These young people live in communities which are among the top 10% most deprived in the UK
Low levels of educational attainment and average child poverty of 41.7%
Birmingham has the highest rate of gun crime in the country
Living with these disadvantages, young people have low aspirations, low self worth and often a lack of law abiding adult role models.
With unemployment also always high, young people start to believe that gang membership, violence, illegal arms and drugs is their only lifestyle option.
This devastates many lives and often results in youths serving time behind bars, costing approximately £60,000 per person p.a.