The children who remain in the system are frequently those with the most pronounced needs, facing multiple complex challenges.
It’s important we understand the drivers for serious violence – where children may be the perpetrator, victim and sometimes both.
Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) have an incredibly important role to play in supporting the prevention of offending. They are also an important example of effective partnership working at a local level. They bring together organisations who really understand, and can respond to, local issues relating to the underlying causes of serious violence. VRUs also offer a chance to develop and build an evidence base for what works.
We know joined-up interventions, informed by the best research, are key in preventing offending and reoffending. We’re working with partners to develop what the evidence base looks like in practice – for example, with the Youth Endowment Fund on their serious violence Toolkit. We are also supporting frontline service improvement through pathfinders, where services can pilot, develop and disseminate solutions.
One example is a programme in the West Midlands called “Kitchen Table Talks” overseen by the West Midlands VRU, in conjunction with seven West Midlands youth offending teams. This project is creating and facilitating community-based, parental peer support networks that can be accessed by parents with children known to, or at risk of, involvement with the youth justice system. The aim is to contribute to the reduction of serious youth violence across the areas and is related to a theory of change which aims to demonstrate that positive engagement of parents – through increasing their skills and resilience – will lead to better support for their child.
We’re all working for the best outcomes for children who come into contact with the justice system, and we know relationships create positive change. The work of VRUs is key to this.
