In the wake of the tragic death of 18 year old Dontae Davis in Lawrence Hill, Neil chats to Darren Alexander who runs Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE), a music mentoring organisation for youth in Bristol’s disadvantaged communities. Darren and Neil, who both knew the young man, discuss what’s behind youth violence, tackling root and systemic causes and if, as Avon and Somerset Police have said recently, drill music is a concern.
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The conversation between Neil and Darren Alexander covers a frighteningly wide indictment of present investment (the lack of!) in young people in Bristol. It reflects my experience working in the same area – and I retired from that 20 years ago!