Some support groups

Currently looking at different campaign suport groups in and around Birmingham to see if they will be able to contribute towards our Documentary. This could be as little as pointing us in the right direction of support groups which fit ur criteria or groups which will allow us to attend a meeting and give us one to one information.

I have emailed the company Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust - they offer support to ex gang members and their families.

http://www.swmprobation.gov.uk/?page_id=953

Currently awaiting a reply.

This company hold a wide range of campaigns eager for everyone to participate. It is called Birmigham Community Safety Partnership and works in close knit to Birmingham city council, Birmingham police and the support company i mentioned before.
Their priorities cover Anti-Social behaviour and gang and youth violence.
http://www.birminghamcsp.org.uk/campaigns.html

Hate Crime Campaign

What is hate crime?

Any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by an offender’s hatred of someone because of their race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.

The impact of hate crime

Birmingham is the safest of the eight core cities in the UK with the lowest overall crime rate but hate crime can have enormous impact on people’s lives − physically and emotionally. It can affect a victim’s health and well-being, it can damage their health and it can affect their outlook on life. Most types of crime are reducing in Birmingham but with hate crime, we don’t know the real picture.
Hate crime is an important area of activity for Birmingham Community Safety Partnership, not least because those that are victims of hate crime are afraid to report it, but also because victims feel that hate crime is ‘just one of those things that you should put up with. This has to change.
We want to encourage residents to report hate crime and trust that we will do something about it. We are aware that this campaign may encourage reporting to go up but we are prepared for this increase and have made sure that our staff are available to provide support whenever needed.
Birmingham Community Safety Partnership believes that most people in Birmingham do get on together and won’t stand for hate crime. Birmingham is not a city where hate crime is acceptable, nor is it tolerated. Birmingham Community Safety Partnership and its partners will take action against those who commit hate crime and are currently actively undertaking legal proceedings on a number of individual cases across the range of hate crime types.

What support is available to those that report?

The way that hate crime can be reported has been improved and additional training for staff in existing City Council hate crime reporting centres, neighbourhood offices, libraries and leisure centres, is being rolled out across the city. This training will underpin the service and enable staff to ensure that reports of hate crime are directed to the right place for the appropriate course of action, and that victims are referred to the appropriate support services. The number that is being publicised in the campaign is 0121 303 1111. This confidential service is resourced by trained staff able to take reports of hate crime.

The Campaign

The campaign aims to raise awareness on hate crime and encourage reporting. The hate crime campaign was launched in November and involves a strong visual element to the campaign. These posters are displayed on poster sites across the city and will run through until March 10.
We are aware that this campaign may encourage reporting to go up but we are prepared for this increase and have made sure that our staff are available to provide support whenever needed.
The campaign posters will be displayed in and around the city in high visibility locations including poster sites and inside buses. One poster includes a scene on Birmingham New Street where everyone has a label. The labels identify anonymous individuals by gender, ethnicity, religion, sexuality or disability. These are the different elements that make up hate crime. The poster suggests that we all have labels that identify us but it’s when they are used negatively against you, that hate crime occurs.
The second poster in this campaign includes residents of Birmingham spearheading a message to not tolerate hate crime in this city.
Birmingham Community Safety Partnership hope that the images used will make people who are guilty of discriminating and abusing others, think about their actions and also encourage those that have suffered from hate crime, to come forward and report it.



Statistics we can include. With covering such a serious topic it is important we add specific statistics, awareness groups and helplines.

Birmingham teens begin non-violence campaign

Posted: Oct 12, 2012 6:21 PM Updated: Oct 19, 2012 6:21 PM 

By WBRC Staff - email

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - For two years, Birmingham city leaders have asked teens to sign a pledge saying they will not commit a violent act for 100 days. It is called the 100 Days of Non-violence campaign. City leaders say the campaign has been successful and they are doing it again this year.
Birmingham Councilman Jay Roberson says the past two years they have done this program in Birmingham, they have not had anyone under 18 die from a violent crime. That is why Roberson says this campaign works.
The campaign kicked off this morning at Parker High School. Students listened to personal testimony from a former gang member who said 25 of his friends died because of violent crimes.
Parker High School Principal Cedric Tatum says if they can get students to practice that behavior for three months, it should become habit.
"We want to just remind them what their civic responsibilities are to one another. Teaching them how to solve problems without using their hands and when you have the support of the city council's office and other community members, it just lets the kids know we care," said Tatum.
During the program, students will have service activities on Friday and Saturday nights that will help keep them out of trouble. The 100 days on non violence will end on MLK Day with a big celebration.
Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.

Catch 22
http://www.catch-22.org.uk/About-Us

Another support group i have emailed.