Tackling gang crime and serious youth violence is no longer someone else’s responsibility. There are many factors as to why young people are involved in gang crime or serious violence, and it is common that we all blame each other and say things such as, “it’s the parent’s fault”, “it is because of poverty, it’s the police’s fault, the government’s fault, the schools could have done more, there isn’t much youth services to motivate young people” and so on.

The truth is, it is not just one person or organisation’s job to protect our young people. It is all of our responsibility. Teswal White, our CEO said:

“It is no longer acceptable having only a few ‘heroes’ in the community doing the work, they will end up getting burnt out. We all have the responsibility to get involved in some sort of way.”

 As parents, community members, youth workers, industry professionals, medical professionals and more, we all can make a difference and be one step closer to preventing gang crime and youth violence.

What do we do?

As a community interest company, we help individuals and organisations to enhance their skills and elevate their career by enabling them to have the confidence and qualifications to work with marginalised groups and vulnerable young people.

To help tackle gang crime and serious youth violence, we provide mentoring, and classes in schools, as well as hosting community youth events. We also provided educational courses for adults interested in becoming a qualified gangs and youth violence specialist and working with marginalised young people.

So, what do we believe?

We believe every organisation that works or is associated with safeguarding young people should have qualified gangs and youth violence specialists on their team. The more qualified professionals are embedded across all third-party sectors, voluntary sectors, police force, social work, mediational services and educational systems, the more the support there will be for vulnerable young people.  The higher the involvement from multiple organisations involved in young people’s life, the fewer the young people will be at risk, therefore, giving the government no choice but to help support organisations and create policies that continue to prevent and support young people in future.

OCN Level 3 Working with Gangs and Youth Violence Course 

We have created two courses available. Our Blended Learning Certificate (28 credits) & the Distance Learning Award (10 credits). Both courses can be completed without ever having to leave your home or office. Both have been designed and tailored to equip you with specialist knowledge, skills, industry insights and mindset to effectively work with marginalised young people involved in gang crime and/or youth violence.

1. The Blended Learning Certificate Qualification can be completed within 30 weeks. The only entry requirements are that:

• You must be over 18
• You must show a keen interest in working with young people; particularly those who are impacted by gangs and youth violence
• You must be able to study at level 3 (equivalent to an A-level)
• You must be able to attend 3-hour weekly online classes, which typically run every Wednesday or Thursday Between 4 – 7 pm.

You will be studying in an online classroom environment with lecturers and other students. Our next course is due to start 28th April 2022. (Contact us for discounts and payment plans)

2. The Award Qualification can be completed within 12 to 24 weeks (depending on your own study schedule). The Award Qualification is suitable for people who:

• Already have experience in working with young people
• Hold a level 3 or higher education qualification and/or have some understanding but want to specialise to improve their understanding and effectiveness in their professional role.

This course is perfect for busy professionals, who have limited time and/or control of their daily schedules because there are no specific timetables, which gives you the freedom to study when and how you want.

See more information about both courses here: http://www.actcic.org.uk/gangscourse/

The 8 Units you will learn within the Gangs and Youth Violence Course.

1. Youth Marginalisation and its Impact on Communities. (3 Credits)
   

   This unit is about all the society, social pressures and factors as to how young people become isolated and involved in gang crime and youth violence. In this unit you will be able to;

• Understand the process of marginalisation of young people.
• Define the term ‘marginalisation’.
• Explain ways that young people are marginalised in UK culture.
• Understand the impact of marginalisation on young people.
• Analyse potential effects of marginalisation on young people.
• Know ways to reduce marginalisation and alienation of young people.
• Summarise strategies to reduce marginalisation of young people.
• Explain positive actions that will ensure individuals are treated with respect.
• Understand the wider impact of marginalisation on communities.
• Evaluate the impact marginalisation has on communities.
• Understand the principles of equity, equality and oppression.
• Define the terms equity, equality and oppression.
• Explain theories of oppression

2. Mental Health and Working with Youth Violence. (4 Credits)
   

   This unit is about psychological factors, trauma, mental health impacted by gangs and criminal groups. We also look at the perspective from a practitioner’s point of view and how to look after your mental health while working with young people. In this unit, you will be able to;

• Understand Mental Health and emotional wellbeing of gang members and youths who are perpetrators and victims of violence.
• Define the term ‘Mental Health’.
• Explain the risk to young gang members and violent young people of developing mental health conditions.
• Identify relationships between gang affiliation and mental wellbeing.
• Know signs and symptoms of mental health when working in a violent or gang-related environment.
• Explain the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in a violent or gang-related environment.
• Understand the impact of health, community and organisations on individuals in a gang related and violence impacted environment and on their families.
• Explain the impact of violence and trauma on individuals in a violent or gang-related environment.
• Explain the impact of mental ill health on individuals, families, communities and others.
• Explain how mental health affects some groups more than others.
• Know about approaches for treating and/or controlling mental illness.
• Describe management and treatment approaches that may be used in mental illnesses

3. Interpersonal Communication Skills in Complex Youth Environments. (3 Credits)
   

   In this unit we look more deeply into social factors and what drives children to get into crime. For example, we look at father absence, the young persons need to belong, connection to the community, social media impact and how the internet shapes their identity. In this unit, you will be able to;

• Learn interpersonal skills required to work in complex youth environments
• Describe the principles of emotional intelligence.
• Explain the use of emotional intelligence in situations related to violent young people and gangs.
• Understand how to apply different methods of relationship-building with violent young people and/or group members in a potentially violent environment.
• Identify different methods of relationship building in a violent or gang-impacted environment.
• Evaluate the appropriateness of using different methods of relationship building in an environment with young people and gangs.
• Explain methods of relationship-building in an environment with young people and gangs.

4. Safe Working with Young People at risk. (3 Credits)
   

   This unit is about developing your skill sets. We look at interpersonal communities, semiotics, communication skills, emotional intelligence, linguistic skills, and how to read others effectively while engaging with young people. In this unit, you will be able to;

• Understand how to keep oneself safe when working with young people in violent situations
• Identify key components for safe working.
• Explain the importance of safe working with violent youth in a gang-related environment.
• Understand the relevant legislative framework for safeguarding and protection of the vulnerable in a potentially violent environment.
• Explain safeguarding and protection of vulnerable young people and adults in the context of client relationships in a potentially violent environment.
• Describe key aspects of the law as it pertains to safeguarding.
• Describe good practice in safe working when working with violent youth and gangs.
• Describe key organisational policies relating to safe working and safeguarding.
• Understand the implications of lone working with violent young people in a violent environment.
• Describe the precautions that should be taken to ensure personal safety when working in a violent environment.
• Explain the implications of lone working in a youth violence environment.
• Explain implications for the individual and the organisation of lone-working

5. Social Factors that contribute to the development of violent youth and gang impacted environments. (5 Credits)
   

   This unit is about safe-working. Learning how to set boundaries and keeping yourself safe to enable you to be effective but not in harm’s way. In this unit, you will be able to:

• Understand the social factors that affect behaviour and groups.
• Understand the social forces and culture that form a context in which violent youth groups can emerge.
• Explain the social forces that can shape behaviour and form a context in which youth violence can emerge.
• Explain reasons why an individual would join a gang.
• Evaluate the impact of oppression on gang culture.
• Understand the impact of mass/multi media and social media on young people, youth violence and gangs.
• Analyse a gang member’s world view
• Describe the representation of young people including young people in gangs in the mass/multi media.
• Analyse the impact of mass/multi media messages on the public’s and society’s opinion of youth violence and gang-related activity.
• Analyse the impact of major social media on violent young people, and on gangs, including bullying.
• Explain how enforcement agencies use mass/ multi and social media

6. Social Psychological Perspectives for working in Violent Youth and Gang- Impacted Environments. (5 Credits)
   

   This unit is about the Social psychological perspectives and the theories around our work. In this unit, you will be able to;

• Understand the social psychological theory and its applications to working in violent youth environments.
• Explain the principles of social psychology.
• Explain the focus of social psychology on the individual and the individual within groups.
• Evaluate the significance of social psychology insights in relation to human groups and the development of gangs.
• Evaluate the drivers of human behaviour in groups including gangs.
• Understand the difference between psychological and sociological approaches to the study of groups.
• Explain psychological approaches to the study of groups.
• Explain sociological approaches to the study of groups.
• Compare psychological and sociological approaches to working with groups.
• Understand the relevance of social psychological approaches when working with individuals and groups including violent young people.
• Evaluate the relevance of different social psychological approaches for working with violent young people and gangs.

7. National Policy Framework for Working with Youth Violence and Groups. (4 Credits)
   

   This Unit is about National policies and how the government responds to funding and distributing organisations. And how we can change the system fundamentally. In this unit, you will be able to;

• Learn about national and local policies around working with youth violence and youth groups
• Explain the development of current national policy on youth violence and gang related activities.
• Explain the key components and drivers of national policy on youth violence and gang related activities.
• Explain the national policy framework on youth violence and gang related activities.
•  Understand the range of sectors that are involved in service delivery within social care.
• Explain the roles of statutory, voluntary and private agencies offering service delivery in social care.
• Understand the different roles of national and local agencies when working in environments around youth violence.
• Explain the roles of national and local agencies dealing with youth violence.
• Explain the links between policy and implementation as they apply to different agencies working alone and in multi – agency relationships operating in environments such as youth violence.
• Explain how national policy on youth violence and gang related activity is applied locally.
• Explain how the local policy framework impacts on violent young people and gangs.
• Understand your own role and relationship to policy implementation in a violent youth and gang related environment.
• Describe the extent of own role in relation to relevant services and to national policy on violent youth and gang related activity.
• Explain statutory and voluntary provision for working in a youth violent environment and in a gang related environment and their relationship to your own role.
• Understand the impact of legislation relating to working with violent young people and gangs.
• Explain the differing impact of various structures relevant to working with violent young people or with gangs.
• Explain criminal justice procedures in place for young people.
• Explain the position of young gang members who are in the criminal justice system.
• Describe the range of practice in relation to interventions relating to youth violence and gang-related activity.
• Evaluate justice and agency responses and interventions in youth violence and gang –related activity

8. Exit Strategies from Gangs. (2 credits)
   

   This unit is about exit strategies and different examples of modules that work in helping young people exit gangs. It is also about learning how to get young people to a point of leaving because not everyone is going to want to live the lifestyle, so how do you examine the situation and be more effective. We also teach you how to develop your own exit plan. In this unit, you will be able to;  

• Learners will learn about exit strategies and the implications when supporting young people to exit gangs.
• Explain current guidelines on exit strategies for young gang members.
• Explain the process for making a decision to relocate.
• Understand strategies to exit gangs.
• Compare different exit strategy models.
• Know ways of working with young people who wish to exit a gang.
• Explain ways to work with organisations and families to support gang members to access a safe environment.
• Evaluate ways to work alongside professional agencies to assist gang members to exit a gang.
• Understand implications of current practices when supporting young people to exit gangs.
• Evaluate the implications of current practices and procedures to support young people exiting from gangs.

How to apply?

To express your interest in this course, we ask you to fill out a form and then our CEO, Teswal White will phone interview you to discuss your interest and if you are right for this course, as well as discussing if this course is right for you.

To apply for the course, see our application form here.

For more information about the course, click here

Lastly, what are the benefits of taking the course?

What you learn on the course is applicable with marginalised communities and extremism, not just young people. Lots of professionals take our course to elevate their independent skills as well as their career. We have had people study our course because their employers wanted them to. Such as, teachers, police officers, emergency services and so on.

We also had people take our course who just wanted to use their knowledge and qualification to help their personal lives and community. For example, we have had parents, people with lived experiences take our course.  

Laura Brown is an NHS Nurse. She was a student on our Gangs and Youth Violence course who took the course as a personal choice to help elevate her career. After becoming qualified as a Gangs and Youth Violence specialist, she is now the leading expect in her organisation.  She states “My colleagues that I work with – They see me as an expert, so they come to me for advice”.

Check out Laura Brown’s Story here

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Gangs and Youth Violence Course or place holder amounts, please feel free to contact us.

Email: info@actcic.org.uk

Phone: 0121 356 1944

Contact us on our contact page.