Meet the Beds organisation doing key work to keep young people away from crime
Everyone's Gang has been created with the purpose of offering young people support and an outlet to stay on the right path
In Bedford borough, an organisation supporting vulnerable young people is already proving invaluable - in its first year.
Set up by two men who had previously been involved in criminality, Everyone's Gang is helping teenagers who have fallen out of mainstream education, who are involved in criminality, and young offenders upon their release from custody, offering them an outlet to explore other horizons.
Tyrrel Clara, 27, co-founder of the organisation, was involved in a gang from a young age. He served seven years in a youth offenders institution.
Upon his release three years ago, he decided to leave that life behind and help young people steer away from crime.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, he said: "When I came out of prison, I realised how difficult it is to escape that lifestyle, and that's not talked about enough.
"We want to show young people that if they get involved in this life, it's not easy to just leave it behind."
Pete Henrickson, 63, who founded Everyone's Gang with Tyrrel, was involved in violent crime as a teenager.
He avoided a custodial sentence but was given community service, and quickly decided to turn his life around.
He said: "We’ve both been those young people when we were their age. We understand their frustrations.
"It allows us to talk their language and build trust in a way that others might not be able to."
Tyrrel and Pete's understanding of the world they are in, how to steer away from criminality, but also how to spot individuals who may be at risk, has enabled them to proactively support a range of teenagers.
By drawing on their personal experiences, they connect with each and every one of them.
The organisation then focuses on building long-term relationships.
"We want to work with them for at least two years, ideally three," Pete said. "The longer we’re involved, the more influence we can have on their lives, rather than just being a passing presence."
Breaking down the myths
One of the key challenges Tyrrel and Pete face is identifying young people who are at risk of falling into criminality.
"It’s not just about getting them off the streets," Tyrrel said. "Some come from good families, have a solid support network, but still fall into the wrong crowd. Others are dealing with mental health issues or come from difficult backgrounds."
Their work is made all the more complex when some of these young people are exposed to criminality from a young age.
Pete said: "A lot of the young people we work with come from backgrounds where crime is normalized. We’re seeing young kids, some as young as 11 or 12, who have never left their estate. That’s all they know."
Tyrrel further insisted on breaking a common myth, which can fuel racism.
"Right now, it’s a general issue. It’s affecting all races and backgrounds, and it’s not just about where you come from," he said.
Challenging young people's opinions about crime
A key component of their work is challenging the glamorisation of violence and crime.
Everyone's Gang has identified a glorification of criminality amongst young people, primarily fuelled via social media, and fed by the digital world.
Tyrrel said: "With social media, kids have so much access to these things, and it’s difficult for parents to shield them from it. We want to make sure they understand the consequences of these actions before they get too deep into it."
Pete also noted that the influence of social media has made the situation worse. "When I was growing up, we didn’t have the level of social media influence. Gangs existed, but now the violence is glorified on social media, and it's become a trend for kids to want to prove themselves in that way."
The cost of inaction
While the government continues to invest heavily in policing and criminal investigations, Pete highlighted the gaps in the reactive approach.
He said: "I've been told on a number of occasions that it costs £1,000,000 to investigate one murder. We are dealing with people who are on the path of either being killed or they will kill.
"So they will be a £1,000,000 cost, whichever way they fall, they'll either be the one killed or they'll be one doing the killing."
Everyone’s Gang is determined to be part of the solution, providing structured support that helps young people see a future beyond crime.
"This isn’t about being ‘soft’ on crime," added Pete. "It’s about being smart. Locking kids up for short sentences and then releasing them back into the same environment, with no support, doesn’t work. What does work is giving them real opportunities to change."
Building a blueprint
Although still in its first year, Everyone’s Gang is already making an impact. Its work is being recognised by those on the ground, and the founders hope to create a model that can be replicated elsewhere.
"We’re not saying we have all the answers," Tyrrel said. "But we are creating something that works, and that others can build on."
The name ‘Everyone’s Gang’ was chosen deliberately. "We want to take away the exclusivity that gang culture creates," he added. "This is about belonging—but in a way that’s positive, supportive, and life-changing."