Genesis Community, in partnership with Urban Concepts, has arranged a screening of Hip Hop Opera at the Tricycle Theatre at 1pm on Wednesday 9 April 08.

The main element of Urban Concepts' 2007 Don't Trigger campaign was a 90-minute feature film entitled Hip Hop Opera. The film contains scenes of conflict resolution, heartfelt testimonies from parents who have lost children to gun and knife crime and speeches from politicians, senior police and community leaders.

It is a fusion of fiction, fact, music videos, docu-film and contributions from politicians and real victims. This hard-hitting tale shows how a situation of disrespect can escalate to tragic consequences. Don-E refuses to back down, Desmond refuses to back down. By the time egos and bullets fly, they are in too deep to retreat.

A sudden twist in the plot which leads to three unnecessary deaths exposes the futile nature of gun and knife crime deaths that are raging through our communities.

An important ingredient in the Hip Hop Opera is the music content which is woven into the plot. It features contributions from some of the UK's leading urban artists.

Refreshments will be provided after the film, as will opportunities for networking and a question and answer session with Dawn Butler MP, children, parents who have lost children to gun and knife crime and youth providers. The event is free, open to everyone in the local community, and will finish at 5pm.

Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker, said "Music plays a big part in all our lives. Through music, the Don't Trigger Campaign is helping to spread the message that the vast majority of us support - that we need to take weapons off our streets. Government alone can't solve the problem. We need to work in partnership with police, communities and young people themselves. I am delighted to add my support and wish Urban Concepts every success with this campaign."

Iain Mackechnie-Jarvis, Head of Genesis Community, said "Genesis Community, part of Genesis Housing Group, is proud to be part of Urban Concepts' creative and effective campaign to take weapons off the streets. It is in line with our aims to help young and vulnerable people, and to create safer communities at grass roots level. We wholeheartedly support the strong message embedded in the Hip Hop Opera".

Raymond Stevenson, Campaigns Manager at Urban Concepts, said "The first Don't Trigger campaign in 2005 helped prompt a growing number of organisations to find ways to help strengthen the communities they operate in. We are very pleased to have Genesis Housing Group's support in helping to tackle the violence on our streets."

- Ends -

Hip Hop Opera -

1pm, Wednesday 9 April 2008 at the Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR

For further information about Genesis Housing Group,

please contact Diana Evanson 020 8150 4178 / email diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Genesis Community was set up in 2005 by Genesis Housing Group. It is a charitable foundation created to fulfil Genesis Housing Group's commitments to address the challenges of deprivation and social exclusion in disadvantaged areas. Projects delivered by Genesis Community focus on the key themes of young people, vulnerable and elderly people, safer communities, financial inclusion and training and employment.

With over 50 projects running in over 15 boroughs across London and the south east, Genesis Community has built a reputation as an exceptional project partner and as an innovative provider of community initiatives.

Background to the Don't Trigger Campaign

The Don't Trigger campaign is an international anti-gun campaign, funded by the Home Office UK, Government Office for London, Mayor of London and other government and corporate organisations. It is supported by Families for Peace, MAMA, Mothers Against Violence, Mothers Against Guns Nationwide, Amnesty International and many other partner charities. The media partners for the previous campaign were MTV, BBC 1, ITV, Channel 4, and all national press.

The aim of the campaign is to highlight the negative impact that gun crime can have on individuals, families and society. The last campaign video "Why" featuring mothers who have lost children to gun crime was screened to over four million people on all the major music channels and the resources are currently being used by: Amnesty International, the police and probation services, schools, prisons, youth clubs and documentaries, amongst others. For more information, please visit: www.dont-trigger.com

The Don't Trigger 2007 Campaign

Urban Concepts pride themselves on the fact that they truly represent the community and this year's campaign reflects this, with contributions from over 130 artists, writers and musicians. Under the banner of the UK United album all genres of popular and urban music are represented.

For the 2007 campaign many high-profile artists have given their services including:

Mothers Ballad: Jocelyn Brown, Juliet Roberts, Hil Street Soul and Jessie J

Testify: Maxi Priest, Peter Hunnigale, Don Campbell, Lloyd Brown, Sista, Faya, Ava, Noel Mckoy, Naomi Rose

8 Bars Behind Bars: consists of 21 leading UK Grime MC's

Say Your OK: Brian Temba (Lead Lion King), Bianca Gerald

London: MC Skibadee and Stylo G

Ghetto Love: Omar, Don-E, Raghav, Soul Deep, Teish O'Day, Fundamental

Without You: Soul Deep

Don't Trigger has several aims including: raising awareness and highlighting the devastation that gun and knife crime has on families and communities; educating and inspiring young people living in the inner-city to be part of the solution; encouraging the wider community to unite and take a stand against violence on the streets; galvanising more than 130 UK artists to make a contribution on the issues of gun and knife crime; offering bereaved families an opportunity to be part of the campaign in respect of their lost loved ones and increasing participation from the corporate music industry.