Posted Friday 19 August 2011
Researchers from Kingston University's Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies are analysing the youth violence prevention project underway at St Thomas' hospital in central London, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The project responds to an increase in the number of fatal stabbings of teenagers in London, and a growing trend of young people presenting at the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) after being caught up in violent incidents, only a small number of which are reported to police. The project targets adolescents who are repeatedly attending A&E in crisis by arranging follow-up support, and thereby aiming to reduce the longer term risks of violence.
The project is aimed at people like 17-year-old Liam* from Southwark, who visited St Thomas' A&E department after a repeated injuries. It was the 33rd time he had attended A&E, often because of violence, and he has a history of involvement in a local gang. Not having his parents involved in his life meant that he looked to his gang as an 'adopted family' from a very young age, he said. Now he wants to get out of the gang and violence culture. "My past makes it impossible to escape and have a better life," he said. Rival gangs he used to have problems or 'beef' with regularly come to his area, looking to fight or even stab him. "Being able to come here regularly means that I can talk out my anger, so that it don't build up. It helps me stay focused on working and being happy instead of getting involved in craziness and fights."
"There is already anecdotal evidence, which we hope to confirm soon, of positive changes in the young people's activities, social skills and personal development as a direct result of the project," Kingston University research associate Yael Ilan-Clarke said. "The intervention is now running at full capacity, with a full time youth worker and two part-time students supporting the project. An average of six cases are identified each week and these are followed up by the youth workers. We are seeing approximately 22 per cent of the young people who are offered the service taking it up."
"Our A&E department often sees the same young victims come for treatment again and again," Dr John Criddle, Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant at Guy's and St Thomas' said. "We want to follow their cases beyond the hospital doors and help prevent them from coming back. The advantage of working in partnership with the charity Oasis is that they have experience in youth work and good relationships with agencies already running projects in the local community."
The three-year project was funded with £348,500 from Guy's and St Thomas' charity and proposed and developed at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The project began in 2010 and will run until July 2013.
*Not his real name.
19 June 2024
17 June 2024