Youth Endowment Fund have recently published a series of reports focussed on violence affecting teenage children.
- Nearly 1-in-5 teenagers in England and Wales had been a victim of violence (including physical violence, sexual assault, robbery, threats with weapons) in the last year.
- Around 3-in-10 victims required doctor / hospital treatment.
- Children who carry a weapon such as a knife are 14 times more likely to have been the victim of repeated incidents of violence.
- 1-in-8 teenagers had been asked to sell drugs, transport drugs, or store drugs, weapons or money in the last year (a quarter went through with it)
- Around 1-in-40 had been in a ‘gang’ (A group of young people who think of themselves as a ‘gang’, probably with a name, who are involved in violence or other crime) in the last year.
- Children in a ‘gang’ were 17 times more likely to have been the victims of serious violence.
The final report concludes:
“Leaving a ‘gang’ is possible. More teens have left ‘gangs’ than are currently involved. Reasons for leaving include growing older (26%), avoiding trouble with the police (22%), and wanting to be a role model (18%). Support also matters: boys more often cited positive activities like sports or creative programmes, while girls more often credited teachers, mentors or social workers… timely and coordinated support can help children break free from cycles of exploitation and ‘gang’ involvement – giving them a real chance to live a life free from violence.”