West Midlands anti-gangs campaign film launched

A group of young people from the West Midlands has made a video starring pop stars and Premier League footballers to stop people joining gangs.

The video, which was made with the help of Bromford Support, a group which helps disadvantaged young people, has been launched on YouTube.

It was made to support the "No Postcodes" campaign, so named because many inner-city gangs are divided into postcode area.

The campaigners are aged 18 to 25.

The video, "No postcodes - no gangs", stars DJ Fresh and members of bands including Elbow and Chase & Status.

They are joined by footballers such as Aston Villa's Emile Heskey and Darren Bent, Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matt Jarvis and West Bromwich Albion's Jerome Thomas.

Support worker Oren Duffus, from Bromford Support, said: "This is a fantastic, inspiring initiative which has been driven by the young people we work with.

"The idea and name for the campaign came from them and they have put so much energy into organising a campaign event and video for this important cause."

'No future'

He added that the funding for the project, which the young people applied for themselves, had come from the Prince's Trust.

On Thursday the group was due to host a campaign event at Birmingham Central Library.

The event was designed to showcase the music and dance talents of the young people involved while also promoting the anti-gang campaign.

Senior support worker Keith Holland said: "Gangs can destroy lives and tear communities apart.

"Some young people can feel there is no future for them and joining a gang can seem like a way to belong.

"The reality is that gangs can ruin or even end the lives of our young people, and the knock-on effect on their friends, families and communities can be devastating.

"These young people are testament to the good that can come out of the problems we see in communities around the country."