Youth Group launches ‘Where U Going?’ campaign
Released: 13.08.08

 

Recognising that too many young people have been killed in recent stabbings and shootings in the UK, a London church youth group is helping to tackle the root of the problem. Throughout July, members of UCKG’s Peckham Victory Youth Group (VYG) will be running a month-long campaign to encourage young people to say no to peer pressure when it comes to violence and gun crime.

Entitled ‘Where U Going?’ the initiative will commence on Tuesday 1 July and will tackle issues of drug taking, alcohol abuse, prostitution, gang violence and theft through music and a series of events.  The 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?’

Pastor Luke Castro who heads the whole of UCKG’s youth ministry, said: "We meet a lot of young people who are wasting their youth on potentially harmful pursuits that may well affect them for the rest of their lives. Our campaign puts out the message that it’s possible to turn your life around and escape deprived, crime-ridden and destructive lifestyles.

“Inspired by the success of our national ‘Where U Going?’ tour last year, we look forward to hosting this month-long initiative and hope to encourage more young people to change their lives for the better.”

The Peckham VYG group will join other UCKG branches across the UK in hosting a number of events to motivate youths to focus on the good things in life and to do well. Every Sunday and Thursday we will promote activities in order to help young people stay away from trouble, something to occupy their minds with.

The campaign will culminate in a musical performance on Sunday 27 July. VYG members from across the UK will congregate to watch dance and drama performances and hear from youths who have overcome their past involvement with drug dealing, gangs and various degrees of anti-social behaviour. The testimonies will be followed by a short talk from the Police on the dangers of knives, guns, gangs and violence.

For more information on how to become involved in the ‘Where U Going?’ campaign, visit www.uckg.org/vyg 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.