THE City of Surrey this week formally launched Blueprint Pathways, a new crime prevention pilot partnership aimed at keeping high risk Surrey youth safe from gangs and criminal exploitation

The program, running through the 2021–2022 school year (September to June), will connect up to 30 youth ages 13–19 with a City of Surrey outreach worker who—working closely with Surrey Schools and the Surrey Wraparound Program (WRAP)—will provide intensive one-on-one support at school and in the community.

Program participants, who will primarily be referred through WRAP and City of Surrey’s Children and Youth At-Risk Table (CHART), will receive mentorship, connection to pro-social activities, and referrals to specialized services to meet their unique needs.

“Blueprint Pathways is designed to target youth vulnerable for gang involvement and guide them toward making healthy decisions while strengthening connection with school, family and community,” said Brian Aasebo, Community Safety Manager at the City of Surrey. “By working together with our partners to layer programs and services throughout the community, we can collectively have a bigger impact on helping our youth build their self-worth and make positive lifestyle choices.”

The City secured nearly $73,000 from the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General through the Government of Canada’s Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund to implement the Blueprint Pathways pilot.

For more information on Blueprint Pathways and other City-led community safety programs that collectively prevent and reduce crime, build safer communities, and promote multi-sector collaboration, visit surrey.ca/communitysafety.