Empowering Futures

An innovative youth leadership programme which trains young people to improve their confidence and understanding of the complexities of community violence and to take ownership of community resolutions. Thus, having a positive impact on youth crime in the area.

Developed in consultation with local youngsters who are keen to draw on their faith-inspired values in order to refrain from crime.  These are individuals at the forefront of the community and are at times better informed of the risks they are exposed to.

If you would like further information, please call 0121 440 4096 please email info@bahutrust.org.uk

Empowering Futures sees young people actively participating in local activities as a sense of empowerment and with community partners and other influential young people.

The programme enables young people to take part in professional and interactive training in order to reach their intellectual and creative capability.

These training sessions include:

Saying No To Knives – Helping young people understand the true costs of carrying a knife verses any perceived benefits. Challenging them to think critically about the choices they make when they decide to arm themselves.

Leadership & Vision – This is a quality we use to empower others to follow in doing good. How does faith develop leadership and where can it be used to communities and peers.

Understanding Anger – Anger usually leads to problems when it causes us to act without thought, at home, at school or in the workplace. We train and encourage our young people to understand anger so that they may control it, before it controls them.

Conflict Resolution – Conflict resolution training focused on understanding conflict and how to implement conflict resolving strategies such as mediation.

Community Cohesion & Identity – Ensuring that young people from different backgrounds feel comfortable with each other, value their differences and understand their common humanity. Identifying factors that help young people feel a sense of belonging or feel socially excluded.

Anti-Racism – Learning and developing different approaches to ‘race’ and racism, preventing the development of racist attitudes, challenging existent racist attitudes and providing young people with constructive responses to racism.

Peer Mediation & Mentoring – Young people quite often have better influence over other young people, we work to give young people the skills to effectively resolve disputes, spot signs of change and how to effectively influence others in a positive way and how/when to seek appropriate support.

Faith & Conflict – Many young people in Sparkbrook (especially from the Muslim faith) can be confused about what their faith prescribes when it comes to peace and conflict. We provide young people with an insight into how faith should be used in a positive way and also the consequences of faith being used in a dangerous way.

Drug Awareness – Identifying the different types of the drugs and consequences. Learning of the personal and health implications of taking drugs, not only on themselves but family and friends around them. Being able to spot the signs of drug taking amongst peers and how to positively seek support.

Domestic Abuse – Quite often young people grow up committing violent acts as a result of themselves witnessing domestic violence in their own homes. We train young people on the different types of domestic abuse and how to effectively challenge this behaviour at home or how to seek support confidentially.

Emergency Services – In partnership with West Midlands Police and and West Midlands Fire Service, we developed a unique and interactive day with the Firearms Unit and Highgate Fire Station. Our young people were able to engage with them and learn first hand about the difficult decisions and situations that the emergency service are put into when dealing with violent crime.

The Empowering Futures programme also includes various fun and interactive outdoor bound activities which strengthen the capacity building skills of young people. A key part of the programme also required all participants to organise their own social action projects in the community to build on their confidence and leadership skills. These young people who would normally be associated with violent crime in the area, take to the streets and visit the elderly and vulnerable to make friends and to deliver gifts and food parcels.

If you would like further information, please call 0121 440 4096 please email info@bahutrust.org.uk