Preventing youth violence and gang involvement requires strong community and family-based approaches. Often, the seeds of gang affiliation or violent behaviour are sown in environments lacking positive outlets and support. A stark indicator is the decline of youth services in disadvantaged areas. Over the past decade, spending on youth programs in England was halved, and nearly half of youth clubs closed. This erosion of community support coincided with worrying trends: one study found that teenagers who lost access to youth clubs during austerity cuts became 14% more likely to commit crimes. In the poorest neighbourhoods, young people are 2.5 times more likely to be exposed to violent crime than those in affluent areas. These statistics highlight how crucial community resources are in violence prevention.

Family engagement is equally important. Many youths drawn into gangs come from backgrounds of instability, trauma, or neglect. Programs that work with families – through counselling, parenting support, and home visits – help create the stable, nurturing environments that shield kids from negative influences. For example, outreach initiatives often involve social workers or mentors visiting at-risk teens’ homes, connecting parents to services, and rebuilding trust. Such efforts address underlying risk factors (like domestic conflict or substance abuse at home) that can push a young person toward violence.

Community-based prevention takes many forms, all of which merit funding. These include after-school programs, sports and arts clubs, mentoring schemes, neighbourhood youth centres, and street outreach by credible messengers. Each provides youths with pro-social activities, a sense of belonging, and positive role models right in their community. Evidence shows that when youths have access to safe spaces and caring adults, they are less likely to carry weapons or associate with gangs. Conversely, when community supports vanish, negative peer groups and criminal gangs fill the void.

Funders should prioritize grassroots organizations and local partnerships that know their community’s needs. Successful models often involve multi-agency coalitions – for instance, police working with nonprofits, schools, faith groups, and families to identify at-risk youth and intervene early. Crucially, these approaches empower communities themselves. Outreach workers and volunteers drawn from the same neighbourhoods can build rapport and credibility with youth. Investing in community-led prevention not only reduces violence but also strengthens the fabric of the community. It creates a positive cycle where safer streets enable even more community engagement, providing a lasting bulwark against youth crime. In short, funding family and community-centred programs is a direct investment in public safety and youth well-being.

Alongside gang violence, today’s funders must also consider the threat of youth radicalisation – the process by which young people are drawn into extremist ideologies and potentially violence. From Islamist terrorism to far-right extremism, adolescents have been recruited or influenced by violent movements worldwide. While rare, there have even been cases of teenagers plotting attacks in the UK (foiled by authorities)poolre.co.uk. Preventing such extremism is a top priority for public safety and social cohesion. Fortunately, the field of preventing violent extremism (PVE) has grown in recent years, yielding insights into how we can protect vulnerable youth and build their resilience against radicalisation.

The challenge: Radicalisation is often driven by a mix of personal vulnerabilities (e.g. a desire for belonging, identity, purpose) and exposure to extremist propaganda or recruiters (in person or increasingly online via social media)home-affairs.ec.europa.euhome-affairs.ec.europa.eu. Many at-risk youth experience alienation, discrimination, or frustration with societal injustices – feelings that extremist narratives exploit. In the UK, the government’s Prevent programme is the main framework to identify and support individuals vulnerable to terrorism. New statistics show that in 2022–2023, 6,817 people were referred to Prevent (a 6% increase from the previous year), with the 15–20 age range accounting for the largest share of referralspoolre.co.ukpoolre.co.uk. Notably, in recent years more referrals have been for Extreme Right-Wing radicalisation concerns (19% of cases) than for Islamist concerns (11%)poolre.co.uk – a shift reflecting the rising threat of far-right extremism. Most referred youths are males, and many cases involve individuals who haven’t committed a crime but exhibit worrisome behavior or views (the single biggest referral category is “vulnerability present but no clear ideology”)poolre.co.uk. This underscores that the focus is on early intervention – getting help to youths before they cross the line into criminal acts.

Key strategies for prevention: Stopping youth extremism requires a multi-pronged approach, balancing security with support and education. Leading practices include:

• Early identification and support: Authorities aim to intervene early when a young person shows signs of radicalisation. In the UK, the Channel process under Prevent assembles a panel (with social workers, psychologists, etc.) to tailor an intervention plan for the individualco.ukpoolre.co.uk. This might involve mentoring by a credible former extremist, mental health counseling, or other support. While controversial to some, this approach has had success in steering youths away from danger – and as of today, no minor referred through Prevent has gone on to commit a terrorist attackpoolre.co.uk. Other countries have similar referral and case-management programs (e.g. de-radicalisation mentorship in Denmark’s Aarhus model). The lesson for funders is the importance of resourcing these intervention teams, training professionals to spot warning signs (teachers and youth workers are often on the front line of referralsamnesty.org.uk), and ensuring that at-risk youth receive help, not just surveillance.
• Education and resilience-building: Empowering young people with the critical thinking skills and resilience to reject extremist messaging is a cornerstone of prevention. Schools and youth organizations increasingly run counter-extremism workshops and curricula that teach students about propaganda techniques, online safety, and the real-life consequences of extremism. For example, the EU promotes “inclusive education and common values” programs to foster tolerance and media literacyhome-affairs.ec.europa.eu. At the community level, NGOs may facilitate dialogues where youth can air grievances and learn non-violent forms of activism, undercutting the appeal of violent ideologies. Research supports this focus: a RAND analysis found that improving youths’ “life skills” – vocational training, social skills, and understanding of civic pathways – reduces their susceptibility to radicalisationrusi.org. By giving young people hope in the future and tools to voice their identities constructively, we inoculate them against extremist recruitment. Funders can back initiatives in schools, sports clubs, and online platforms that build these protective factors (for instance, hackathons where teens create digital campaigns against hate speech, or theatre projects that explore themes of identity and conflict).
• Community engagement and counter-narratives: Extremism often takes root where communities feel isolated or distrustful of authorities. Thus, a preventive strategy must engage families, faith leaders, and local influencers in the fight against extremist influence. Many successful programs train community mentors or “intervention providers” – similar to gang mentors – who work within their cultural or religious community to challenge extremist narratives. Governments and international bodies are also funding the development of counter-narratives online: content that credibly disputes extremist propaganda and offers alternate messages of peace and inclusion, sometimes delivered by former extremists or peers. The European Commission, for example, supports projects that empower communities and young leaders to speak up against hate and violencehome-affairs.ec.europa.eu. Likewise, initiatives to remove or flag terrorist content on social media (through AI and reporting mechanisms) help reduce youths’ exposure to poisonous materialhome-affairs.ec.europa.euhome-affairs.ec.europa.eu. Funders should look to bolster community-led prevention—such as local youth clubs working on anti-hate campaigns or support networks for parents worried about their child’s radicalization. These grassroots efforts ensure prevention is not seen as a top-down surveillance program but as a collective community responsibility.

Challenges and the road ahead: Measuring the success of radicalisation prevention is inherently difficult – when it works, “nothing happens,” making impact hard to quantify. Moreover, as a relatively new field, PVE programs have varied approaches and uneven evaluation. A review of anti-extremism interventions noted that many rely on anecdotal evidence and theory, and more rigorous outcome evaluations are neededstatic.rusi.orgstatic.rusi.org. That said, experts remain “cautiously optimistic” because many case studies show positive resultsstatic.rusi.orgstatic.rusi.org. Dozens of youths have been successfully diverted from extremism in Europe through tailored mentorship and rehabilitation efforts. In Germany and Denmark, for instance, mentorship programs working with former neo-Nazis or jihadists have helped individuals exit extremist scenes safely. The United Nations and other international bodies emphasize addressing root causes like youth unemployment and political grievances as part of preventionnsiteam.com, aligning with broader development goals.

For funders interested in impactful investment, youth extremism prevention offers an opportunity to safeguard society’s future and uphold human values. By funding research to identify what works, supporting community-based prevention pilots, and scaling up successful models (with adaptation to local contexts), donors can help build a robust firewall against violent extremism. The aim is to channel youthful energy into positive change-making, not destruction. With informed, evidence-based action, we can ensure that even as extremists evolve their tactics, our young generation will remain resilient, critical-minded, and committed to peaceful progress.

In the UK, knife crime has become synonymous with serious youth violence. Over the past decade, knife-related offenses surged, contributing to a tragic increase in young lives lost. In 2024, police recorded over 55,000 knife crimes in England and Wales – 80% more than ten years priorhumanium.org. That year saw over 260 homicides involving knives and 3,735 hospital admissions for assaults with sharp objectshumanium.org. Young people are disproportionately affected: in 2022–23, 42 teenagers (16–19) were victims of knife homicide, and in 2024 a total of 57 youth under 25 were killed with kniveshumanium.org. Clearly, addressing knife crime is central to any youth violence prevention strategy in the UK.

Understanding the issue: Youth knife carrying and stabbing incidents are driven by a mix of factors. Many adolescents report carrying knives for self-protection or due to fear of rival gangs; others are groomed into carrying weapons through gang culture or “county lines” drug networkshumanium.org. Social deprivation and lack of opportunities also create conditions where violence can thrive. According to inspectors, entire communities in some urban areas have been “overrun by serious youth violence,” creating an environment of fear among young peoplehumanium.org. These complex causes mean purely punitive responses (like harsher sentencing) won’t solve the problem alone. Indeed, a 2024 review criticized the national response for failing to integrate child safeguarding with violence prevention – noting that authorities often treated youth solely as perpetrators, without providing the support and guidance needed to escape violent environmentshumanium.org.

Prevention and intervention measures: The UK has begun adopting a more preventative, multi-agency approach to knife crime. Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) have been established in the worst-affected regions since 2019, funded by a £390m government Serious Violence Fundgov.uk. VRUs bring together police, social services, schools, NHS, and community groups to share data and coordinate action on root causes like school exclusion, unemployment, and traumagov.ukgov.uk. This “whole-system” model, inspired by Scotland’s success, treats knife violence as a public health issue – aiming to intervene early (identifying youths at risk) and prevent violence before it occursgov.ukgov.uk. For example, many VRUs fund hospital-based Navigators: trained youth workers who meet young stabbing victims at A&E to counsel them and link them to support (turning a traumatic incident into a teachable moment). These programs have shown promise and have been expanded after initial data indicated reductions in re-injury and retaliationgov.ukgov.uk. Schools are another critical arena: London’s Knife Crime Strategy emphasizes equipping pupils with conflict-resolution skills and pathways to handle disputes without weaponsdmss.co.uk. Some areas have also used weapon surrender schemes (knife amnesty bins) and targeted police operations at knife “hotspots,” but the consensus is that enforcement must be paired with prevention.

Learning from success: There are encouraging signs that a public health approach can curb knife violence. Scotland’s experience is instructive – Glasgow, once notorious for knife crime, saw a 60% drop in homicides after implementing a comprehensive violence reduction strategy that included education, mentoring, and robust support for at-risk youthspa.police.uk. Evaluations credit the emphasis on early intervention (working with children from primary school onward), partnership with communities, and providing exit routes for those involved in violence. Similar efforts in London and other English cities are still in early stages, but initial outcomes (such as declines in youth hospital stabbing admissions in some pilot areas) offer hope.

In conclusion, reversing the knife crime epidemic will require sustained commitment to prevention, not just reaction. This means investing in youth services – from extracurricular programs and mental health support to apprenticeships – that offer alternatives to violence. It also means treating young knife carriers as individuals who need guidance and opportunities, not only punishment. Funders and policymakers should support those interventions backed by evidence: community outreach, hospital navigator programs, family therapy, and school-based education on violence. By addressing the underlying causes and building a culture where youth feel safe and valued, we can save lives and make our cities safer for everyone.

Youth violence is a critical issue worldwide, with an estimated 200,000 homicides annually among youth aged 10–29 making it the 4th leading cause of death for this age group.

Beyond loss of life, youth violence including gang-related incidents has far-reaching social and economic costs, impacting families and whole communities. In the UK, serious youth violence has risen over the past decade.

For example, in England and Wales 99 young people (16–24) were homicide victims in 2022/23, up from 87 a decade earlier, and 467 children required hospital treatment for knife wounds that year a 47% increase from 2012/13.

While violence peaked around 2017–2018 and then declined during the pandemic, levels remain higher than ten years ago. Notably, knives now account for 82% of homicides among 13–19-year-olds, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention.

Research shows youth violence is preventable. Evidence-based strategies span multiple sectors from schools and families to policing and community programs. School-cantered approaches are especially effective: rigorous reviews find that school-based interventions such as anti-bullying curricula and social-emotional learning programs significantly reduce youth aggression.

Promising interventions also include family support e.g. parenting programs, mentoring for at-risk youth, and community coalitions that engage local stakeholders.

In contrast, “scared straight” deterrence tactics have no positive effect and can even harm young people. It is notable that programs targeting gang membership specifically have shown inconclusive results so far due to limited high-quality evaluation indicating a need for further research on what works to steer youth away from gangs.

Given the complex roots of youth violence including social deprivation, adverse childhood experiences, gang culture and more, experts suggest multi-sector, “whole-system” approaches. One influential model comes from Scotland: in 2005 Glasgow launched a Violence Reduction Unit (SVRU) treating violence as a public health issue.

The SVRU coordinates police, health, education, and community services to address root causes from school exclusion to unemployment. Over 19 years, this approach contributed to a 60% reduction in homicides in Glasgow 52% across Scotland, with the largest drop among young people.

The public health, early-intervention strategy focusing on prevention, not just enforcement transformed Glasgow from the former “murder capital” of the UK into a case study in violence reduction.

For funders, the implication is clear: investing in prevention works. Effective programs share key principles: they aim to create positive life changes for youth building skills, opportunities and supportive relationships and are delivered by trained facilitators with fidelity to proven models.

Interventions are most impactful when they occur in natural settings schools, homes, communities and involve regular, sustained contact with youth. By funding evidence-based youth programs and encouraging collaboration across education, justice, and health systems stakeholders can reduce violence and its costly consequences.

Indeed, violence is not inevitable: with the right support and early intervention, young people can be kept safe from gangs and crime, leading to safer communities and brighter futures.