On Monday the 25th of June, several British Newspapers, published articles reporting that approximately 32,000 British children, some as young as 10, are involved in criminal gangs and knife crime . Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner, found that criminals had a well-rehearsed business model for recruiting young people. This process is sometimes referred to as ‘grooming’ and is built on a framework of debt, threat and enticement. The article in The Times describes the children as ‘Lost’ searching for a sense of identity and community within the gang culture. Anne Longfield points out that, the rise in school exclusions and cuts in youth provision, correlate with the rise in violent gang activity. She goes on to describe Pupil Referral Units as recruiting centres for gangs. This is a bleak picture of a generation of ‘lost’ young people. Could it also be a massive opportunity for the invitation to a community built on abundance, acceptance and adventure to grab the imagination of our young people? At Urban Saints, we believe so, and our group development strategy aims to make this the ‘found and known’ generation. You can read more about our strategy for groups not gangs here Urban Saints Strategy
Grooming children for criminal activity such as drug running, or theft is not a new idea. We all remember Fagin’s gang of pickpockets and the development of their protege Oliver through The Artful Dodger, Bill and Nancy. That fictional story is set more than a hundred years ago but the narrative around child exploitation and recruitment in to a gang has not changed with the passing years. It does seem that in the digital age this has been made easier by moving the process out of public and online.
Since 2010 there has been a 60% cut in youth services, council run youth and community centres, across the country, now lie empty. Anne Longfield, in her new commissioner’s report, suggests the one-million-pound cost it takes, to investigate a single murder would be better spent on preventative youth services. One of the key risk factors is a troubled or dysfunctional home life. It’s easy to see why gang life might be attractive as they offer status to a vulnerable young person who has nowhere else to go.
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Most children and young people affected by school exclusions and gang culture are male. One of the contributing factors reported is the lack of male role models in many communities. However, there is a growing number of female members. They are often traded between gang members and used for reprisals. Unfortunately, there is a definite link between gang culture and sexual exploitation.
Historically, there is a link between poverty and gang culture. This fact remains true, but it is on the increase among the middle classes. Anne Longfield, comments in her report, ‘we get the society we choose.’ There is a challenge there for followers of Jesus who believe in The Great Commission to make the choice to provide safe spaces and more important safe people for our young people.
In a society where the breakdown of the family is prevalent. Young people struggle to find their place. Add to this fact the increase in school exclusions and decrease in youth services. We find ourselves in a difficult situation. The sense of community within your youth group is vital if we want young people to keep coming along. The question is, Is your group interruptible? By that I mean would a young person feel safe entering into that community if they don’t share its values or are late or in a difficult position. We must hold a strong centre of Christian values and be flexible enough at the edges that we can welcome all young people, whatever their situation.
QUESTION: How can your group provide a strong and welcoming community for the young people in your context?
QUESTION: Can you relate to any of the statistics shared in this story? Do you know anyone who would benefit from being part of a group? Are you going to invite them along next week?
A membership within a gang provides a strong sense of identity to a vulnerable young person. Young people get a boost out of feeling part of something bigger than themselves. What we must do is help young people understand their true identity in Christ in order to unlock their incredible potential. Groups that have a sense of commitment to the group identity and values are better placed to communicate this identity to young people.
QUESTION: How can your group provide a stronger sense of Identity to the members?
QUESTION: What can we do to increase our group identity and what do you think the benefits of that would be?
Entertainment is everywhere! Young people can easily fill their time with entertaining things. Our groups must offer more than just entertainment. Does your group participate in a social justice project? These kind of service projects help young people to understand the value that they have and they become participants in the purpose of the group.
Adventure is out there! Giving your group a purpose invites young people to an adventure with God and will help them to remain part of the group. This could involve fundraising, serving and extending the Kingdom of God wherever they go. Perhaps there is a young person out there who will discover their ultimate purpose in serving people, through participation in your group.
QUESTION: What purpose would your group like to have?
QUESTION: What is the future you’re creating right now?
The breakdown of the family has lead to a generation that is lacking strong parental figures. One policeman commented that he knew the gang member he arrested last names and recognised parents as prostitutes, pimps and gang members in his area. The Bible is very clear the Church is a family for people who are a part of it. Psalm 68:6 says ‘God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing. Families include father’s and mother’s and offer opportunities for everyone to explore their masculinity or femininity in positive ways. There are many people who can provide parenting for young people and it is key that we welcome young people from every background into God’s family
QUESTION: What ways can we engage with God as Father?
QUESTION: What can we do to welcome young people from every background into God’s family?
Let’s look at two Bible passages, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, that shine a light on how our attitudes and our relationships with young people might be different to the cultural norms:
In Daniel chapter 11 there is a story of a man who was invading from the North with the hope of gathering all the Jewish people who had betrayed the covenant of God. He uses smooth words and deceit to entrap people into serving Him. Daniel concludes verse 32 by saying that those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits. The converse is also true that by doing exploits, inviting young people on an adventure with a purpose, the young people will become strong and know God. There seems to be a correlation between doing hard things for God and becoming a committed member of the community.
QUESTION: How can knowing God affect the way we hear deceitful or flattering words?
This is a famous story of someone who perhaps walked away from something equivalent to gang activity. The first thing the Father does is RUN towards his son. There could be many reasons why this happened. One of the ones we often miss is that the Father wanted to get to his son before anyone else did. There is protection within the community that we must offer to people no matter how far away.
He then covers his nakedness and shame in a royal robe. Those members of gangs who have faced fear and humiliation at the hands of gang leaders need to be clothed and covered in God’s love. Then he restores his identity. He gives him his ring as a sign of his sonship and says you are part of this family. Nothing you can do, can remove you from this family.
Then he invites him into a community, a feast and a celebration. There is something in that invitation that we must not miss. The younger son was offered complete restoration within the community. He was not asked to restore himself and then granted access to the community. He could heal and restore within the community. If we find ourselves facing young people from difficult histories, there must be a place for them to heal within our community.
QUESTION: How can we be a group that demonstrates radical welcome to the young people in our communities?
Invite your group to join in the discussion around gang culture. Have they ever felt pressure to be a part of a gang? Do they know of anyone who has felt that same pressure? What can we do about that? They may have some great suggestions about ways that we can engage vulnerable young people.
Get your group to create a fictional community. What values would it have? What would the rules be? How would they make decisions? Try to bring it round to a discussion about your group. How can you make it more dynamic or dangerous?
This item on BBC news raises some great questions and stories of young people. Watch it with your young people and ask them to watch and chat through the questions it asks.
Invite your group to examine the Bible verses and story above. How has this changed their perception of someone who might be involved in a gang? How will it change the way they interact with their youth group
It may well be that your group includes someone who is in a gang or in the process of being recruited or groomed. If that is the case you can find more information to support them on the childline website.