We visited unassuming old snooker club in Birmingham - and found hope amid city's postcode wars

Paradise Snooker Club will be renovated into a youth hub and 'safe space' to steer youngsters away from gangs and violence as tensions rise in areas of Birmingham

"Right now the biggest problem is the postcode wars," insists community activist Mohammed Zafran from an old snooker hall in a key triangle of Birmingham. Tensions continue to flare in Bordesley Green and Small Heath, with shootings and stabbings now a 'frequent' reality in two of the UK's most deprived neighbourhoods.

Youths from certain areas risk violence, and even death, simply by stepping into different postcodes, often as a result of drug-feuds. But as the unease rises, there is hope in the unassuming Paradise Snooker Club.

Currently under renovation, the new youth hub promises to operate as a 'safe space' - or 'neutral zone' - for those in the clutches of city gangs. Local teens will be welcomed into the venue, transformed into Community Plaza, for everything from sports and education to craft and well-being projects.

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South and city college liaison officer Mohammed, known as 'Zaf', is running the project alongside the college's deputy director Tom McGeever and local businesses for funding. Zaf first began working with gangs over a decade ago when his brother-in-law, Sarfraz Khan, was fatally stabbed with a screwdriver in a Sparkbrook park.

Since the 'unsolved' killing of his wife's brother, he has dedicated his life to helping transform the lives of youngsters across the country, winning several awards in the process. He recalls: "On a weekly basis, I used to just go up to them in the park and talk to them, I used to liaise with youngsters under the influence of drugs, those harming people or in gang wars..

"I requested the principal of South and City college if I could do something for these youngsters, bring them into the college on a Friday night, and Saturdays so they couldn't liaise with youngsters and cause them any harm. He said: 'I trust you, do what you need to do.'"

Inside the Birmingham snooker club

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Zaf then began teaching them sports on the AstroTurf at the college, bringing in new youngsters every week to help turn their lives around. After around five weeks, up to 60 teenagers from different parks were involved in the academy.

He later joined forces with Thomas, head of sports at the time, to "do it properly." Zaf adds: "Today we've done about 230 projects. and we've got 43,000 kids in the academy, it's one of the largest in the UK."

The latest project at the snooker club, on Bordesley Green, will be renovated in around two months. Thomas explains: "We're going to totally renovate the upstairs, all the snooker tables are coming out, all new toilets etc, we're going to have meeting rooms, this is going to be a computer bay.

"Now we can run our classes from here, have our offices based here and we can essentially grow with more people."

Have you been affected by gangs and turned your life around? We would love to hear your story. You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com