired by Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey, the discussion was led by Jennifer Rogers, Chief Executive of Leap, who called upon attendees to support the campaign to tackle one of the most pressing problems facing the British public today. Jennifer was accompanied by Leap’s young peer leaders who opened the evening by showcasing their skills in managing conflict.

Commenting on the event Jennifer said: “Leap has the explicit vision of creating a nation of young people who can prevent and manage conflict in their own communities. We believe that with the right skills and support young people are the solution to reducing violence and fear in local communities and schools nationwide. Through this APPGCI event we are seeking to unite policy makers, police, partners, MPs, business leaders and educationalists in order to create a national network of leaders who will champion and support young people to build a legacy of prevention for the future. Young people are the best role models for other young people; we will all benefit from believing in their leadership.”

Simon Hughes added: “The APPGCI are very proud to be a part of the legacy of prevention that Leap is working so hard to create. The invaluable training that the organisation offers is equipping peer leaders as young as 11 to become peacemakers, often in extremely challenging environments. Young people have the power to inspire and lead us all in preventing youth violence in our schools and communities.”

Leap has championed peer-mediation as a successful means to tackle youth violence in the UK for more than twenty years and will reach over 30,000 young people this year through its training as well as undertaking further pioneering research on this very important social issue.

Ends

For further information, please contact:
Elly Gilbert 020 7561 3718 elly.gilbert@leapconfrontingconflict.org.uk

Notes to editors
Leap Confronting Conflict (Leap) has a track record of 22 years development of innovative youth programmes that work with young people and youth practitioners to prevent and manage violence and transform challenging and anti-social behaviour. Leap has the explicit vision that conflict resolution skills and understanding should be located within all informal and formal programmes for young people in the UK.
Registered Charity no: 1072376 | Registered Company no: 3628271