Disarm is an independent charity and was set up in response to the Birmingham New Year Shootings in 2003. Breaking the cycle  | | Disarm Chairman, Bill Brown |
Working with Black Minority Ethnic communities the trust aims to work within the poorest neighbourhoods, where there are a large proportion of young people experiencing high levels of social exclusion through poor education, lack of formal qualifications, poor health and lack of employment opportunities. Disarm Trust Chairman Bill Brown explains; “The exclusion rate in our inner city schools is tremendously high and there are no mechanisms in place to pick up excluded kids so they end up joining gangs. Some are good gangs because they can be like adopted families, but there are other gangs that have criminal elements. "Kids nowadays are really impressionable. The older more seasoned criminals will drag the younger ones into a life of crime. "However many young people get into gangs and after a while may think it’s not for them, but then they find it very difficult to leave the gangs. "At Disarm we believe prevention is better than cure. We work together with other community groups like the Street Pastors, Bringing Hope, Young Disciples and First Class Youth Network and together I’m sure we can break the cycle.” It’s time for change The trust works in partnership with local police, schools, community and government organisations to support and facilitate social change in areas worst affected. “Disarm has a good partnership with the police. We cannot do without law enforcement so we have to work hand in hand. Our job is to look at the causes of why these things are happening and also to bring solutions to the table.  | | Peace Week |
“We have recently developed a personal safety and care education package that has been signed up by the Local Education Authority. "Starting in September 2005, seven schools in the Handsworth, Lozells, and Aston areas of Birmingham will be piloting the package.” Bridging the gap The work done by Disarm recognises that the problems in the black minority ethnic community are economic and social as well as just crime. In the UK, economically and socially there is a huge gap between African-Caribbean and the other communities. One of the key objectives of Disarm Trust is to bridge that gap. Information gathered by the Social Exclusion Unit’s Policy Action Team on young people suggests that there is an increasing disparity between the experiences of white young people and those from BME Communities. - Infant mortality rates around 100% higher for children of mothers born in the Caribbean or Pakistan.
- Since 1994 permanent school exclusions have risen by 13% across all ethnic groups. African Caribbean pupils are 5 times more likely to be excluded than white pupils.
- 50% of African Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi young people aged 16-19 years are unemployed. 33% of Indian/Asian - African young people of the same age are unemployed.
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Charity begins at home  | | Gun violence in Birmingham |
Bill Brown adds; “Many of the youngsters who are perpetrators in violent crime, gangs and gun violence come from a generation of children having children or have had no parental guidance. "We can tell the youth to put down the guns, but if their economy revolves around guns to make a living we can’t just say that. The community has to find them an alternative to guns and gangs i.e. education, training opportunities and the ability to earn. We must be able to offer them a viable alternative. “There needs to be a massive reconciliation with grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren. A healing process is very necessary in our community. “Charity begins at home we can’t expect other people to come in and help our community. We have to start by looking at ourselves and then address the issues ourselves. Everyone has to put their shoulders to the wheel to make a better future for our young people.” It’s time for peace – Peace Week Organised by the Disarm Trust, Birmingham’s inner city communities will be uniting in public declaration for peace, during a week of events across the city between 29th July – 9th August 2005. Peace Week is a response to the growing concerns about the raise in gun crime and violence in the city and will acknowledge the community’s collective strength to take action and unite against this type of violence. More Information For more information on Disarm Trust and events taking place during Peace Week visit the website: www.peaceweek.co.uk. | 
