PVE

The PVE (Preventing Violent Extremism) Engage project expanded on existing work done by BASIAN in the substance misuse field to include preventing violent extremism. BASIAN delivered a community-based programme in the Reading area which included mentoring, training and guidance to vulnerable young people. The vulnerable young people had been socially excluded i.e. lived in poor housing conditions, underachieved in education, unemployed, faced discrimination and involved in crime. The vulnerable young people lacked correct Islamic knowledge and were vulnerable to extremist knowledge via the internet, social media and dysfunctional role models.

The mentoring, training and guidance were designed to empower vulnerable young people to be resilient to radicalisation, raise aspirations and self-confidence. The vulnerable young people were reached through community outreach. We designed a mentoring and training programme which gave young people the cognitive and practical skills to be resilient to the messages of violent extremism and the potential to be groomed or radicalised. BASIAN team empowered individuals from a theological perspective to alternative messages from an Islamic perspective on promoting citizenship, community cohesion and peace. Participants gained skills and knowledge to be resilient, confidently articulate and defend themselves against potential extremist messages and those trying to radicalise them.

BASIAN PVE Engage objectives were to:

• Help vulnerable young people become resilient to messages of violent extremism and targets for radicalisation.
• Provide young people with mentoring, training and guidance resulting in them becoming resilient to grooming and radicalisation.
• Help raise young people's aspirations, self-confidence and worth so they feel a sense of belonging and adopt British Identity

Final BASIAN PVE Report 2010