Tameside project helps reduce youth violence by a fifth

A Tameside-based project has helped cut youth violence in Greater Manchester.

SHiFT Tameside has reduced school exclusions and expulsions by two thirds and reduced proven offences by a fifth.

The programme began in February last year and a new report has shown it has improved school attendance, reduced violence and decreased the risks of youngsters being exploited by criminal gangs.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “Too often services are taught to fix a problem rather than to see the persons affected.

“By focusing on the individual needs of young people and their parents and carers providing consistent and compassionate, we are making a real difference to people’s lives.

“This programme has shown that with this approach, we can break the cycles of crime and exploitation and empower our young peole to take positive action.”

The project is part-funded by Greater Manchester’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU).

SHiFT chairman Professor Martin Griffiths said: “By working with rather than doing to, investing time to really listen and understand what the young person and family want rather than doing only what professionals think is needed, and by putting the relationship at the centre of everything, SHiFT has created the right context for young people in Tameside – the young people who professionals were most worried when our work began - to live safer, happier lives.”

Of the 16 youngsters interviewed as part of the programme, it was found:

Offences had fallen by 23 per cent.

The number of episodes of children missing from home was down by 39 per cent.

Child exploitation was down 63 per cent.

Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester for Safer and Stronger Communities, Kate Green said: “Providing young people with positive opportunities for their future is the key to helping them to live well and be diverted away from a possible life of crime and violence.

“I’m delighted to see the positive outcomes the programme has delivered detailed in this report.”