News

Leap launches Academy of Youth and Conflict

Monday 1st December 2008

Leap Confronting Conflict, a leading charity in the field of youth and conflict has announced the launch of a major new initiative, The Leap Academy of Youth and Conflict. Leap is probably best known for its highly innovative work with Gangs and for the growing number of young people it has trained to transform their communities.

Building on Leap’s growing track record and international reputation, The Academy will provide youth and conflict qualifications all the way up to foundation degree. Leeds Metropolitan University, Leap’s academic partner will accredit qualifications. By publishing Leap’s ground breaking action research, holding conferences and other events The Academy will also increase awareness of the most effective approaches to youth and conflict issues.

Formal accreditation of courses is a critical to increasing the skills and employability of high potential youth workers. It also will provide a means for the many talented adults working in this field to gain formal recognition for the work that they are doing as well as to develop their
knowledge and skills still further. It will also provide a great incentive for people to become involved in this field, increasing the numbers of people professionally trained in this important area.

At a major launch event in London on 26th November policy makers, police, youth workers, educational leaders and others came together hear some of the Academy’s plans. They also heard from a group of inspirational young youth workers who are making a real difference in their communities.

Academy Director Jo Broadwood, who has over 20 years experience and has led many of Leap’s pioneering projects, described an exciting vision for the Academy. Commenting on the launch she said:
“Today’s launch is the culmination of many years of hard work. The Leap Academy has the potential to make an enormous difference to the lives of so many people in this country, and will be a liberating force for those involved in the field of youth and conflict.”

Dr Edward Halpin, Associate Dean, Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution at the Leeds Met University added;
“Leeds Met were very fortunate to find a partner in Leap who can make such a difference. The process to getting to this stage has been very rigorous and we have been hugely impressed by the Leap tem and their ability to motivate young people.”

High quality action research over many years has underpinned Leap’s approach and Detective Chief Inspector, Andy McKay, and Project Manager of the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) in Glasgow Chief Inspector Andy Mackay who has worked closely with Leap in Scotland said:
“Leap has managed to create something really special with The Academy of youth and conflict. To work with some of the youngsters Leap is developing has been really inspiring and been of terrific help in tackling a major issue in society in a wonderfully constructive way.”

Leap’s CEO Jennifer Rogers said:
“Leap’s work in the field over many years has enabled it to reach tens of thousands of young people. The launch of The Academy today will bring us one step nearer achieving our vision of a nation of young people able to constructively manage the conflict in their communities.”

For more information about Leap Confronting Conflict please contact:
Elly Gilbert, Communications Coordinator on:
020 7561 3718
elly.gilbert@leapconfrontingconflict.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
Leap Confronting Conflict (www.leapconfrontingconflict.org.uk) 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.