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Taking on the gangs

Jennifer Thomson
3/ 4/2008

TWO former school pals who turned their back on the gangs are now dedicating their lives to steering young people away from a life of crime.

Nicole McLaren, 20 and Reaghelle Peltier, 22 - both from Fallowfield, have set up a support scheme, aimed at keeping Manchester’s youngsters away from drugs, gangs and other pitfalls of inner city life.

They employ a team of 15 voluntary project leaders from their office at the Windrush Millennium Centre on Alexandra Road, Moss Side, to make teenagers aware of the opportunities available to them

The project called The nXt Generation, which they started in their bedrooms before winning a £5,000 government grant, has helped dozens of young people obtain modern apprenticeships in construction, events management qualifications, security training as well as driving lessons and football coaching.

"We know from personal experience what it’s like to be a young person, with no prospects and nothing to do after leaving school," said Nicole.

"For three years, we had nothing but substitute teachers repeatedly saying we wouldn’t amount to anything."

Next month around 2,000 people are expected to attend a talent show designed to show youngsters they could have a bright future ahead of them.

Such is the demand for tickets they have hired the city centre Bridgewater Hall to host the event on the Bank Holiday Monday of May 5.

Nicole, of Rostherne Avenue, said: "Our organisation is unique because we come from the same background as these people, so they find it easier to open up to us."

Nicole was predicted to get no GCSEs but left school with three Cs in maths, English and science.

She spent the next year at Xaverian College, but was excluded for poor attendance.

"I was bored, I didn’t feel challenged so I started skipping classes and got in with the wrong crowd," she said.

"I know people who joined gangs, who got involved with drugs and guns, but decided I didn’t want to go down that path."

She added: "We aim to make the doors of opportunity more visible. We want to do this on a national - even international level."

Reaghelle, who lives on Clinton Avenue, said: "The people we help are like roses growing through the concrete."

The Bridgewater Hall event, called ‘The nXt Generation’s 2008 Takeova, will showcase some of Manchester’s brightest young talent.

It will include talks from motivational speakers, dance and dramatic performances, DJ sets and a fashion show.

It promises to attract a host of big names, with Emmerdale and Coronation Street cast members and footballers Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Micah Richards among the confirmed guests.

Tickets are available from Nicole on 07965 667301 or Reaghelle on 07946851705, priced at £5 for under 22s, £15 for those aged 22 and over.