I think many people are feeling the pressure of the ‘cost of living’ crisis. As living conditions in the UK become increasingly difficult, more and more young people are turning to criminal activity.

While there are a variety of reasons as to why young people might engage in such behaviours, many of the underlying issues steam from government policies that have made it difficult for them to make ends me.

For example, rising living costs make it impossible for some young people, or their family members to afford basic necessities, leading them to turn to crime as means of survival.

There are more reasons as to how the pressure of living in the UK can cause young people to lead to crime, but as adults, we have the reasonability to protect and guide young people onto a better path.

One of the ways we can support young offenders is by educating each other.

Working with young people involved in gangs and serious youth violence.

What do you need to know?

When working with young people involved in gangs or participating in serious youth violence, its important to have a good understanding on these few areas.

• • Youth Marginalisation and its impact

  • Young people and their mental health

  • Interpersonal communication skills in complex youth environments

  • Safe working with young people at risk

  • Social factors that contribute to the development of violent youth and gang impacted environments

  • Social psychological perspectives for working with violent youth and gang impacted environments

  • National policy framework for working with youth violence and groups

  • Exit strategies from gangs CCE and violence

What is your professional score right now?  

If you already work with young people involved with gangs and serious youth violence, or you want to, you can take our free quiz to know exactly what level you are in these 5 crucial categories.

1. Professional development: Any training or continued education you have received in relation to improving your practice with young people, families, and communities.

2. Experience: Your own lived experience or your previous experiences of working with young people affected by these issues and how this may influence your practice.

3. Attributes: Your attributes and personal qualities, such as empathy, cultural sensitivity, and resilience, and how they impact their ability to work with young people affected by serious youth violence.

4. Knowledge: Your understanding of the causes and consequences of serious youth violence, as well as the various theories interventions and approaches that have been developed to address it.

5. Skills: Your skills and abilities in working with young people affected by serious youth violence, such as communication, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution & crisis management.

In just 5 minutes you will answer multiple choice questions, get a score from each category listed above and then a final overall score.

After taking the quiz you will receive a free personalised report instantly to your email. The report will be detailed so it will help you improve your practice and increase your impact with the young people you work with.

How to become a qualified gangs and youth violence specialist?

Our popular course is UK’s only accredited programme of its kind, it is developed by a team of experts, including Dr Sangeeta Soni (Birmingham City University), Gangs and Youth Violence Expert, Craig Pinkney (SOLVE), and Youth Development Specialist Teswal White (Alkhami).

There are 8 units in the course and can be completed within 12 weeks to 12 months.

In our Working in gangs and serious youth violence course, you will learn;

1. The underlying factors that contribute to the formation and perpetuation of serious youth violence, urban street gangs and child criminal exploitation.

2. Techniques for safely and effectively working with young people impacted by serious youth violence and high-risk environments

3. Insights into the social and psychological dynamics of serious youth violence

4. Strategies for supporting young people to disengage from the violence, gangs and criminal activity

5. How to develop, and employ different exit strategy models to support young people’s desistance

6. The core theories and models that you can use to underpin your practice.

7. Develop the skills required to effectively engage and support young people, families and communities.

Click here to find out more!