Social research co-operative, Substance, has written and delivered a ground-breaking report to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, showing how sport can provide an effective response to the growing problems of gun and knife crime amongst young people.
The report, Laureus – Breaking the Cycle of Violence, was compiled and researched by the worker co-operative, Substance, and commissioned by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. It calls on politicians, professional sports clubs and community sports facilities to invest in sport as an effective mechanism for tackling youth crime, disengagement and gang violence.
Olympic legend Daley Thompson and Substance members personally delivered the report to Downing Street, cycling 367 miles from Mancehster's Old Trafford to Downing Street to deliver the report. Along the journey, the team visited community projects which use sport to keep young people off the streets and provide positive life lessons.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I am pleased to congratulate the team on finishing their epic cycle ride at the doorstep of Number 10 today . . . Richard Taylor, my Special Advisor on youth violence and knife crime, is here today to welcome the team with me and we receive their report with interest."
Professor Tim Crabbe, Director of Substance and author of the report said: “Young people don’t join gangs in order to get involved in violence. They join gangs to belong to something, for excitement and for protection, which are the same reasons why they would be attracted to becoming involved in sport and sports clubs. This is why sport represents an interesting vehicle for challenging the culture of gun and knife crime”.
Read the report here
www.substance.coop
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