Guns, gangs, family and community

The session(s) utilise an array of teaching methods which includes individual and group centered exercises, where we present practical solutions to tackle these serious concerns for the black and wider communities in the UK. Participants are encouraged to engage in open and honest discussions about why gang culture is so appealing to young people, focusing on practical ways to break the cycle that ultimately leads to self destruction for far too many them.

The session(s) feature an analysis of the role of popular culture in young lives with an emphasis placed on the promotion of the stereotypes, that dominate the mainstream media, where black youth are seen as the most aggressive and least intelligent. Thus we feature musical and DVD extracts that highlight why the young people themselves, along with the wider community, need to take ownership and responsibility for what is happening on the streets, especially to black boys.

We encourage the young people to express their innermost concerns about the things that affect their daily lives, including the manner in which they perceive themselves as a way to explain how they are often perceived by others, especially those in positions of authority. This information can then be used to enable teachers, parents and youth practitioners to support them in a way that is empowering and uplifting.

For Nu-Beyond their young voices must be central to any proposed solutions otherwise they become meaningless talking shop exercises that serve only to exacerbate the intergenerational tensions that many of them see as their biggest problem. Our sole aim is therefore to deliver potential strategies that enable the young people to rethink, and therefore change, their value system in a manner that raises their educational aspirations and assists their positive social development.

Nu-Beyond tailor the session(s) to suit individual and organisational needs and can therefore deliver them as an ongoing piece of work or as a one off session. Please see ABOUT US for contact details where we will be happy to assist with any enquires.

TESTIMONIAL FOR NU-BEYOND SEMINAR ON GUNS, GANGS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

Dr. Henry conducted seminars with each of my tutor groups regarding guns, gangs and family in June 2007.

The seminars were designed to challenge the perceptions of the students and to enable them to critically analyse recent events in London.

Dr. Henry had a very calm, authoritative manner with the students and had no problem managing the behaviour of the students. Students developed a rapport with him very quickly and were keen to discuss the issues he raised with them. They were inspired by him and many related to him due to his cultural background.

Dr. Henry is pro education and highlights its necessity in today’s society if you are to achieve success. Students were encouraged to study to at least degree level.

Students comments included:

“ He made me think about what a gang is and if I really was part of one. He made me realise that I need to do well in school and not to hang around with the wrong crowd.”

“He made me realise that I need at least a degree if I am to succeed and get a good car and a house.”

“He made me think about carrying a weapon for protection and how it may be used against me or that a knife might soon become a gun.”

“He made me realise that there are good and bad people, not good and bad black people and that they are not the only ones doing bad things, even if that’s all we seem to hear and read about.”

“I enjoyed watching his video and realising that he was important to our community and spoke up for us.”

I would have no hesitation in asking Dr. Henry to come back to the school and conduct further sessions with the students on a variety of issues. He is a positive role model for young people and I am very pleased my students were able to benefit from him.

Amanda Morrell
Head of Year 8
Blackheath Bluecoat School

The culture of the Classroom – pathways to violence

The proposed research will examine the changing nature of ‘Black’ youth crime and consider whether there is a direct link to the disproportionate exclusion of African Caribbean students from secondary schools and gang affiliation. According to the latest figures ‘Black Caribbean pupils are ‘three times as likely as white pupils to be permanently excluded from school’ (DfES, 2005: 1). Consequently, many of those excluded black pupils who live in high-crime, low-income, areas are at risk of being drawn into alternative forms of ‘employment’ to satisfy real and imeeds.