Much of our research is gleaned direct from ex gang members , some of whom are available for peer-to-peer mentoring. Each Fix Up! workshop is aimed at examining and challenging specific aspects of "mindset/ thinking" (negative influences) behind young people's uncritical or misconstrued acceptance of violent gang culture.
Fix Up! workshops are presented using visual aids that encourages participants to think more deeply about the consequences of gang culture and criminal behaviour. Fix Up! takes a close look at gang culture from the root causes. This helps the development of new ways of understanding and deconstructing gang culture.
Fix Up! workshop themes include:
• Challenging Young People Who Carry Weapons
• Violent Crimes Destroys Lives
• Weapons Attack!
• Negative Media Influences
• Prison Is Not A Bed of Roses
• Understanding the Law
• Sex and Violence in Teen Relationships
A survey of the violence and crime committed by young people in London and other major cities in the UK should leave you in no doubt that gangs are here and they are making their presence felt. Unfortunately, more often than not, being in a gang is not merely engaging in anti-social behaviour.
For many gangs and gang members, this type of behaviour merely serves as a springboard to a more violent criminal behaviour. It is a fact that gangs are in our schools, colleges and local communities and the more we learn about them, the better we will be able to take action to prevent gang proliferation.
If your organisation is responsible for this sort of learning and needs to demonstrate this sort of achievement with young people, then these workshops are ideal for you.
This workshop aims to provide young people with a forum in which to discuss their knowledge of and attitudes towards this genre of music and the negative impact it is having on young people’s relationships, especially in the light of the brutal murders of three teenage ‘grime’ artists in London.
The workshop is also intended to help the young people to focus their efforts ensuring a safer neighbourhood by challenging the negative themes presented in this genre as well as move towards positive life choices and career goals.
The ‘Daily Grime’ workshop lasts approximately 1.5 hours and is delivered using multimedia audio-visual PowerPoint slides.
• Why is it so popular among young people?
• The History of ‘Grime’
• How did it evolved from house, garage, ‘jungle’ and ‘ragga’ to what we have today?
• Who are the main artists responsible for its genesis and transformation?
• The impact of ‘Grime’ on gang culture
• Do the artists make money out of it?
• How is the criminal justice system using ‘Grime’ video uploads to secure criminal convictions and banning orders i.e. gang ‘asbos’.
• Understanding Emotions – triggers, warning signs, consequences
• Factors that contribute to negative emotions
• Managing negative emotions through breath control, mind management
EMFE is an interactive theory and practice based session that aims to help young people to understand, recognise and take control of their negative feelings and emotions.
The session covers what emotions are, how they manifest, what influences them to manifest negatively e.g. substance misuse (i.e. cannabis and alcohol, poor dietary habits, poor sleep habits, negative media (violent music, films and PlayStation games), negative peer groups (i.e. gangs).
The practical element will be breathing, relaxation simple anger management techniques.
• Conflict! – How they arise in the home, place of learning or community
• Resolving Conflicts I – the “lose-lose” approach facilitated by negative peers
• Resolving Conflicts II – the “win-win” approach facilitated by positive peers & adults
• Resolving Conflicts III – common issues that give rise to conflicts in teen relationships & how to avoid and resolve them
URC is an interactive session that aims to help young people to understand, avoid and/or resolve conflicts that arise in the home, place of learning and the community.
• To give participants a better understanding of relationships and some of the common issues affecting teenage relationships.
• Raise awareness of the negative media influences (music videos, films, magazines, etc.) affecting female body image and girl’s sexual behaviours.
• To give participants an understanding of what emotions are and how they are influenced by diet, lifestyle and other factors (trauma, bereavement, abuse, etc).
• Instruct participants in simple mind management techniques to help them to manage and transcend negative emotions
• Give participants a clear view of the issues and factors affecting female health
• Raise awareness of the benefits of education as a foundation for career and life goals
• Relationships – Not Sex!
• Female Gender and Media Issues
• Understanding Emotions – triggers, warning signs, and consequences.
• Transcending negative emotions through simple to learn breathing, mind management and exercises
• Understanding dietary and lifestyle factors that contribute to general health issues
• Achieving through education, employment or entrepreneurialism
• Raise awareness of the escalating issue of radicalisation and violent extremism;
• Increase understanding of how radicalisation and violent extremism presents itself in the community i.e. social, political and religious;
• Alert participants of the risks and dangers of young or vulnerable people being radicalised by gangs, religious or far right groups and adopting violent extremist views (hate speech) and/or engaging in criminal acts (violence or terrorism);
• Alert participants of the causes and signs of radicalisation to challenge, deter or refer to the appropriate authorities;
• Deter young people from joining violent street gangs or extreme religious or political groups
• Radicalisation I - Road, Far Right and Religion – workshop designed specifically for young people
• Radicalisation II - Road, Far Right and Religion – workshop designed specifically for parents and professionals
