The Prince’s Trust has warned of a “dangerous” disconnect between young people and their communities that is impacting on their aspirations.
The charity found a third of young people feel uncared for by their wider community.
Their YouGov poll of more than 3,000 18 to 30-year-olds published today also found 44 per cent did not have a positive role model in their lives, while a fifth felt their actions had no impact on those around them.
Youth worker Gideon Buabeng, 25, said role models made gangs seem less appealing to youngsters. “One of the reasons they join gangs is because it creates that sense of community,” he said. “It’s a family and they get comfort within the gang. Yes, there is violence but that’s just part of it. They are with their friends, are comfortable and value the loyalty.
“The loyalty is key because it makes them feel protected and not something they find in their communities.” Mr Buabeng grew up in south London where gangs were commonplace during his teens. After leaving school, he secured a place at university and worked as a supermarket delivery driver.
But three years ago he was ambushed by a group of men who stabbed him 14 times and left him fighting for life.
After recovering, he became involved with the Prince’s Trust where he was assigned a mentor who encouraged him to write down his story to share with others. As an ambassador for the trust, he has spoken twice in the House of Lords during debates on youth crime and devises workshops to help tackle knife crime. For the last year he has been a youth worker in primary schools and pupil referral units in an attempt to be a positive influence on the younger generation.
He said: “As a society it can look scary to see reports of youth stabbings and people do not want to get involved. But we need more community leaders showing the way.”
The trust has set up the UK2030 taskforce to determine how the Government, charities and businesses can turn the tide of disenfranchisement.
The aim is to urge these bodies to rethink how they prioritise young people’s futures by 2030.
