Young people unveil six steps to safer Britain

Young people from the Catch22's Positive Futures Youth Advisory Board (YAB) are launching their ‘Six Steps to Safer Britain’ action plan.

The plan, put together in consultation with tens of thousands of young people, outlines the steps young people know need to be taken to help them stay away from crime, drugs and alcohol.

The plan will be launched at a celebration event and award ceremony at the Battersea Arts Centre, London. The event, supported by Catch22 ambassador Will Young and Brooke Kinsella is part of Make a Noise Week celebrating 11 years of Positive Futures, Britain’s largest youth crime prevention programme which works with around 57,000 young people every year.

The award ceremony will demonstrate the outstanding achievements of young people, the lasting difference Catch22 Positive Futures has made to young people and their communities and is also aimed to help change negative perceptions of young people.

Will Young and Brooke Kinsella, the Government’s knife crime adviser, will be presenting awards based on the Six Step Action Plan.

The YAB will explore their vision on how to prevent youth crime and create a positive future for young people in ‘A Question of Youth’ panel session. The Q&A panel will be based on questions from the guests, and will quiz young people on the Six Step Action Plan.

Six Steps to a Safer Britain

The six steps young people are asking for are:

• Step One: Start at six years old
• Step Two: Help us build better relationships with the police
• Step Three: Tackle gang culture and postcode rivalry
• Step Four: Give us activities at times when we need them most
• Step Five: Improve access to employment
• Step Six: Combat negative perceptions by listening to what young people have to say

Download the Six Steps to a Safer Britain manifesto (pdf, 1MB).

The finale to the event will showcase performances from young people who are part of Positive Futures and celebrities including Maxi Jazz from Faithless and the Shakespeare Hip Hop Company.

The event will follow a week of celebrations from all 91 Positive Futures projects in deprived communities up and down the country. Projects will be celebrating their achievements in their local area by organising dance performances, Olympic-themed art and sporting activities, Jubilee celebrations and community action.

Chris Wright, CEO, Catch22 says:

'Positive Futures has an incredible track record of helping tens of thousands of young people and ensures young people have a voice about future policy and services. At Catch22 we recognise young people’s potential as thought leaders for social change. During Make a Noise week we will see young people in control of their lives, demonstrating this potential and taking action to build a brighter future for Britain.'

You can follow the action on the day on Twitter, via #makeanoise