This session will summarise the prevention approaches that have been successful in reducing violent incidents involving young people in London over the past decade and set out the vision for the next 10 years which will build on the progress made through learning what works; the critical need to invest in prevention; and the challenges facing young people.
Lib Peck will be interviewed by members of the London VRU Young People’s Action Group
This session will explore the vital role of a trusted adult in all places and spaces. With the new Youth Strategy setting out plans to connect 500,000 more young people with a trusted adult, a panel of experts will discuss the different places and settings that such practitioners can be found and the impact they have on improving life outcomes.
Panel discussion led by Gary Connors, assistant director, London VRU with contributions from:
• Tsion Martins, Bridge the Gap Studios, and Astrid, a lived experience mother from the VRU Parenting Network
• Sammy Odoi, MyEnds Islington, London VRU’s MyEnds programme
• Manchester Violence Reduction Unit – speaker tbc
• Jessica Studdert, No.10 Policy Unit and former CEO of think-tank, New Local
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: How do we solve long-standing problems hampering violence prevention? (choose 1A, 1B or 1C)
Whether in a city, town or rural community, local agencies working with disadvantaged young people need to work together to deliver effective strategies that meet their specific needs. This session sets out the key relationships and ingredients for effective place-based strategies.
Amid a plethora of local and national strategies to tackle violent crime, many led by different government departments and involving multiple agencies, this session considers how to achieve effective join up between local, regional and national approaches that prioritises place.
It can take years for investments in preventative interventions to deliver improved outcomes. This session looks at the role evidence can play in measuring the impact of interventions and helping organisations supporting young people to make the case for long-term investment.
Evidence shows the importance of keeping children in school as a protective factor in violence prevention. London has led the way in a fragmented system and influenced national policy. This panel discussion led by London VRU senior manager CJ Burge, explores the challenges that exist and what actions have the greatest impact in schools. With contributions from:
• Dr Carol Robinson, Children’s Rights Professor
• Kate Pardine, Voice 21 CEO
• A headteacher from a Rights Respecting School Award setting
With the drivers of violence - poverty, racism and inequality – enduring, how are they evolving in the threats they pose and how should we adapt prevention so it continues to intervene at critical moments? This session will have a particular focus on online harms including risk transmission from the virtual to physical world, the role of social media and the impact of AI.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Exploring challenges linked to future threats (choose 2A, 2B or 2C)
As digital natives, young people are the experts in how they engage and interact with the online world. How can we harness young people’s expertise so that their voices and lived experiences inform our understanding of, and response to online harms?
Youth workers are uniquely placed to support young people at risk of violence. Traditionally done in youth clubs, youth workers are increasingly engaging with young people in the digital space. How can we ensure youth practitioners have the skills to support young people online?
Social media is awash with influencers creating content targeted at young people, some of which uses divisive language that could incite hatred and violence. This session asks what the sector can do to shape better influences for young people across online and offline spaces?