A GROUP of inspirational mums whose lives were devastated by gun crime have won funding to develop a new project – about missing fathers.

Mothers in Pain is a voluntary organisation that aims to deter young people from getting caught up in gang life.

It was set-up in 2005 by Beverley Thomas and Barbara Sawyers, who lost children to fatal shootings, and Thelma Perkins, whose son was shot but survived.

The group has now received £1,000 from West Midlands Police to educate young people on the importance of having dads around.

Former social worker Thelma explained: “We have been working with a lot of young people caught up in gang culture and part of what we’re finding is 99 per cent of them are from one-parent families.

“What we’re hoping to do is educate young people of the real importance of having fathers around as they are going to be the mothers and fathers of tomorrow.

“We’re working with girls as well as sometimes women use children as weapons, sometimes fathers are missing through no fault of their own.”

Young people can drop into St Andrews Community Centre, in College Road, Handsworth, on Wednesdays from 11am to 3pm to find out more.