In the UK, government Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) strategy has focused on early interventions of youth at risk of or vulnerable to radicalisation. It most often targets ‘disenfranchised youth’ who face social and economic inequalities, or the politicisation of their cultural and religious identities; i.e. white working class, Muslim or ethnic minorities. At the grassroots level, P/CVE efforts are not always about identifying an individual who is at risk or vulnerable, but rather using the available resources to access and build resilience in community members to a wide range of social harms, including radicalisation. Youth workers involved in independent P/CVE efforts seek to enable networks of trust, develop critical thinking tools and provide pathways towards employment and social agency (empowerment) within their local communities.
This article is based on research focused on grassroots P/CVE youth work. Conversations with youth workers and practitioners revolved around their experience delivering P/CVE work and navigating resources. The Bristol Horn Youth Concern and Integrate UK are two of the most visible independent grassroots organisations in Bristol, a locality not considered a ‘priority area’ by Home Office. I conducted interviews with them throughout my research to identify the strategies that work on the local level to counter and prevent the threat of violent extremism, as well as build resilience against it.
Building trust
Since its origin in 2012, The Bristol Horn Youth Concern (BHYC) has supported more than 3,000 youth, mainly of Somali descent. It works actively to build trust, local networks and employability with young people, some as young as 10 years old, through meaningful daily interactions. Khalil Abdi, the director of BHYC, has gained trust from Bristol police, faith leaders and the local council due to his long trajectory of local work with asylum seekers and as a neighbourhood warden. He now dedicates several hours weekly to conversations with local youth around one of Bristol’s city centre neighbourhoods.
