At the first Bringing Hope event in May 2004, delegates felt that individuals and different groups had a responsibility to respond to the issues of guns, drugs, knives and gangs. They pulled together a list of what each person or group could do. Below is a summary of the outcomes of this discussion.

As an individual

Understand the issues

• Identify the problems
• Understand difference between perception and reality
• Attend awareness raising training

Consult and communicate with young people

• Listen to what young people have to say
• Break down barriers by talking openly with them
• Communicate honestly

Build relationships

• Show compassion, not judgement
• Show respect and care to young people
• Become a mentor
• Move/live in areas of disadvantage
• Start at home - be a good parent, aunt, uncle, godparent, carer

Invest in youth work

• Support talented people who are training to become youth workers with your finances, time and prayers
• Enable/equip those who can relate

As a faith group

Make an investment

• Fundraise to support projects working with disaffected people
• Invest time with people
• Use buildings for community benefit
• Unlock skills in congregations

Know their world

• Engage in outreach work on the streets
• Research and understand the local area where your place of worship is located
• Hold regular sessions for your congregation for them to hear stories from the “street”
• Know the community needs
• Find out how to impact on young people

Be relevant

• Hold culturally relevant events
• Have a presence in the community by attending community events and hosting them at your building

Promote love in families and young people

• Follow up on families and children who may be experiencing problems
• Channel creativity of adults, young people and children - this helps to raise their self-esteem and contribution to the community
• Form a pool of mentors/supporters
• Give young people roles and responsibilities
• Work with and support young mothers and single parents in whatever way you can
• Offer a positive alternative to old, damaging lifestyle

Build Partnerships

• Don’t re-invent the wheel - get behind what’s already happening
• Build partnerships and networks
• Learn from each other - network together
• Tap into different skills in the congregation
• Support others in youth work - not just about “you”
• Network with other congregations in the area in which you are located
• Be proactive - build links with schools, social services, prisons etc
• Promote training programmes

As a voluntary or community agency

• Challenge prejudice
• Challenge the way people oppress young people
• Recognise it may just be not happening in my area YET
• Recognise the capacity of congregations to respond
• Set up a call centre for anonymous reporting

Citywide

• Link church and community at all levels
• Dialogue with other faiths
• Hold more joint ventures
• Share information
• Explore how you could help local community groups and faith groups to capacity build
• Produce a Citywide survey and needs assessment
• Identify what faith groups can do
• Develop more youth and outreach workers

Donations

• Whether an individual or part of a corporate body you can donate to Bringing Hope either by cheque or through paypal. Whichever method you choose please contact us for details on how to make a donation.