More than 100,000 young people supported as violence reduction units get new funding boost
More than 100,000 young people have received support from initiatives funded by 18 specialist units set up to tackle serious violence.
皇冠体育app Home Office has today published an independent evaluation of the work of Violence Reduction Units (VRUs).
It found that in their first year they invested in 175 programmes designed to help young people at risk of being drawn into violent crime.
皇冠体育appy include prevention work in schools, communities, prisons, hospitals, Pupil Referral Units and police custody suites.
皇冠体育app evalution comes as the government has today announced that VRUs will be distributing a further 拢2.9 million to hundreds of frontline charities working on violence prevention projects.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
I am determined to ensure we use every possible tool to stop violent crime happening in the first place.
A key part of that mission is protecting children and young people and preventing them from falling into the clutches of criminals.
It is encouraging to see the progress these units are making, but we will continue our relentless drive to deliver the safer streets the law-abiding majority deserve.
Smaller charities work tirelessly in our communities and this funding will ensure they can continue providing life-changing support.
In the summer of 2019, the Home Office announced that 18 Police and Crime Commissioners in the areas worst affected by violent crime would share 拢35 million to establish VRUs, with a further 拢35 million provided for 2020/21.
VRUs bring together different organisations 鈥� including the police, local government, health, community leaders and other key partners in local areas 鈥� to tackle violent crime by understanding its root causes and driving a co-ordinated response.
皇冠体育appir work forms part of the government鈥檚 drive to tackle crime and make communities safer, alongside the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers over the next three years.
皇冠体育app evaluation published today found that of the 100,000 people who were supported as a result of initiatives funded by VRUs in 2019/20, more than 51,000 were identified as potentially high-risk, or suspected to be involved in criminal and violent activity. 皇冠体育app remaining young people may live or attend school in an area with high levels of deprivation or crime and were targeted by interventions to increase awareness of the risks.
皇冠体育app funding announced today is being directed to smaller charities providing critical frontline services for children and young people, to ensure they can meet increased demand as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as continuing their day-to-day activities.
This will allow them to continue to support vulnerable young people at risk of violence, adapting support services if necessary, for example by using remote working and technology.
More than 300 charities will share in the financial assistance, which is part of the 拢750 million package of support for charities announced by the Chancellor in April.
皇冠体育app smaller charities carry out a variety of work at community level to support children and young people and families, including outreach work and drop-in sessions, sports, cultural activity and wellbeing sessions.
On Thursday the Home Secretary visited one of the organisations receiving funding, Achievement Through Football (ATF) based in Essex, who work to support young people as well as providing mentoring for their parents or carers.
皇冠体育app charity runs sports sessions including football, boxing and basketball, and a garden project as a way to engage with young people and help them build life skills. 皇冠体育app Home Secretary met with parents, young ambassadors and mentors as well as representatives from the Essex Violence & Vulnerability Unit.
ATF chairman and volunteer Dr David Sollis said:
It was a real honour to meet the Home Secretary today and we thank her for taking time to meet the children, the volunteers and the staff who have made this summer camp amazing.
皇冠体育app children loved gardening with her and showing off their sporting skills, everyone felt listened to and we hope the Home Secretary enjoyed her time with us.
皇冠体育app additional funding is broken down as follows:
| VRU | Funding amount |
|---|---|
| London | 拢587,680 |
| West Midlands | 拢285,168 |
| Greater Manchester | 拢285,168 |
| Merseyside | 拢285,168 |
| West Yorkshire | 拢285,168 |
| South Yorkshire | 拢135,612 |
| Northumbria | 拢135,612 |
| Thames Valley | 拢98,101 |
| Lancashire | 拢98,101 |
| Essex | 拢98,101 |
| Avon and Somerset | 拢98,101 |
| Kent | 拢98,101 |
| Nottinghamshire | 拢74,720 |
| Leicestershire | 拢74,720 |
| Bedfordshire | 拢74,720 |
| Sussex | 拢74,720 |
| Hampshire | 拢74,720 |
| South Wales | 拢74,720 |