News

Response to a report on Young People and Gangs

Thursday 24th June 2010

Leap Confronting Conflict welcomes the new report that has just been published jointly by the three Chief Inspectors of Prisons, Probation and Constabulary. The report calls for an integrated joint national strategy between prisons, probation and the police on how to deal with issues of youth gangs. The report also notes the need for good local partnership working, specialist training for practitioners and the importance of working with schools. Leap began its work on gangs and territorialism in 2000 with an action research project developing understanding and skills for working with young people caught up in gang and group violence. Currently we are involved in a number of initiatives tackling issues of gang membership and serious youth violence from preventative work through to intervention work

Preventative work:

Leap works with schools, often in areas where there is a risk of serious violence and conflict in the local community, with programmes that train young people in mediation skills. This preventative work with young people develops their abilities in youth leadership and conflict prevention work. Young people like Tiffany, who was regularly absent from school, attended the programme and signed up to become a peer mediator:

“Well I like the course v. much because I have been going through a ruff patch and I had just cum back into school and I didn’t know wt I was going to be doing so thank you.”

The teachers have noted Tiffany’s new confidence and enthusiasm.
After working with Leap Confronting Conflict, schools record improved behaviour, improved communication, often better attendance and reduction in conflict amongst students.

Intervention work

Leap’s Fear and Fashion project works with young people who are at risk of using and carrying weapons. Young people identified as being at risk are referred through the local YOT, and Positive Action for Young People’s (PAYP) programme. They attend an intensive self-leadership programme where they are challenged to examine the choices they are making and supported in changing their risky behaviour. After training in facilitation they then go out to local schools, colleges and youth clubs to train other young people in conflict awareness and knife prevention skills. One of the Fear and Fashion peer- leaders Ahmed says:

“If it wasn’t for Fear and Fashion I would be in prison or dead”

Leap’s Fear and Fashion project works closely with local partners from the police, the YOT, and Westminster Services for Young People. Close partnership working and a joined up approach has been crucial to the success of the project. For the full Fear and Fashion story see the short film on our website – Fear and Fashion 2010

Specialist Practitioner Training

Leap has been working with CIRV, the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence in Glasgow, training local practitioners in the understanding and specialist skills needed for working with young people involved in violence and gang membership. This city wide partnership approach led by the police utilizes a range of organisations, agencies and approaches to offer a route out of violence for young people. In the first year of the project CIRV announced an almost 50% reduction in violent activity of those young men directly involved in the project.

Chief Inspector Robert Stevenson from Glasgow estimates the cost of a murder investigation at £1,500,000, and an investigation into a serious wounding at £750,000. This does not take into account the costs of custody for a young person, or the emotional and psychological costs to the victims, families, and communities involved.

Investing in the specialist programmes provided by third sector organisations such as Leap needs to be a key part of any national strategy, and in this age of cuts and austerity, will in the long run, save us money.

Jo Broadwood
Director of the Leap Academy of Youth And Conflict