Work at the centre will involve intensive support for individual gang members and their families, as well as the promotion of anti-crime initiatives in schools and the community.
The centre will be funded by the Dawes Trust for the next four years and the unit will work with local schools, police, charities and Wolverhampton City Council to identify young people to support.
Tom Sackville, Catch22 assistant director, said: "We will deliver an end-to-end gangs programme, supporting people at all the key points of risk and stages of decision-making.
"We know that putting in place the right interventions at the right time and for the right people can make a very significant impact."
Those at risk of criminal activity or leaving custody will be among those targeted. The unit will offer support across Wolverhampton, while a research team in London will evaluate its work.
To help promote the centre, the charity has released early findings from a research project with London Metropolitan University involving interviews with gang members.
This found that family members are crucial to helping gang members turn their back on crime. Interviews revealed that typically gang members respect family life and in many cases hide their gang activity from their family.
Families, however, feel "beleaguered" and helpless in helping their children "counter the pull of negative influences", the charity said.
