A CHARITY which works with youths trying to combat gang violence and community conflict, has won a prestigious award.

Leap Confronting Conflict has just been named UK Charity of the Year 2009 for the conflict resolution work it does in schools and communities, much of which is taking place in Waltham Forest.

It's experts have been working in three schools in the borough, delivering peer mediation training to Year 9’s, and teaching staff with the intention of leaving behind a sustainable peer mediation service.

These include, The Lammas School in Leyton, Leytonstone School and Tom Hood School in Leytonstone.

Each Year 9 student completed a two-day ‘Introduction to Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation’ course, giving them an understanding of what causes conflict and how to begin to resolve it.

They looked at how to develop personal responsibility and make positive choices in their lives. The charity has also been running a Quarrel Shop programme in Waltham Forest since last year to create young leaders who can increase their understanding of conflict resolution and have the skills to deliver the work of conflict resolution to more young people.

At the annual Charity Awards, Leap was also presented with the Children and Youth award for its PeerLink project, a youth-led support network for volunteers involved in conflict resolution and peer mediation.

Jenny Rogers, CEO of Leap Confronting Conflict said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Children and Youth Award for Leap’s PeerLink project, let alone to have been presented with the overall Charity of the Year Award.

“Gaining recognition for such a prestigious award is a real testament to the support that the PeerLink project provides and represents a tremendous achievement for us in our mission to reduce violence and fear in the lives of young people.

“We believe that with the right support and skills needed, young people are capable of achieving anything they put their mind to.”