Understanding gangs and child criminal exploitation (CCE) Course

Despite reports of a rise in youth knife crime, particularly in major UK cities, the vast majority of young people in the UK are not involved with gangs, knives and guns and probably never will be.

However, whilst they might never have real life experience of gangs and gang life, most young people will have views and opinions based on things they have seen and heard growing up.

Social media, music videos, gaming and ‘gangster’ movies along with the opinions of family and friends, all influence choices made, both positive and negative.

This course will cover:

• What is a gang
• Reasons for joining a gang
• The impact of joining a gang
• Who is vulnerable to joining a gang
• Gangs and girls
• Spotting the signs a child may be involved in a gang
• Talking to foster children about gangs
• What are County Lines
• What is legal and illegal gang activity
• What you should do if a young person in your care is carrying a knife
• Firearms

By the end of this training, you will:

• Understand what a ‘gang’ is and why some children and young people are attracted to join them
• Understand about the potential risks and realities of gang involvement both as participants and as victims of gang violence
• Understand what are County Lines
• Understand ways to help young people resist becoming involved in gangs and violence
• Understand why some young people choose to carry a weapon and the risks of doing so
• Understand the potential consequences of gangs and violent crime, explaining ‘joint enterprise’
• Understand the impact of weapon crime from the perspective of the victim and perpetrator as well as the effect it can have on the wider community
• Understand about gun amnesty and other anti-crime initiatives
• Understand what to do and where to go if you are concerned that a child you have responsibility for is in a gang or carrying a weapon
• Know how to respond if a foster child brings a weapon into the family home
  Know where to go for more information and advice

This understanding gangs and child criminal exploitation (CCE) course has been designed specifically for foster carers who would like to learn more about what a gang is and why some children join them.

Whilst it provides focus for people working in Children's Services, it will also be useful to a wider audience of people who would like to know more about the risks and realities of gang involvement.

We can deliver this course either: online, as a webinar, or as a face-to-face programme. If you have your own LMS and would like this course as a SCORM file, please get in touch.