Young people at risk or already involved in street crime are being helped by a new project, Streets to Society, which aims to give young people the skills and confidence to address their negative behaviours and re-integrate into the community.
Chapeltown Youth Development Centre (CYDC) is running the project following an award of £5600 from the Inner North East Community Committee.
Some of the hardest to reach youths in Chapeltown and surrounding areas, at risk or already involved in criminality or anti-social behaviour, took part in the programme during the summer holidays. The project consisted of 12, three-hour workshops over six weeks held at the Community Pathfinders Training Centre in Tadcaster. The workshops focussed on: alcohol and drugs; gun, gang and knife crime; violent behaviour; space and territory; status and reputation; enemies and revenge; bullying and intimidation; leadership and raising aspirations; self-confidence and positive role models. West Yorkshire Police supported the delivery programme around weapons awareness, the de-glorification of criminality and the harsh reality of sentencing and accountability.
Following the programme, individuals that need additional support will be given this on a one to one basis by other services to help them make well informed life choices in the future. This will then continue with opportunities for young people to feed into other activities run by Chapeltown Youth Development Centre including: football; basketball; rugby; music; girls groups, youth clubs and community engagement activities.
Councillor Eileen Taylor (Chair, Inner North East Community Committee) said:
“I am very pleased that the Community Committee has been able to fund this project and I hope it will serve to raise the aspirations of these young people and give them a better chance in life. Going forward, they may also act as an example to other young people involved in criminality or gang affiliation.”
“In addition to improving the lives of the individuals concerned, the whole community benefits as we create a safer, more social community that doesn’t live in fear of gangs, drug dealing, anti-social behaviour or knife crime. Others in our community, including the elderly, want to see a more productive, vibrant community where they feel safe and this project will help us to make that a reality.”
