Knife Crime and Role Models

There has been an increase in knife crime amongst young people recently. Even in nice areas, in which knife crime is a rarity.

Here is an interesting speech from an MP in London talking about knife crime.

Why are young people becoming so violent?

Clearly, peer pressure is an issue. Can positve role models influence young people to stay away from crime?

Please note comment on role models and mentoring:

Comment from: Emma Dobie [Visitor] · http://www.mandbf.org.uk

The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation strongly agrees with MP, Andrew Lowe regarding the role that the voluntary sector can play in making a real difference on the streets. Mentoring can be seen as one vital ingredient in a menu designed to help young people avoid falling into patterns of persistent criminal behaviour.

29/07/08 @ 11:49

Mentoring can help to address gang culture by providing positive role models to help stop violence and knife crime. This point was recently highlighted by Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan in the Evening Standard who said; “Role models play a huge part in how young people behave. They can promote an atmosphere of respect and maturity”.

Many mentoring initiatives are currently being considered by the Government including persuading the armed forces and police to act as positive role models. Separately the REACH report from the DCLG, led to the launch in July this year of the Black Boys’ National Role Model programme. MBF welcomes such proposals however emphasizes the need for good practice, proper funding and high standards.

The Hampton Trust runs the Interact-ED project on the Isle of Wight which successfully uses group sessions and personal mentoring to reduce youth crime among 12- to 17-year-olds. “I’m absolutely a firm believer in mentoring,” says Interact-ED’s programme manager Karen Jordan. She adds that a mentor often makes a big impact on the mentees simply by giving up their time without payment.

“Once a young person trusts a mentor they respect the opinions, values, challenges and guidance that the individual represents,” agrees Ann Stockreiter, who co-ordinates the South Central Youth – Back from the Frontline project, which targets 12- to 21-year-olds involved in gang subculture and criminal lifestyles.

Indeed, Back from the Frontline actively encourages former gang members to train as youth workers, go out into the community and show young people that they have different options and choices available to them. Research certainly backs up this approach.

Earlier this year, a Youth Justice Board report – Groups, gangs and weapons – examined the question of gang and weapon offending. It noted that the young men involved said that having a respected adult to turn to would have helped to prevent them from offending.

Mentoring is not everybody’s bedrock, but it can still provide essential elements within a more varied project. The Southwark-based, From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation uses mentoring within its day programme of education and development. It works with black 11- to 19-year-olds who have been excluded from school to end their involvement or prevent them becoming involved with gangs, drugs and violence.

In Rochdale, John Greenbank is happy with his charity’s successes. They have seen crime figures among young people on their scheme fall by 64 per cent, truancy rates drop by over 90 per cent and many school leavers successfully applying for further education.

In conclusion, MBF firmly believes that mentoring can offer opportunities to those that may be involved with knife crime. It should not be seen as the only solution but as part of a package to support young people away from a life of crime.

To find out more about mentoring and befriending please visit our website at www.mandbf.org.uk

Gangs have Replaced Parents as Role Models

An interesting article about how gangs have replaced parents as role models.

Demonstrating Role Models: Work Experience

Work experience is such a good way for students to experience what a career is like.

They spend two weeks with a company, and if they get a really good placement, then they can have better chances of reaching their career goals in the future.

However, not everyone can get a good work experience placement. And what if the child gets a good placement, but then realises that they wouldn’t like to pursue it?

Our idea is to have a sample work experience placement, all under one roof for a period of 3 days so that students can walk in and out of a variety of different career types and actually see, hear and feel what that job entails.

A demonstration is always  more powerful than a theory. If you are a teacher, you will definitely understand that children learn more when shown what something is, than when they are simply told and explained what something  is.

The best formula is to explain, then demonstrate and then get the student to do it themselves.

We do this in the classroom, why not do with careers education as well?

Role Models: What is the Purpose?

The whole purpose of a role model is to draw a young person toward a certain direction.

It is the quality that the child must adopt – not the whole persona. The persona is too advanced and developed.

If we can encourage a child to work hard, for example, this is a good result. If we can encourage a young person to have higher standards, this is a good result. If we can encourage a young person to read more, then this is a good result.

The whole point is to encourage the young person to take steps in the right direction, and then reward those steps as they take them.

The role model is the catalyst. Begin this process in the child, young person, adult – whomever.

We cannot expect young people to understand the many virtues of Gandhi or Marie Curie – however, we can influence them to take steps in that direction.

The first step is the most important. Once the first step is  taken…many more will follow.

Role Model Myth

It doesnt really matter who we think make good role models for young people.

It doesnt matter that news articles are written, that awards are given.

A young person’s role model is chosen by the young person.

The only way to encourage the uptake of positive role models is to present them as a choice. An easy choice and hope that the young person will make the right choice.

Young people are, after all, very capable of good choices. Its just that so far, the choice has not been there for them to make.

What’s a Role Model?

I have given some more thought to the topic of role models. A role model doesn’t neccessarily have to be some major award winning, treble nominated, super person. These people are great and children should be exposed to them of course.

A role model cn also be something that is within reach.

So what are the factors of a role model? They must be “good” people (i.e. they didnt get to where they are in life by lying or stealing or anything similar). They must have got to where they are through work and dedication – through merit. They must love what they do. They must have high standards for themselves.

I guess a role model is someone who can inspire a child to stay on the right path and not be tempted by easy solutions to their problems such as crime, or voilence or quitting – a person who can be identified with and admired.

That is what a role model is…I think….

The Football Model

Research is telling us that boys are performing badly at schools.

As a teacher, I can see why. Nothing lights up a young boys face like conversation about his favorite football team. I have often sat in the classroom trying to engage m students in discussion about why they are not applying themselves to their work.

“I’m going to be a footballer” they say, “I don’t need study”.

And it is not exactly bad thinking that gets children to this point. Think about it: its a short term goal, that they (in their mind) can be realised in only two or three years. All you need to do is seriously commit yourself to football, and someone will spot you before you reach 18 years. Once that happens, you are in the big time – you are rich, and famous and successful and you never need to do homework again.

However, many do not realise this dream and they only realise the importance of an education when it is too late. For this reason, rather than trying to talk our kids out of wanting to be footballers – we need to make sure they have alternative role models which focus their other talents: such as writing, mathematics and science.

There is so much academic potential in our children that we must find a way to encourage this potential and inject the kind of zest and attraction that football has.

Football is winning our children because of the way it is presented to them. Surely we can find a way to present other things in the same, powerful way.

After all…they aren’t all fantastic at football. But they are all fantastic at something.

Lets make that something something to shout about.

The Rapper Role Model

Children want to feel secure. Today’s schools are a daily fight for survival. So how is a child supposed to survive?

Rappers are branded as strong, confident and wealthy individuals who gained their status by being strong and tough. How accurate a portrayal this is, I am not sure. What I am sure of is that this is an attractive model for children because these characters are not to be messed with.They get to the to quickly, they win their battles and they are easy to imitate and be like.

They are achieveable models in the childs mind, and imitating them gives the impression of strength and confidence – an image that will surely protect the child from harm.

Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to 95 individuals and 20 organisations since 1901. Funny how most people have never even heard of them.

We talk about the problems with youth and often attribute these problems to a lack of adequate role models. But there is a diverse and multi cultural selection of people on the peace prize list.

Rarely do we hear kids talk about such accomplishments. Could it be because we don’t mention them enough?

Mission: to find as many peace awards and role models as possible.