BRADFORD TRIDENT - NEWS

BD5 Together Against Violence and Crime!

Recently within BD5 there has been a grass root pilot scheme implemented to reduce drug dealing and increase the reporting of drug dealing and violent crime in the area.

Drugs have been an issue within our community for a significant amount of time. Drug dealers have operated as organised gangs and are responsible for violent crimes involving guns and knives which are born out of local gang culture.

The original pilot project in West Bowling was very successful and we have seen a substantial increase in calls into Crimestoppers to report drug dealing and associated crime. The partners involved in this project included the Police, Bradford Council, Primary Schools, Faith organisations, Bradford Trident and elected community representatives.

This success formed the basis of the current project which is to be implemented via funds of £20,000 from the Home Office’s Guns Gangs and Knives fund. The aims of the current project evolved from the meetings that we had as a group of organisations. The suggestions included early intervention work with children in primary schools, education with families including prevention work with secondary school children and outreach youth work with young people at risk of being involved in drugs and crime involving guns and knives.

The project delivery.

We will work within 9 of the primary schools in the area. The work will involve early intervention and prevention work such as:

Preventative work by reducing the likelihood of children in later life being involved in violent crime by teaching children about life skills. Children who are particularly susceptible will be referred by the schools within which the project will be run. The total number of workshops will be 9 that is one in each of the 9 primary schools.
Running workshops with children to teach them about assertiveness and how to deal with street aggression in a positive manner. The total number of workshops will be 9 that is one in each of the 9 primary schools.
Using motivational speakers to talk to children about channelling their energies towards positive and creative means. The total number of workshops will be 9 that is one in each of the 9 primary schools.
Teaching children about the negative affects of crime, and specifically violent crime. The total number of workshops will be 9 that is one in each of the 9 primary schools.
Working with parents tailoring training courses on how to manage children’s behaviour and how to de-program violent culture that is instilled within some children. The total number of workshops will be 9 that is one in each of the 9 primary schools.

We will work with secondary schools in the area and other voluntary and statutory sector organisations to access older children and young people. The work will involve:

Running workshops around training and development and promoting these vehicles to empowerment and how this can help an individual take their future in their own hands. The total number of workshops will be 3 that is one in each of the three secondary schools.

Teaching young people using positive role modelling about the negative affects of Gangs, the culture this breeds and how this destroys families. We will have people affected by such things talk about their reformation and life experiences. The total number of workshops will be 3 that is one in each of the three secondary schools.

In addition during the two years of the project's implementation we will have 114 hours of Outreach Youth Work to actively engage young people. Those involved in or susceptible to crime will be engaged via this work in the BD5 area. They will be referred to alternative avenues such as sports and recreation, training and development opportunities and if needed appropriate rehabilitation centres thus, reducing violent crime by some of these individuals.

If you would like more information on the project please call:

Bradford Trident on 431441 or alternatively email: aurangzeb.khan@bradford.gov.uk

The BD5 Together Against Violence and Crime project is financed by the Home Office through the Communities Against Gangs, Guns and Knives Fund.