Overcoming Anti-Social Behaviour

Youth crime and anti-social behaviour are major barriers to the development of cohesive communities. For many years a combination of punishment and often, controversially, reward have been the tools used to overcome these issues. Punishment on its own doesn’t seem to be solving the problem. Young Offender Institutes are overwhelmed with numbers and in many communities ASBOs have become a badge worn with pride. Reward meanwhile is viewed uncomfortably within communities. Why should young people who have offended be rewarded while those that have not receive nothing? More importantly, what happens when these rewards come to an end?

Sometimes the solutions are simple, but simplicity does not imply lack of effort. PeaceMaker is committed to supporting young people and developing their understanding through pro-actively challenging prejudice rather than rely entirely on simple punishment or reward measures.

Originally developed to support Youth Offending Teams, PeaceMaker’s Overcoming Anti-social Behaviour projects support young people that have committed crime or are at risk of doing so, through a structured ten week programme of work that helps them to challenge their existing behaviour. The young people develop self-respect, and learn to recognise the damage that they are causing both to themselves and their communities. And they learn to put into place real life achievable strategies that will support them to re-engage as positive citizens within their communities.