Fighting Chance is out now and can be purchased from any good book store including online stores like Amazon and Waterstones.

 

 

“NO ONE SHOULD DIE IN THE WAY THAT MY BOY DID. I GO ROUND SPEAKING TO YOUNG PEOPLE, TELLING THEM WHAT IT’S LIKE FOR A MOTHER TO LOSE HER SON, HOPING THAT THEY WILL SEE SENSE AND STAY AWAY FROM GANGS AND VIOLENCE”

GRACE IDOWU (MOTHER OF DAVID IDOWU)

This is just one of the quotes from “Fighting Chance”, written by Patrick Regan, the CEO and founder of XLP, and published by Hodder. The book explores the issues of gang culture and violence in Britain. Reports of teenage deaths and gang violence are all too frequent in the media and there have been warnings that if we don’t act now, it will be too late. But what are the real stories behind the headlines? Who are the young people involved and why is being in a brutal gang appealing?

The book looks firstly to set the record straight and provide an accurate picture of the situation in Britain. Secondly, it uncovers the real drivers for young people to become involved in gangs and crime including issues of poverty, family breakdown, fear, and the need to belong. Thirdly, it explores a number of practical solutions that can help prevent young people getting involved in gangs, and help those are already involved find a way out. Interleaved with the analysis and discussion are compelling chapters that expose the life-stories of those caught up in gangs, as well as the harsh reality of being a victim.

 

The book is available in all mainstream bookshops and online.

 

Over the past 14 months Patrick Regan, has written a book called “Fighting Chance” that explores the challenges of gang culture that affect so many of our lives and the devastating impact they can have on our communities. It unearths the real situation in our inner cities, tells some of the harrowing and tragic stories of the past few years, and looks to understand the complex root causes, drivers and motivations involved with gang membership such as family breakdown, educational failure, poverty and addiction.

More than this though, “Fighting Chance” offers us hope. It champions people and projects that are working hard to change this situation – those who refuse to accept the status quo and are working within our communities to make a difference. Often these are inspiring individuals who offer young people a sense of purpose, but what they all have in common is their ability to listen and then respond to what they hear – they simply care enough to get involved.