da Vision: Influencing Minds

Influencing Minds uses a variety of performers, workshop and activities to challenge negative images and stereotypes of young people portrayed in the media, encouraging a positive lifestyle away from violence and engaging them in discussions about their attitudes towards knives, guns and gangs.

Influencing Minds presents positive messages countering the influence of negative role models such as ‘gangsta’ rappers. The project is a developing resource about urban youth culture that can be used in schools, youth clubs and churches.

Topics covered include:

Rap music and violence

Limiting aspirations

Role models

Influence of computer games and movies

Gang culture

Gun and knife crime

Relationship with police/authority

Activities provided include:

Positive lyric writing workshops

Documentary interviews with rap artists

Positive rap performances

Music video production

According to the EU, in some European countries the percentage of people who may be called 'juvenile delinquents' is as high as 22%. It can lead to exclusion from school and a drift into petty criminality — and a recent hearing in the European Parliament was told that juvenile violence is on the rise across Europe. Broken homes, poor housing conditions and despair about finding a job are three important contributors to the problem. Social exclusion based on race is another cause. The hearing was told that the widespread availability of "entertainment violence" on TV, video games and the internet was a cause for concern. Exposing young people to this can lead to them being de-sensitised to the effects of violence. In all countries the debate oscillates between punishment and protection of this vulnerable group in society. This is particularly so as the main victims of juvenile crime are juveniles themselves.

If you would like details of booking Influencing Minds please email info@provision.org.uk or fill in the form below.

How to Reach 'Hard to Reach' Children: Improving Access, Participation and Outcomes
This book addresses core underlying difficulties affecting young people in the community and in schools, relating to underachievement, disengagement and school avoidance. It explores the consequences of school exclusion and the practices that can enhance the inclusion of pupils with social, emotional and behavioural needs. It offers new and creative approaches to promoting multi-agency teamwork in relation to looked after children, refugees and asylum seekers and those with challenging behaviour and autism, and their families. Written by experts who have worked for many years with children and young people in an educational context, the book highlights the views of children, young people and their families. It gives a powerful insight as to how Every Child Matters outcomes can be realised by children who are hard to see, hard to find, hard to engage, hard to manage, hard to change or retain within systems set up to help and educate them.

Available to buy from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com

Working with Gangs and Young People: A Toolkit for Resolving Group Conflict
Concern about gang culture is on the increase, but remains surrounded by myths. While gangs may lead young people into dangerous situations and breed community division, distrust and fear, the friendship, support, security and sense of belonging they offer are often overlooked by those working with young people involved in gangs. Working with Gangs and Young People demonstrates how young people can be engaged in a creative and challenging process that explores the costs, gains and consequences of the choices they make around their gang membership. It provides a tried and tested training programme for anyone involved in conflict resolution with young people in groups or gangs, and offers effective interventions that work. Based on a five year action research project developed by Leap Confronting Conflict, this practical, fully photocopiable toolkit gives practitioners the materials, support and inspiration needed to engage young people who are involved in gangs.

Available to buy from amazon.co.uk and amazon.com

da Vision Music is a record label aiming to give a voice to up and coming artists with positive messages. da Vision Music provides a supportive environment for young people wishing to present alternatives to the often negative messages seen and heard in the mainstream media.

da Vision Music

Is it all too easy for politicians and the media to blame gangsta rappers for the fact that young people carry guns and knives? Could it be that the alienated youths that do so have been far more influenced by other factors such as poor education or family breakdown?

Taking the Rap?

Violent crime including gang welfare and the use of firearms affects many urban communities, with a growing number of alarming incidents reported in the media. Churches often struggle to find appropriate ways to respond to these crises and the pastoral needs that arise from them.

God and the Gangs