Danny was trying to steal a car for the first time when Chris Nolan, an outreach worker for the charity Rathbone, approached him. Thinking he was about to be caught red-handed, Danny started to run. But Nolan was determined to speak to him. He told Danny he had nothing to do with the police and convinced him to visit the Rathbone centre in Manchester, a place for vulnerable teenagers to get help.

But Nolan didn't stop there. The next day he went to Danny's house, spoke to his mum and offered him an unconditional place on Progress to Success, a Rathbone-run course aimed at engaging young people who are not in education, employment or training.

A lot has changed for Danny since then. He volunteers at the youth club on his estate and has managed to pack out the once empty venue with his friends. He is also a proud graduate of Progress to Success.

He says: "I'm still in a gang. The difference is while my mates are out robbing, they know I'd rather stay out of that. If it weren't for Chris getting me onto the programme at Rathbone I wouldn't be here. He's more than a mate, he's like my big brother."

A growing gang culture

Although there are no national statistics on gang numbers in the UK, the Metropolitan Police can name 171 different gangs operating in London alone. Some sections of the national press describe Britain's cities as gang crime hotspots, and there's increasing concern about the number of young people killed in gang-related crime.

Paul Fletcher, director of Rathbone, says: "Gang culture is growing rapidly in most areas we work. The big challenge for us is that thresholds for behaviour have changed. Even as recently as five years ago young people were just hanging around with mates, but now they're far more likely to have gang associations. Not only will they beat someone up, they'll carry on kicking them once they've rolled over."

Nolan is passionate about encouraging young people to re-engage with education and training. He believes "giving them something else" is the best way to curb the rise of gang culture.

Rathbone's Progress to Success is an example of a programme doing just that. The charity's scheme equips 14- to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training with everything from CV-writing skills to advice on health and emotional literacy.

An alternative to gangs

It is hardly surprising that youth off-ending teams and Connexions services are keen to refer young people to Rathbone programmes - initiatives like Progress to Success get between 70 and 90 per cent of participants back into education, training or employment.

The centre's education programme in basic skills has a 100 per cent success rate and is very popular. As a result, the charity has earmarked 25 per cent of its resources for the expansion of engagement work to help young people resist gang membership or leave altogether.

Nolan has helped numerous young people turn their lives around by advocating these programmes. He explains that most young people just need "an olive branch", but is quick to emphasise the need to be "on their level" to stand any chance of gaining their trust.

Like most of the young people he works with, Nolan grew up on a council estate. He believes the fact that he's "been there, done that" is crucial to his ability to form relationships with disengaged young people. "They can tell that I know where they're coming from so I talk to them about how nice their lives could be," he reveals.

Nolan knows the young people are likely to be suspicious of authority and their experiences have taught them to reject offers of help. He believes that many statutory services fail to deliver, fostering a deep distrust in the system. "The good thing about Rathbone is we're not connected to the police or youth service," he says. "Young people soon discover they can trust us."

Nolan understands that a young person will only give something up if you offer them an alternative. Perks of gang membership include protection, status and income, so Nolan has to bargain. He asks them: "If I could get you a job for £200 a week would you still need to do what you do?" Most young people say they wouldn't.

According to Rathbone, gang activity can be understood in terms of how well it meets a young person's needs - such as the need to feel significant or be part of something. "Being in a gang has a huge amount to do with belonging," explains Nolan. He believes understanding this helps him provide alternatives, which fulfil a young person's requirements in a healthier way.

Another major factor is that a growing number of young people are being intimidated into associating themselves with gangs. Fletcher likens it to a protection racket, whereby large numbers of young people are forced to align themselves loosely with certain gangs to gain protection on their estate.

But the extent to which a young person is involved with gangs is irrelevant to workers at Rathbone. Fletcher cites their "revolving door policy" - where young people are not excluded for bad behaviour - as key to their success.

Rathbone's motto, that all children can learn and achieve, is written in big letters in the entrance of the Manchester centre. Certificates line the walls, a testament to the achievements of countless young people who have passed through its doors.

Eighteen-year-old Sean is excited about starting his new job in a warehouse, while Danny is looking forward to going on a scaffolding course soon. Nolan is proud of his success stories. "The best feeling ever is when the kids sort their heads out. Seeing how chuffed they are when they succeed is what it's all about," he says.

YOUNG PEOPLE'S VOICES

Teenagers from Rathbone's centre for vulnerable young people explain the attraction of gangs

"You can't just say you want to leave a gang - it's not like that. You can't just walk away because you'll end up getting battered. You can only get away if you get something else to do or leave the area. Children join gangs when they're eight or nine so something needs to be done for them at that age, or you have primary school children smoking weed" - Danny, 16

"I was in gangs when I was younger but I'm not now really. When I was 14 no schools would let me in because I terrorised the teachers. If it wasn't for Chris getting me onto the course at Rathbone I'd be in prison. One problem is people get the wrong idea about gangs. We hang around and chill together so people assume we're in a gang. People are prejudiced against anyone who wears trackies and hoodies" - Ian, 17

"I was 11 when I joined a gang. I was attracted to it because they all had motorbikes and they looked after me. We did everything together, chilled together and robbed together. I thought I'd be in prison by now but since doing the Rathbone course I've got a job. Now I speak to the boys and they know I don't want anything to do with any trouble. We might have chilled out now, but you've got to think about the younger ones coming up" - Sean, 18

"Everyone talks about gangs but I would just describe it as rivalry between different estates. Young people on the estates need something to do, then they won't get in trouble. If you get involved with a gang you get looked after. Giving young people a chance to do something else, like a job or course, is the only thing that can persuade them to leave" - Steven, 16

"No one's tried to get me into a gang but I do think there is a problem. Near where I live there's a big gang called LHG. I was at a party once and they came down, battered somebody in the house, then went outside and stabbed someone in the neck. It's getting worse. Young people in gangs want everyone to be scared of them so they can pretend to be something they're not" - Regan, 16.