LOCAL NEWS | UCKG.ORG | 020 7686 6000
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London youth march
against knife crime
Carrying placards and wearing tee shirts that proclaimed ‘life’s worth living’, the
young marchers sang and chanted their message, ‘drop the knives and save the
lives’. The youths marched along a route that took them towards Lewisham Shopping
Centre, and DLR station and along Lewisham Way. Heading through New Cross Gate
towards Queens Road, they passed by Peckham police station to end up at Peckham
UCKG HelpCentre.
T
he Victory Youth Group (VYG)’s march to
raise awareness of peer on peer knife crime
last summer united over 600 youths, aged
14-25, to stand against this trend of violence and
bring a positive change in the community.
The two-hour march received plenty of
positive reaction. Local people along the route
commended the initiative, liking the idea that
there are youths out there that do not accept
what is happening.
Speaking after the march, Cllr Janet Daby said: “I
was happy to speak to a diverse crowd of young
people from across London who were making
a difference and standing up against peer-on-
peer youth violence. This was a heart-warming
and inspiring event. It was well-organised and
attended. The passion was lovely and the
message was clear – knife crime must STOP!”
The VYG is now looking to have the same positive
reaction as they continue the Life is Worth Living
initiative in response to the latest tragic events.
The group is taking the formula that has been
helping the 1300-plus young people who attend
their meetings weekly, to the streets.
“Many of the youths we receive have gone
through hard and difficult situations and each
one, as diverse as they are and as complex and
unique as each of their cases were,” said Youth
Leader Pr. Ade Titilawo who heads the VYG in
the UK, “they have two things in common: 1. They
grabbed the opportunity to change themselves.
2. They changed. We are not about telling young
people what to do. We show them the facts
and educate young people to realise that their
choices have consequences. We teach, help,
guide and support them so that they realise that
life is worth living and worth living well.”
The VYG will be taking to the streets again
this summer but you needn’t wait until June to
benefit from the help they provide. You can pop
in to any Youth Group every Sunday at 1.30pm
for the Sunday Live meetings.
VYG is the youth arm of the UCKG HelpCentre,
and receives over 1,300 young people in
their meetings every week. The sessions
include practical teaching, fun and spiritual
development. For more information on the
group, call 020 7686 6000 or email: vyg@
uckg.org
the vyg meets every sunday at 1.30pm
for your nearest branch, turn to page 15. For more info, call 020 7686 6000