Guns and Gangs Project in Old Trafford
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Addressing the guns and gang problems in Old Trafford.
Who we are
We are 15 peer researchers, aged 14-25, who carried out research with local “at risk” young people from Old Trafford, through online questionnaires, focus groups and 1-2-1 interviews.
Where we're based
Old Trafford, Manchester
When we started
2008
How we started
Trafford Housing Trust, (a local social housing provider), wanted to look at the possibility of trying to address the ongoing problem of guns and gangs in Old Trafford. The funding for the project came from a partnership between Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Youth Offending Team. A community participation company called ICA:UK delivered and facilitated the innovative and superbly effective peer research training.
Our work
50 “at risk” young people participated in the research, which entailed interviewing some members of the notorious Old Trafford Cripz.
The findings showed that gang involved youths believed that the gun and gang problem has a lot to do with economics, and that with more jobs, and apprenticeship opportunities, the problem would be greatly reduced. The other main outcome was that young people felt that there was not enough to do, and that a youth centre, with music production equipment, would provide young people with purposeful and fun things to do, as well as giving them the chance to grow up together in peace.
Future plans
Some members of the group have already been to deliver workshops on a schools tour in Greater Manchester, funded by Greater Manchester Police, and they now want to deliver them nationally, with the message that, guns and gangs aren’t cool. They would also like to visit prisons and make an anti- gang song which they hope will go to number one in the charts!
Project website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmDffG1V-J4
It was important that the research was done by local people who live in the area, and that it was done by young people, as we know that other gang involved young people would trust them enough to talk to them and give open and honest answers…
Amelia Lee, ICA:UK trainer
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