Early success for Youth Group’s anti-violence campaign
Released: 13.08.08

 

UCKG’s Pastor Luke Castro and the Victory Youth Group (VYG) in Finsbury Park, Peckham and UK-wide are still totting up the results of their recent initiative to tackle knife and gun crime among young people. The initial feedback is that it’s looking good.

Where U Going? was created to raise young people's awareness of where their current behaviour and actions are leading them, given that more than 160 young people are injured through knife crime each day. 

During the month long campaign in July, over 1500 young people attended a series of practical and inspirational events. They heard testimonies from 18-25 year-olds who had successfully abandoned violence in favour of responsible citizenship.

Typically, Kevin Heelan of Wood Green attended Where U Going? and commented:  “What stood out for me were the real life stories, the fact that these people were involved in criminal lifestyles and were able to change. This made me think. They are living proof that anything is possible and if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything you want.”

A good many newcomers committed to regular attendance at their local VYG branches. Police officers who attended events in Brixton, Luton, Willesden Green, Catford, Wood Green, Birmingham Bullring, and Southall gave favourable and helpful feedback. 

The campaign was widely promoted in London by eight VYG members riding ad-bikes, led by former gang-member Daniel Passley. They took two routes, linking a number of UCKG churches, by riding from Finsbury Park to Wood Green, Tottenham, Hackney and back to Finsbury Park via the West End; and from Finsbury Park to Peckham.

As a Pentecostal church that gives practical support as well as promoting Christianity, UCKG is heavily focused on helping people to improve their lives here and now. “Far too many youths are victims or perpetrators of knife crime and get caught up in drug taking, alcohol abuse, prostitution, gang violence and theft. The reality is that they are all victims in some way,” said Pastor Luke, head of the UCKG’s youth ministry in the UK.

“We are committed to helping to tackle the root causes of the problem and encourage young people to say no to peer pressure when it comes to violence, knife and gun crime, and other destructive forms of behaviour,” he continued. “So often destructive behaviour is linked to low self-esteem, abuse and a misplaced desire to belong.

“Our aim is to get young people asking themselves, ‘Where am I actually going with my life?’ and ‘Is the life I have the one I really want?’  We try to convince them that it’s possible to turn your life around, when you really want to do so.”“It will be many months before we can talk about the number of young people who have gained long term benefits from the Where U Going? campaign,” concluded Pastor Luke, 

“However we have made a good start, and will be working to consolidate and build on youths’ initial commitment to change. Other young people who have already made the shift from violence and gangs to a law-abiding and happier lifestyle are on hand to give support."

For more information on the Where U Going? campaign, visit www.whereugoing.org or call 020 7686 6000.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

UCKG is a Christian church and registered charity that offers a range of practical support activities alongside spiritual support and comfort.  It was formed in 1977 and is active in some 90 countries as a church in the mainstream Pentecostal tradition.  It reached the UK in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength, providing support and spreading the Christian faith.

For more information please contact Jenny Walton or Lucy Andrews on 01962 893 893 or Francessca Lewis at UCKG on 020 7686 6033.