Nature scheme among plans to tackle youth violence

Outdoor nature gatherings, gaming sessions and sport are going to be used in a city to try to tackle violence among youngsters.

Four schemes have been drawn up by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, the city's community safety group with council and police staff involved.

They include the nature sessions, run by grassroots charity Mandem Meet Up, aimed at boys, aged 12-14, who are at risk of being excluded from school or violence.

Another will see a mobile vehicle visit areas in the city centre, staffed by youth workers and others, to talk to young people through chats, gaming and sport, a spokesperson said.

The other schemes will see more support for young offenders to learn new skills and get on a different path in life and one-to-one mentoring from the YMCA.

"By working directly in communities, in schools and with those at the highest risk, we can intervene earlier, build trust and help young people find safer, more positive paths," councillor Obaida Ahmed said.

The West Midlands has previously recorded the highest rate of knife crime in England and Wales, before figures in January 2025 showed a 6% fall in reports.

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