This week see the release of POPS end of project report for the Ending Gang and Youth Violence (EGYV) Family Voices project. In 2012 Greater Manchester Probation Trust (GMPT) commissioned POPS to undertake a piece of work with families that would ascertain how they felt about supporting a relative caught up in serious, violent or gang-associated crime, identify their support needs and inform of where services to them can be improved.
Family background is known to be of value when considering any decrease in risk and when targeting possible prevention strategies. Conversely, family violence, anti-social behaviour within families, poor relationship with parents, social and emotional isolation, family deprivation, absent fathers, and sibling behaviour can act as contributors to future involvement in serious, violent or gang-related offending (Beverey Powis Home office research April 2002).
Through this project families were given a “voice” to speak about their experience and identify any perceived gaps in support. Participants were also asked to put forward suggestions or ideas they believed would improve future criminal justice/statutory interventions.
User involvement and participation takes time and effort to develop and needs commitment to meet the ever changing needs of any user group. The project demonstrates the value of such work and the importance of developing potential recommendations for change that are shaped by the voices of those who can make a difference. To read more about the project and the methodology used to engage families download our end of project report.
