At the Les Twentyman Foundation, we are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young people. This morning, our General Manager of Programs, Chris Lacey, had the privilege of speaking with Charlie Pickering for ABC Radio to discuss a critical issue that is close to our hearts: the urgent need for early intervention to address the rising concern of youth crime.
Chris passionately conveyed our unwavering belief that early intervention is essential in our efforts to combat the alarming surge in ‘youth crime.’
“Policing your way out of these troubles doesn’t work, and we can’t simply keep arresting young people at the end point. We must invest as much as possible in early intervention.” – Chris Lacey, GM of Programs, Les Twentyman Foundation.
Chris highlighted the disheartening trend of young individuals disengaging from school and their education. This disengagement, he pointed out, sets young people on a dangerous path towards criminal activity.
However, it’s crucial to recognise that young people are not isolated entities; they are profoundly influenced by their families and communities. Our mission, as youth workers and as a society, is to foster an environment where positive influences can thrive. By doing so, we increase the likelihood that these young individuals will return to the path of education and personal development, ensuring they make the best possible choices for their future.
Our advocacy for early positive intervention is rooted in our unwavering commitment to empowering youth and steering them away from anti-social activities. As Chris Lacey so powerfully stated:
“The more work we can do as youth workers and as a society to increase the number of positive influences, the better chances we have for these young people to get back on track. We want them to be in school, focusing on their development, and making the best choices they can for their future.”
The call to action is clear: as a community we must invest in support programs that support kids at the earliest possible sign of disconnection to combat this troubling surge in youth crime and secure a brighter future for our youth and communities.
Harsher sentencing and more prisons are not the solution, as our founder Les Twentyman has said many times, we need to “keep kids out of courtrooms and get them into classrooms.”
This commitment sits at the core of our mission, and we stand united in our dedication to making a positive change, one young life at a time.