The Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme’s PAC (Peer Action Collective) project is raising awareness to reduce youth violence in the community.
This Saturday, SWFC community staff and changemakers are engaging with the local public in the aim to reduce the risk of youth violence.
The EFL Trust has partnered with the Youth Endowment Fund, #iwill Fund and Co-op on a £5.2m ground-breaking new youth-led network which involves giving young people aged 10–25 a voice and the chance to make their communities safer, fairer places.
The project has reached nearly 6,500 young people who will take part in action to end violence in their communities. That might involve designing and carrying out research as a peer researcher, leading campaigns in their communities as a changemaker, or sharing their views on violence, thus shaping the solutions they wish to see in their communities.
The EFL Trust are working with the Owls’ Community Programme, delivering positive change within the community implemented by the young people involved.
There are currently six Peer Researchers from Sheffield who have worked with over 350 participants to make a change within the Sheffield community.
The Researchers are concentrating on building partnerships with local community groups, schools, local authorities’ services, councillors, Police and a range of other organisations, in order to assist in the development and impact of their research and future social action.
Researcher Aaron Richmond said: “With the job I’m currently working in, I feel this would be a good way for me to connect and understand with the young people in local areas, I also want to give the young people the chance to impact their local area in a positive way.”
Fellow Researcher David Mitchell added: “Having the opportunity to work on this project has given me a better understanding of why youth crime happening across the country and why young people get involved in crime.
“By speaking with young offenders I’ve been finding on what could have been done to prevent them going down the path they have or lower the chance of the crime from happening.”
Recently celebrating its one-year anniversary, the programme has engaged with:
- Over 800 young people who have participated in research projects on youth crime and violence
- Fourteen young people who are designing and carrying out research as Peer Researchers
- Dozens of Changemakers who are leading on local social action, based on research findings
Jacob Walkland, PAC Coordinator, said: “By delivering these projects and workshops, the PAC Project is hoping to inspire other young people, giving them a voice to create projects and initiatives of their own, improving the local community by making it a safer place.”
In March the PAC project featured on BBC Look North which highlighted the important work on issues facing youngsters.
CLICK HERE to view the BBC broadcast.
For more information on the PAC project, please email: jacob.walkland@swfc.co.uk