When you think about the James Brindley Foundation, do you associate us solely with our stance against knife crime? While it’s true that this focus arose from the tragic and cowardly murder of James in 2017, it’s essential to recognise that our work extends beyond that single issue.
We see ‘knife crime’ as a symptom of the underlying disease called ‘serious youth violence’, and like any good doctor, we treat the symptoms, whilst also addressing the underlying disease (or root causes), for a lasting relief or cure. Treating the symptoms alone, is simply a ‘sticking plaster’ response to this societal issue.
The James Brindley ‘Full Circle’ Programme (FCP) was developed by our professionals in response to Government statistics suggesting that ‘looked after’ children in England are five times more likely to offend than all other children. (Fitzpatrick, C 2017).
It is both an educational tool for children and young people as well as a ‘risk assessment tool’ for practitioners, developed to address a variety of behaviours including criminal, that can lead some individuals to make decisions that may have a negative and lasting impact on both their lives and the lives of others. It is used both as a prevention tool for those on the periphery or at risk and as an intervention for individuals who are already offending.
Alongside education, the programme takes an evidence based 360 degree perspective, on all the influences in the lives of young people and seeks to explore positive alternatives to antisocial behaviours and develop an individual’s consequential thinking, decision making and problem solving skills, in order for them to make well informed positive life choices and thereby avoid involvement in the criminal justice system.
With the use of ‘creative methods’ to encourage participants to share information, the FCP can give professionals an insight into why young people make certain decisions as well as to form an understanding of the contributing factors that lead to increased risk for offending.
Understanding the evidence based ‘Full Circle’ Programme
The Foundation takes a twin track approach to delivering the FCP. Firstly, through the training and certification of professionals to become qualified ‘Full Circle Practitioners’ who deliver our unique programme within their own settings. Secondly through our expert mentors who directly support referred children and young people in one to one setting, across Walsall and the wider Midlands region.
The FCP focuses on eight key areas to drive targeted learning and a strong prognosis for positive change.
So, how does it work?
- Family Functioning
One of the cornerstones of the FCP is examining family dynamics. We understand that families come in various forms and explores family histories, values, and support networks. This process helps participants move forward by engaging in discussions about moral dilemmas and conflict avoidance strategies.
- Peer Pressure
Building resilience against peer pressure is crucial for young individuals. Our programme teaches participants to recognise the effects of peer influence and equips them with the skills to make informed choices.
- Antisocial Behaviour
Through engaging learning tasks, participants explore the consequences of antisocial behaviour, understanding its impact on themselves and their communities. We also guide them toward positive community-based activities aligned with their interests.
- Substance Misuse
The dangers of substance misuse, including alcohol and drugs, are addressed through scenario-based learning. Participants learn about the legal and health implications of substance use, helping them navigate these issues responsibly.
- Gang Culture
We tackle misconceptions around gang-related behaviour by developing decision-making and problem-solving skills. Understanding the consequences of involvement in gang culture is crucial for participants to avoid paths that lead to violence.
- Violent Behaviour
Activity-based learning allows us to explore various forms of violent behaviour, including violence involving weapons. Participants gain insights into conflict resolution and acquire practical skills applicable to real-life situations.
- Exploitation
Criminal child exploitation is a complex issue where children may be coerced into criminal activities. Our programme helps participants recognise the signs of exploitation and equips them with strategies to navigate unsafe situations effectively.
- Radicalisation and Extremism
Finally, we address the serious topics of radicalisation and extremism. Through scenario-based learning tasks, we build participants’ knowledge and resilience against the grooming behaviours that can lead to such risks.
Transformative Results
The FCP is having profound real-life impacts on the lives of many young people, helping them to realise their potential, to build a bright future, away from the criminal justice system and has led us to believe that, serious youth violence is not inevitable, it is predictable and therefore preventable:
- 100% were scored at high risk before support began.
- 80% were scored at low risk at the end of support.
- 20% were scored at medium risk at the end of support.
- 100% of those completing the FCP saw an improvement in risk levels.
These results reflect our commitment to empowering young people and creating safer communities.
Alongside our FCP professional training and delivery, we’ve now secured funding to ramp up our offering on knife crime workshops that have been widely requested by the public. If you’re interested in finding out more about the 90-minute workshops, email talk@jamesbrindleyfoundation.co.uk.
If you’d like to learn more about the Full Circle Programme or looking to book onto a course, please tap here.
