The Northumbria Coalition Against Crime is stepping up recruitment for volunteers to help prevent young people criminally offending or reoffending. Youth Justice Board statistics from March 2020-2021 showed that per 1,000 children cautioned or sentenced (those aged 10-17) the North East had the highest rate outside of London at 4.1.
In addition, recent studies from the North East Child Poverty Commission estimate 35% of young people in the region region are living in poverty; that is almost 11 in a classroom of 30, leading to increased likelihood of substance abuse and anti-social activity.
NCAC is asking for a number of new volunteers to sign up to help prevent youth crime across North Tyneside and Northumberland. Successful applicants will receive 30 hours of training and no prior qualifications are required. Training will take place between September and October this year.
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According to the Youth Justice Board the vast proportion of the crimes committed by young people were classed as ‘violence against the person’ with over 12,000 cautions or sentences recorded across the UK between 2020-2021. Youth motoring offences were the second highest recorded with over 4,000 cautions or sentences with drugs a closed third at just under 4,000.
Heather Armstrong, head of NCAC youth and community programmes said: “Obviously, the mentoring project has been around for 23 years, but it is needed now more than ever. The pandemic has created new issues for us.
“We are struggling at the moment, and people are just trying to survive, and we don’t have the same level of interest. We have young people on a waiting list and they need that support to challenge, guide and mentor them.
“Volunteers would be part of a team of 30, and just to be a part of a young person’s journey is incredible really. The project would not exist without the volunteers.”
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