Serious Youth Violence

Youth Violence is defined as 'any offence of most serious violence or weapon enabled crime, where the victim is aged 1-19' i.e. murder, manslaughter, rape, wounding with intent and causing grievous bodily harm. Young people associated with gangs are highly vulnerable.

Youth violence increases the risk for behavioural and mental health difficulties, including future violence perpetration and victimization, smoking, substance use, obesity, high-risk sexual behaviour, depression, academic difficulties, school dropout, and suicide.

Youth violence affects entire communities and different types of youth on youth violence include witnessing or being involved in physical, emotional and sexual abuse (e.g. physical attacks, bullying, rape), and violent acts like gang shootings and robberies that affect young people and draw them into serious youth violence.

There are a number of Individual Risk Factors which include:-

  • History of violent victimization.

  • Attention deficits, hyperactivity, or learning disorders.

  • History of early aggressive behaviour.

  • Involvement with drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Poor behavioural control.

  • Deficits in social cognitive or information-processing abilities.

  • High emotional distress.

The SLP works with young people referred to the project to tackle the issues that affect them. Some of this work includes: -

  • Listening

  • Providing Resources like Meals, Bus fares etc

  • Innovative and Creative Training.... Not more Schoolwork!

  • Connect them to positive people – change their friendship group

  • Give them a Mentor

Our Youth Work Team is led by Ryan Joseph a qualified youth and community worker who gained his qualification at the University of Bedfordshire.

He has post 5 years’ experience of delivering youth and community work and is experienced in outreach and detached models of youth work.

Ryan manages a bank of trainee and qualified youth and community workers who have a range of experience in working with young people with diversity of issues.

The SLP is proud of the youth work team who represent over 14 different community groups in the town. For Further information on our youth work please contact: Ryan Joseph on: 07702873618