Redthread to close Nottinghamshire violence intervention programme
Fiona Simpson
Friday, March 1, 2024
Charity Redthread has announced the closure of its Nottinghamshire youth violence intervention programme due to a lack of funding.
The service at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust launched in 2018, embedding specially trained youth workers in hospitals to support young people involved in violence at a “reachable moment”.
It has supported more than 1,000 children over the last six years but will be decommissioned on 30 April, Redthread has announced.
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Interview: Lucie Russell, interim chief executive of Redthread
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Improving agencies’ response to tackling serious youth violence
The closure is due to funding from the collaboration of local funders including the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Partnership, NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board, Nottinghamshire University Hospitals NHS Trust, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust coming to the end, according to an announcement from the charity.
Redthread’s Youth Violence Intervention Programme won the Youth Work Award at the CYP Now Awards in 2021.
Lucie Russell, Redthread’s chief executive added: “We are deeply saddened that our award-winning Nottingham and Nottinghamshire service will be closing.
“Amidst the backdrop of a record number of children and young people being severely affected by violence and exploitation, we urge leaders to not shy away from what is really needed, and put in place concrete strategies and funding to meaningfully tackle the myriad causes of violence and ensure our children and young people are far safer, both now and in the future.”
Keith Girling, medical director at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust thanked Redthread for its “incredible work alongside our staff in the Emergency Department to provide support for 11- to 25-years-olds impacted by violence and exploitation”.
“By working with the Redthread team we have been able to make a real and meaningful difference to the lives of our community’s most vulnerable young people presenting with violence related injuries. We wish Redthread every success in their future,” he said.
