Over 100 people came together in Bradford at the University’s Norcroft centre to discuss the difficult subject of preventing violent extremism. This was reported on the BBC’s web page
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7743476.stm
and the local Telegraph and Argus picked up the press release but as is often the case the majority of regional papers and media channels ignored the willingness of many young people to spend their Saturday at a conference debating a serious and important subject and trying to make a difference.

The regional conference was planned by a group of young people supported by Youth Work Unit staff who had been contracted to run the event by UK Youth Parliament. With funding from government departments, the idea of the conference was to provide a safe space for young people to voice their views, worries and ideas about preventing terrorism and violent extremism and so inform the Prevent strategies being drawn up by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and police forces throughout the country.

Young people from across the region enjoyed a day which began with a DVD with messages from key partner organisations and from a victim of the 7:7 bombings who is actively promoting dialogue as the way forward. This was followed by a drama performed by Bradford Youth Development Partnership. This had been put together especially for the event and focussed on radicalisation of a girl due to her sense of injustice at her own treatment by comparison with her older brother. The piece also covered drug and gun issues which were felt to be more real than the threat of extremism and radicalisation. Nonetheless the play was a great way to get discussions going.

Workshops were then delivered highlighting work currently ongoing in 4 youth groups which are all explicitly aiming to help young people deal with prejudice, identity, conflict, faith and stereotyping. Later in the day there were discussion groups on themes ACPO were specifically asking for young people’s views and ideas. That is:

Preventing violent extremism
Terrorism
Young People and the Police and Leadership

A final session had young people making points and asking questions of a panel of regional figures. Helen McMullen the Director for Children and Learners from Government Office, Jo Miller deputy Chief Executive from Bradford MBC, John Armitage form the Police Counter Terrorism Unit , Indejit Bhogal from The Faiths Forum and Leoncha Leavy from UK Youth Parliament.

Questions ranged from the usefulness of the current citizenship lessons in school and the need for discussions about terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation to form part of the citizenship curriculum but handled by skilled and appropriate staff. Young people enjoyed the safe opportunity to meet others from very different geographical, educational, religious and ethnic backgrounds, and to explore these issues together. Participants felt this was a part of the solution that is people meeting with others with whom they would normally have little contact allows understanding, tolerance and community cohesion to develop. They were keen for more such opportunities to voice their views and shape action on this but also on a range of other matters.

Leadership was seen as key and panellists were pressed on their leadership credentials and roles and participants were keen to be involved in leading changes.

Regarding young people and the police, it was felt that general relations between young people and the police needed to improve with police involved in schools from primary onwards, with more ‘casual’ police officers and from a broader range of backgrounds and experiences, with shadowing opportunities and ‘fun’ events to build better relationships. Only if young people think better of the police and vice versa will a more positive outcome be possible in difficult times and on such serious issues.

On a related point, participants felt that generally young people were not highly thought of by their communities and society in general and by the police in particular. The media was seen as key to creating a distorted picture of young people which adversely affected perceptions of young people. Most young people, as evidenced by attendance at this event, are willing to give their time freely to work positively and improve things but often they are not acknowledged for the positive they contribute.

The day had a positive buzz of enjoyable and positive activity and feedback sheets at the end collected many comments which reflected this. A pod cast summarising the day and giving a flavour can by accessed by following this link http://www.elfm.co.uk/2008/11/youth-summit/ -

Comprehensive advice on games and activities for youth groups

www.youthgroupgames.co.uk

Great advice and ideas for Youth Group Games

A Planning for non Planners session that Yorkshire Planning Aid ran last year is running again in January 2009, aimed this time specifically at community development workers, youth workers, regeneration workers etc. who are working with groups and individuals in BME communities.

Flier/booking form attached