Fathers are calling for more male role models to prevent young men being sucked in to a life of crime.
James Gregory started Fathers Against Violence after his son, Giuseppe, was killed in a gang-related shooting two years ago.
Now he and fellow Fathers Against Violence member Akiel Chinelo are urging more men to come forward to volunteer as positive male role models for young men in the city. Speaking at the start of this year’s Peace Week, both dads say they have seen how boys are affected by absent fathers.
Fathers Against Violence campaigns to offer support to lone parents, help people improve their parenting skills and hopes to start a mentoring scheme soon.
James, 39, who has three other children, said: "The problem is not just a lack of role models for young men, it’s helping people in their relationship with their child.
"We need to look at how we engage with our children. We also want to support single mums by offering advice and are hoping men will volunteer to be there for boys who are lacking a father figure to offer guidance and help them develop."
Akiel, 42, who has five children, realises how much he missed out on influencing his young family after being jailed for drugs offences.
He was released in 2004 and has since turned his life around and now runs arts education projects.
Akiel, who lives in Old Trafford, said: "I feel as though if I had been around my presence would have supported my children a bit more.
"We are talking about the absence of fathers and how this can lead to violent behaviour but also the presence of a father figure can lead to positive behaviour."
They hope to match vulnerable young men with positive role models from the arts, sport, business and education to show there is an alternative to crime. The Fathers Against Violence group is also hoping to offer groups for dads to meet up with their children and a support phoneline for parents.
Akiel said: "There was a time when you could walk down the street and someone would say ‘I know your father’. Now we don’t know each other’s children. We want to help parents come together so we can improve the community."
To find out more about Fathers Against Violence go to www.fathersagainstviolence.org .
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Sadly any good kid is going to associate with other kids,there is little opportunity to distinguish between good and bad and they only have to be standing next to someone to become a casualty.Or live in a street,or go to a school considered competition or enemy by others.The only way kids will avoid this at this time is if their parents are multi-millionaires and can move them to some island were they will be prisoners.The mentors need to be living in normal streets.Celebs and sports stars,not living away in mansions and villas and only visiting troubled areas briefly. Society also needs big converts from crime to disassociate themselves from their past and not use their contacts or ways or boasts.Too stand on their own two feet as mentors That is more important than celebs and sports stars.The ones who create all this grief don't care about anything,they just fake it. People keep themselves too themselves. Don't get involved.This is why active criminals and their supporters can take advantage in communities. Still good luck too these guys.