your children's life – for the whole community."

Experts in the sector fear that the positive work achieved in recent years could be lost, perhaps forever, as a result of the cuts.

Jonathan Toy, head of community safety and enforcement at Southwark council, said local authorities were being forced to scale back their gang work and focus on the most problematic individuals and areas.

But each murder investigation in the borough costs £1.5m so cutting programmes does not make financial sense.

"It takes a long time to build up these relationships," he said. "Losing programmes is cost-ineffective and the impact is you lose some of that trust and confidence you have built up in that community."

The government is keen for the voluntary sector to take on the challenges posed by gang culture,announcing £18m to help charities tackle knife, gun and gang crime. But a sign taped to the wall of the Pedro club in Hackney, a youth club where founder James Cook and volunteers have been tackling gang problems since 2003, gives an indication of the challenges they face: "Do not bring weapons on to these premises as you will be searched by metal detectors."

Former gang member Sasha, now 17 and helping in the club, said getting a gun is as easy as making a phone call "if you know the right people". She knows this because, when in the gang, she had an "altercation" with a girl and made that call.

"Ten minutes later my friend was in Tottenham with a gun to her face. I didn't have no