Latest news with #youthEducation
Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
UK Islamic summer camp ‘risks radicalising children'
A summer camp sponsored by an Islamic charity accused of backing Iran could expose children to extremist views, it has been claimed. The camp, run by the Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission (AIM) charity, is aimed at children aged nine to 14, with activities including climbing and abseiling along with 'lectures and discussions'. AIM describes Camp Wilayah, which is set to take place in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, next month, as an 'amazing place to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends, learn and build on Islamic values'. It promotes the four-day camp as 'a unique opportunity to explore your true potential amidst the serenity of nature and an Islamic ambience!' Girls who attend are required to wear the hijab and are segregated from the boys, other than for daily prayers, talks and a team photo. In an indication of the kinds of activities children at Camp Wilayah are likely to take part in, one AIM video posted on Instagram shows a group of young boys and girls drawing and colouring in Palestinian flags and watermelon symbols. The children, described as Mahdi's Little Believers, can also be seen making kites – in an apparent reference to the paragliders used by Hamas on October 7 to attack southern Israel. Legal lobby group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) criticised the activities shown as 'symbolically connecting very young children with nationalist resistance. This exploitation of cultural education is a way of embedding ideological allegiance at a formative age'. In social media posts AIM, based in Cricklewood, north-west London, repeatedly praises the leader of Iran's theocratic regime, Ayatollah Khamenei, declaring that his books are 'an excellent source of knowledge and a great read', and refuses to condemn Hamas. It also posted material shortly after the October 7 attacks stating that 'the Zionists brought this disaster upon themselves'. There are now calls for Camp Wilayah to be banned over 'urgent safeguarding and counter-extremism concerns' for the children attending. UKLFI warned that it 'is being hosted by a group that openly promotes the revolutionary Islamist ideology of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei'. It has written to Brent council, where AIM is based, and Hertfordshire council, where Camp Wilayah is to be held, warning councillors: 'There is compelling reason to believe that the event may be used as a platform to radicalise children, incite hatred or violence, and glorify terrorist ideology.' The group goes on to claim that 'of particular concern is AIM's use of social media to disseminate extremist content that is anti-Semitic and conspiratorial'. One video, titled 'Know Thy Enemy' features a speaker describing Jews as the 'harshest', 'squatters', 'settlers' and 'violent', while accusing Israel, the so-called 'squatter state', of having a policy of murdering children. It also calls moderate Muslims who may be tolerant of Israel 'filth'. 'Other posts glorify and encourage martyrdom and justify Hamas's 7 October 2023 atrocities by reframing them as legitimate acts of resistance, omitting any mention of attacks on civilians, and likening Gaza to Nazi concentration camps. Countless posts accuse Israel of genocide and liken it to apartheid.' A UKLFI spokesman said: 'AIM's deep ideological alignment with the Iranian regime and its record of extremist propaganda presents an unacceptable risk to children. We hope the local authority and other agencies will act decisively to protect vulnerable young people from exposure to harmful and radicalising content.' Lord Walney, the government's former extremism adviser, has raised his concerns over plans to stage Camp Wilayah this summer, saying: 'We cannot allow propaganda and influence from this theocratic dictatorship to be spread to children in the UK.' He added: 'It is deeply alarming that schoolchildren are being taken to these camps. This raises further questions about the influence of Iran here in the UK.' Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has said that children should not be allowed to attend camps run by supporters of the Iranian regime. The concerns over Camp Wilayah come after Parliament's intelligence and security committee (ISC) warned on Thursday that the threat of physical attacks by Iran on the UK now matched that of Russia. The committee found that Iran's intimidation, including the fear of attacks on British Jews and Iranian dissidents living in the UK, was comparable in scale to the threat posed by Russia. AIM has run Camp Wilayah, which costs £180 per child, for a number of years. Pictures of the 2017 camp posted online show Hasan Ali al-Taraiki, a cleric associated with AIM, attending. In an interview posted on YouTube a year ago, he said that the persecution of Jews by Germany and European countries had been 'justified at the time'. Brent council told The Telegraph it had begun its own 'analysis' of Camp Wilayah and AIM's activities and was 'making its relevant partners aware'. A spokesperson for Hertfordshire county council said: 'We are aware of concerns around this planned activity camp, and we are working with partners to understand the situation and whether it raises any safeguarding issues.' AIM has been contacted for comment. It has previously defended its role, stating: 'The Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission serves communities in Britain. Unlike the roughly 3,000 Zionist organisations in the UK, it neither takes orders from nor represents the interest of any foreign power. 'We are proud of our record in opposing the 140-year Zionist campaign of genocide against the people of the Levant, which has included forced displacement, ethnic cleansing and indiscriminate aerial bombardment, among many other crimes.'
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
Kent Police launches anti-social behaviour pilot in Sandwich
A pilot scheme aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour has been launched by police in Sandwich ahead of a possible roll-out across East scheme, called Love Your Community, was the idea of PC Joel Ruddock who works within the child centred policing team in the Dover District Community Safety five-day project will see four schools take part in events such as litter picking, helping at a foodbank, organising community sports events and inviting police into the school Ruddock said the initiative was designed to "educate" young people on anti-social behaviour. 'Negative perception' Sandwich Infant and Sandwich Junior schools are taking part alongside Sir Roger Manwood's School and Sandwich Technology initiative has been supported by Dover District Commander Liz Cokayne- Delves, who said: "It's really important to get that engagement between schools and the community because there is a lot of confusion about the trouble children cause." PC Ruddock said it would "hopefully reduce crime figures and bring the community together to build better relationships".He added: "I think sometimes there's a negative perception of some young people and they are not always to blame." In recent weeks the issue of anti-social behaviour has reared its head in coastal parts of the county. Kent Police has issued dispersal orders - empowering officers to move people on from designated areas - for Herne Bay, Whitstable, Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs.A meeting to discuss the recent disorder held in Broadstairs was attended by more than 100 residents, East Thanet MP Polly Billington Sharples, who became head of Sandwich Technology School in January, said: "I've been at a school before where increasing the community footprint has improved behaviour both in and out of school dramatically. "This work with the community will encourage a deeper respect for each other and the children will just care more."
CTV News
18-06-2025
- CTV News
Police execute search warrant at Bradford home after reports of youths with a firearm
Police are warning the public about the serious consequences of carrying and misusing replica firearms following an incident this week that resulted in a search warrant being carried out in a Bradford neighbourhood. South Simcoe police say they received a report about two youths in possession of a firearm on Monday. The situation led to a search warrant being issued and officers, plus the K9 unit, showing up at a home on Carter Street the following morning. Officers recovered a realistic replica handgun during the search and have since worked to educate the family and those directly involved about the seriousness of incidents involving imitation weapons. 'Due to the nature of this incident involving minors, no further information will be released,' the police service noted in a Wednesday release. Police say reports about firearms are taken very seriously and are treated with urgency due to the potential risk they pose. 'Even when a firearm is not real, its appearance can lead to significant public concern and a heightened police response. Replica firearms can be easily mistaken for real weapons, especially in public settings, posing a serious risk and potentially dangerous, and life-threatening consequences,' South Simcoe police stated. Following this incident, the service is urging parents and guardians to teach their kids about the risks of carrying replica firearms.
CBC
30-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Geese and ptarmigan are on the menu at these Inuvik schools
Youth from East Three elementary and secondary schools are learning how to pluck and prepare the birds. Dez Loreen stopped by to see for himself.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Job Corps graduates concerned about elimination in Trump's budget
The Brief Job Corps is one of the most notable cuts in the Trump administration's budget – from $1.56 billion in funding to $0. The administration says it's financially unsustainable and a failed experiment. The program originated in 1964 and offers education and vocational training to Americans between the ages of 16 and 24. About 50,000 people participate every year, getting room and board, and a very small stipend. Participants can quit at any time, but about 38% of them complete earn a high school education and/or vocational training. Graduates told FOX 9 that Job Corps is the main reason they were able to turn their lives around. (FOX 9) - One of the notable cuts in President Trump's budget that passed the House last week is to Job Corps. Youth training The 61-year-old program offers education and vocational training to Americans between the ages of 16 and 24. More than a dozen of its graduates talked to FOX 9 Monday, and all of them say they walked away from Job Corps with something valuable — whether it was a job skill they still use or just how to be a responsible adult. And now they're worried the government is about to pull that life ladder. Changed lives Job Corps meant everything for a lot of the three million people who have used it as a stepping stone since 1964. "I would probably be in jail right now," said Donte Rodolph. "I was homeless, and I had nowhere to go," said Renee Rodolph. "I was 16, turning 17 years old, and it completely changed my life." The Rodolphs met at Job Corps and built their own "American Dream" out of the ashes of their former lives. The program puts a roof over the heads of about 50,000 every year, helping them get a high school diploma or a GED, while teaching trades and even driving skills. "One of my dreams was to become a truck driver and now I'm living it and I've been driving a truck for 13 years," said Brandon Zacharias. "And if it wasn't for Job Corps I wouldn't have been able to get my driver's license even." More than a dozen graduates told FOX 9 that Job Corps is where they learned structure, responsibility and even basic life skills. "I learned that you were supposed to dust baseboards," said Anna Boyd. "I didn't learn that at home. I didn't know that was a thing you were supposed to do. Job Corps taught me that." 'Failed experiment' But the program currently costs more than $1.5 billion a year. The Trump administration says it's financially unsustainable and called it a failed experiment. Its success stories are hoping for a reversal. "Job Corps means everything," said Andrew MacGregor. "It means the promise of a bright future, the promise of hope and the ability to pursue a brighter path." What's next The fate of Job Corps is currently in the hands of the U.S. Senate, where the budget bill is headed after the House passed it last week.
