What is a gang? 
A gang isn't just a group of friends who hangout together. You can spend time with a group of people, trust them and rely on them without it being a gang. A group of young people hanging out on a street corner can sometimes be labelled as a gang but in reality they are doing what young people love to do which is spending time together. 
People also get confused about youth crime and gangs. Young people who get involved with crime are not always in a gang.
A gang is a discernible group of young people who are involved in a range of criminal activity and violence, who identify with or lay claim over territory, have some form of structure (such as a name, a leader or rules), and are in conflict with other gangs.


Inside a gang... 
It's almost impossible to put a figure on the number of young people involved in gangs.  After all they're hardly likely to want to identify themselves because of what they're getting up to. Those who do speak up may well boast about having larger numbers than they actually do in order to magnify or ‘Big Up' their status. It is often the case that gangs at their core aren't huge but they have lots of young people who affiliate themselves with the group. If there's a major disagreement, or beef between one area and another, that's when those affiliated to the gang will get involved. 
One of the most terrifying developments in gang culture has been the development of ‘postcode wars'. At one time the identity of a gang was centred around ethnicity, and while it may be true that in Glasgow gangs tend to be white and in Brixton they're more likely to be Afro-Caribbean, identity is now based on where you live. If you come from SE15 (Peckham) you can be risking your life by going to SW9 (Brixton); if you're from S3 in Sheffield then S5 is a no go area and so on it goes. It seems like the areas being fought over are getting smaller and smaller. 

Consequences?
Being in a gang comes at a cost. Although many young people will join a gang because they want to feel protected, or make a name for themselves, they don't always realise the dangers, and effects of being in a gang.
Some of these can include:
• Fear of being attacked, or a friend or family member being hurt because of your association with a gang.
• Violence - getting injured, or even killed through violent confrontation with other gangs.
• Being controlled - by older members of a gang, who may force you to do things you don't want to do, and may not let you leave.
• A criminal record - or possibly ending up in prison, if you get caught • Not achieving your dreams and ambitions - because of any of these costs could hold you back.

Getting Out
Most young people join a gang for a reason. It might be wanting to feel protected, it could be to get respect or to find a way to make money through criminal activities.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel safe, have respect or make money, but staying in a gang ultimately limits your horizons and does not lead to a safe or positive future. There are many reasons to get out, such as:
• To find real respect- not just being respected because of fear.
• To be able to use your talents and skills in a way that builds a positive future.
• To remove yourself and a friends from the risk of violent reprisals.
• To break the cycle of violence, fear and bad choices that you might otherwise pass on to those you look up to you, or children if you start a family. • To been seen in a positive light, moving on from the gang lifestyle.
It can be hard for anyone trying to leave the gang lifestyle. Other gangs still see you as a rival and your own former gang mates can feel disrespected by your exit from the crew, and may be against you doing so. Some say the only way to leave a gang is to leave the area entirely but that’s not easy if you’re a teenager with no job, no money and nowhere else to go.If you want to get out of a gang, or know someone who does, and want to contact the cut it out team about it, please contact us on  cut-it-out@c2ccharitabletrust.com or ring / text 07545 185 248