Radicalisation is defined by the Youth Justice Board as a process of change, a personal and political transformation from one condition to another. Recent scholars argue that becoming radicalised is, for most people, a gradual process and one that requires a progression through distinct stage and happens neither quickly nor easily (Horgan, 2005; Sibler and Bhatt, 2007).

Radicalisation is a delicate subject, but an essential one to understand when working with vulnerable children and young people. A person does not become instantly 'radicalised' but instead are gradually exposed to influences which may accelerate their thought processes. When working with vulnerable young people, it is essential to be aware of the risks associated with radicalisation n, how to identify possible concerns and identify with the role social settings and networks play in the radicalisation process.

This training course confirms the meaning of radicalisation and associated terms and identifies the models of the radicalisation process from 'early involvement' to 'operationally active'. The course considers the different theories of the radicalisation process including the ‘staircase of terrorism’ and the ‘prevent pyramid’ and the biological, psychological and social theories of radicalisation.

This course also considers the individual risk factors of working with children and young people and their vulnerabilities to the influences of radicalisation and discusses how the 'Violent Extremist Risk Assessment' can be adapted and used as a preventative tool when supporting children and young people.

Click here to find more details about this training course and how this can be provided to your teams.